Nigeria-based Digital Satellite Television (DSTv) trading with the name of HiTV, has launched some in the United Kingdom (UK) on the Sky digital satellite platform.

HiTV, a subsidiary of Entertainment Highway Limited, which claims to be the first indigenous and leading pay-TV platform, said it would use the UK launch to beam Nigeria films otherwise referred to as Nollywood and a Nigerian dedicated Tv station, Nigezie to the world.

Chief executive officer, HiTV, Mr Toyin Subair, who disclosed this in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, said that the window is expected to provide a break for some of Nigeria’s entertainment and showbiz offerings.

He said that HiTV, which commenced operation in August 2007 and operates the satellite Direct-To-Home (DTH) service, executed the UK project through collaboration with Canis Media, to manage their entry into the UK television market, sourcing an available EPG slot and handling the complex regulatory aspects involved in the launch of a UK channel by a foreign broadcaster.

A press statement from HiTV’s marketing department, noted that the step is seen as a milestone in the Group’s quest to position the Nigerian market for very robust and effective participation in global broadcasting.

"To say we are elated is being modest. We are indeed very proud of this achievement especially when viewed in terms of our relatively short period of existence in the business. This is only the beginning of greater things to happen," Subair was quoted as saying.

For the chief executive officer, Canis Media, Mr. Ed Hall, "the launch of HiTV on the Sky platform not only reflects the rapid growth that the African broadcasting industry is experiencing, it also shows how much potential there is for foreign broadcasters to attract significant audiences in the UK."

He noted that the beam set on channel 204 in Sky’s popular entertainment genre, is free-to-air, broadcasting 24 hours a mixture of entertainment, Nigerian movies, music and popular culture programmes.

"It brings new and exciting programming from Africa to European audiences and includes the well received Nigezie Chart Shows and reality talent shows," he said.

HiTV will be the third Nigerian broadcaster to have launched in the UK in the past five months alone, thereby sustaining the perception of African broadcasting as one of the fastest growing sectors.

In recognition of the outfit’s rising profile as a home of quality programming, it would be recalled that the two channels now on the Sky platform- Nigezie and Hi Nolly, were recently nominated for the 2008 Hotbird TV Awards in the Lifestyle categories and Cinema categories respectively.