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Showbiz Reporter
TOP mobile network operator, Econet Wireless group, will soon be launching an Internet Pay TV service known as Kwesé TV which will offer exclusive sports and entertainment programming to African markets. The company is expected to recruit more than 200 people from different parts of the world over the next six months. It will however, have its offices in Johannesburg, South Africa and Dubai.

Strive Masiyiwa, the Econet Wireless founder and chairman, said Kwesé TV, which has been in the pipeline for the past three years, would operate as a subscription-based Video on Demand service.

Viewers will be able to access Kwese TV – which means everywhere and anywhere – through the Internet via Econet’s telecommunications company, Liquid Telecom.

“Kwesé TV will be what we call “multi-screen.” This means you can watch TV with a traditional TV, a smartphone, a tablet, and/computer,” posted Masiyiwa on his Facebook page.

“Our satellite communications business, Liquid Sat, has already built a platform which allows us to deliver what is known as Direct TV to the home (DTH), in all the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Masiyiwa said their new business would be built around Econet’s core capabilities of satellite communications, fibre optic networks, and mobile services.

“We believe African consumers must have access to premium and exclusive TV programming at a price that is value for money. Our satellite communications business, Liquid Sat, has already built a platform which allows us to deliver what is known as Direct TV to the home (DTH), in all the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

He said the success of the TV station would depend on the quality of programming among other issues.

“Having infrastructure is one thing, but Kwesé TV’s success will depend on our ability both to acquire and also to develop new, high-quality and unique programming at an affordable price,” he said.

“You may know of other companies in this market, most which either provide content that’s far too expensive, or content that’s just so bad it’s not worth paying to see it, even if it’s cheaper. We know you understand what the problem is . . . And I believe my team has developed an exciting product which will change that dynamic!”

Liquid Telecom has also been working on a pay TV service called ipidi which is set to use Liquid Telecom’s vast cross-continent fibre infrastructure.

A website for Kwesé Sports is already active and is showing sports news and soccer matches that include European soccer which has been a huge favourite of pay TV subscribers. The market leader in pay TV is DStv which has an extensive focus on local, regional and international sports.