Tag Archives: Justin Zhang

StarTimes ‘fostering Africa-China relations’

Leading African pay TV company StarTimes has revealed it aims to foster the relationship between the Chinese and African media businesses.

Pang Xingxing

At the company’s eighth annual African Digital TV Development Seminar, it claimed it is doing all it can to improve China-Africa television cooperation

Speaking to over 400 participants from 48 African and Asian countries at the seminar, StarTimes Group president Pang Xingxing said: “We are very pleased to be at the forefront of helping Africa to gradually make a transition to a modern and intelligent society.”

The focus is on “reviewing trends, developments and cooperation towards digitalising broadcasting in Africa as well as the over-the-top industry, which is upgrading the African television landscape,” he said.

Guo Weimin, deputy director of the State Council Information Office of China, said the country is interested in helping to develop African media and ensuring a solid partnership between China and Africa.

In line with this vision, StarTimes Nigeria recently partnered with the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan, to empower the less privileged with the Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), targeting young people.

Justin Zhang, MD of StarTimes Nigeria, said: “When we heard about this laudable initiative from the Ooni of Ife, we took an interest immediately because we are always optimistic about getting involved with youth projects. We have a project ongoing in Abuja and are working with Nigerians in conjunction with the Chinese government to support villages in Nigeria.”

In June, StarTimes also disclosed it was working with the Nigerian government to create mentorship and technical programmes to help empower Nigerian youth.

StarTimes recently acknowledged Nigeria as its largest market.

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StarTimes supports fight against HIV/AIDS

Pay TV company StarTimes has joined the fight against HIV/AIDS and called for more support to be given to Nigerians with the virus.

Justin Zhang

Justin Zhang, CEO of StarTimes Nigeria, announced the news at the recently concluded World Aids Day event held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“StarTimes is committed to the complete eradication of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria using its media footprint across the country and its ability to reach millions of Nigerians even in villages where aid workers are not able to access,” Zhang said.

He added that the Chinese-owned pay TV company would assist in the area of broadcasting informative content and “engaging youths via entertaining mobile engagements that educate.”

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EbonyLife TV marks five years with rebrand

Premium lifestyle and entertainment channel EbonyLife TV has rebranded after marking its fifth anniversary this month.

Parent company EbonyLife Media unveiled a new logo and disclosed plans to launch the channel on pay TV platform StarTimes, ending the exclusivity of its carriage deal with DSTV, on August 1.

Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife TV, said: “This is an exciting time for us. StarTimes is a force to be reckoned with in Africa. It is a privilege for EbonyLife to have an additional home with the network.

“Together with the global reach of [VoD service] EbonyLife ON, we will have the potential for millions more people to enjoy our shows.”

Mo Abudu

“As one of Nigeria’s leading television networks, it made sense to include it in the StarTimes family,” said Justin Zhang, MD of StarTimes.

However, reports suggest EbonyLife may have decided to expand its reach in Africa at this time because DSTV is set to stop airing the channel to subscribers in southern Africa this month. EbonyLife is yet to comment on the reports.

Meanwhile, it continues to expand not just via TV but also by its VoD service, EbonyLife ON, which was previously available only to international audiences.

The video streaming service is now accessible to Nigerians for a monthly subscription of N500. The EbonyLife ON app can be downloaded on Android and IOS app stores.

EbonyLife TV launched on July 1, 2013 and is now broadcast across Africa and the Caribbean on StarTimes (channel 107, 191), DSTV (channel 165) and Flow.

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StarTimes partners kids’ charity SOS

Justin Zhang and Eghosa Erhumwunse sign the partnership

Pay TV platform StarTimes and the Nigerian arm of international charity SOS Children’s Villages have signed a memorandum of understanding.

The partnership will see the organisations aid families and empower young people by training and mentoring them, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Eghosa Erhumwunse, national director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, said: “By partnering with StarTimes, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria is helping to improve the lives of young people in the country and helping them realise and utilise their unique gifts. This is in cognisance of the YouthCan! Project, which was launched by SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria in 2017.”

“Since we commenced providing affordable digital pay TV in Nigeria, we have invested heavily in the development of youths and children in the country,” added Justin Zhang, CEO of StarTimes Nigeria.

“Partnering with SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria gives us a better opportunity to drive our effort towards making Nigerian youths more competitive globally in their chosen career by affording them a quality learning ground.”

SOS Children’s Villages builds loving, stable families for children and young people in 135 countries and territories. The charity claims to be the largest non-governmental organisation dedicated to the care of children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care.

StarTimes is one of the leading digital television operators in Africa, serving over 10 million subscribers with about 440 channels consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children’s programmes, fashion, religion and more.

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