CTV partners with Sentech's VIVID to reach wider audience

River Corporation channel CTV (Christian Television) has joined forces with Sentech's VIVID Direct-to-Home satellite service to extend its broadcasting to a Sub-Saharan African audience (including South Africa) via the PAS10 transponder.

The 24-hour channel will feature content both international and local (from Trinity Broadcast Network [TBN]) sources and is available on Channel 21 to the Vivid subscriber base.

According to Tracy Tredrea at CTV, one of the key reasons for establishing a channel on VIVID is that the service is a cost-effective option and therefore more accessible to people, irrespective of their budgets. "We believe VIVID will enable us to expand our coverage, thus reaching a wider audience."

Already, CTV is seeing a gradual growth in viewership. "The number of calls from viewers is increasing on a weekly basis and the feedback we've been receiving from VIVID subscribers has been truly encouraging," she says.

Apart from carrying TBN content, which is more adult-oriented, CTV will in the near future be providing additional channels and subsequent programmes that are focused on the youth, thus reaching the entire family.

Commenting on the channel establishment on VIVID, Tredrea says the transition was smooth and Sentech staff was supportive and helpful throughout the entire process.

Adds Vaughan Taylor, Senior Key Accounts Manager at Sentech: "Our team worked hard to resolve some minor issues during the creation of the channel on our platform.. As a result CTV's transition to VIVID went really well! We are also constantly improving CTV's signal to ensure that they broadcast at the highest possible quality."

CTV will during December 2006 and January 2007 be rolling out a marketing campaign in support of its move to VIVID which the channel believes will further increase awareness and encourage people to access this free-to-air satellite service.

Sentech's VIVID Satellite Digital Decoder is an alternative platform to other digital satellite decoders in the market. While a separate decoder must be installed to view the programming, there is currently no further monthly subscription required to view and listen to the channels that are available on the bouquet.