HiTv dies in Nigeria, thrives in UK

Subair

Would Nigeria ever get it right when it comes to pay TV channels? This is one of the questions probing the minds of many as HiTV, the country’s first pay TV company, is yet to resume transmis-sion six months after it was taken over by the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc. Surprisingly, even as most of its sub-scribers in Nigeria have discarded their decoders and lowered their satellite dishes, HiTv is enjoying a great viewership in the U.K.
Apart from the season two of the just concluded Nigeria Idol which was aired by HiTV in the UK, the pay TV company is said to have been thrilling Nigerians in the Di-aspora with some contents that keep them close to motherland, ‘Naija’.
Some Nigerian entertainers and show promoters are also said to be enjoying HiTV UK’s platform in promoting their events.
HiTv Nigeria was forced out of operation on Monday November 21, 2011, when heav-ily armed mobile policemen alongside other men in plain clothes reportedly invaded si-multaneously all HiTV offices, purportedly acting on a court order instituted by GTB over a relationship/financial dispute be-tween the Toyin Subair led- management of the firm and the bank.