Exset, pioneers of TV ecosystems for emerging markets, has announced that Kudus Technology, based in Namibia, has successfully developed monetisation applications, that can be deployed by the country’s public service broadcaster Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) using Exset’s Digital Monetisation System (DMS).
Albertus Aaocchhamub, director general of NBC, who is driving the nationwide digitisation, said, “We wish Exset and Kudos the best and feel that this endeavour will bridge the gap between technology, government and monetisation.”
In a first for Africa, Kudus worked with DMS supplied by Exset to demonstrate innovative and appealing applications, including games, that can be deployed by NBC over digital broadcast networks. The demonstration version of the NBC African Page, as the service is currently known, is a prime example of how Exset’s technology can be used to create enticing interactive content. NBC is currently heavily involved in the country’s plans for digital terrestrial television rollout.
Kudus has already demonstrated its DMS-based applications to the public at two events held in August. Himeezembi Kahorongo, CEO of Kudus Technology, said, “We compiled a questionnaire to get feedback on the DMS Namibian pages at these demonstrations. The result of the questionnaire indicated that the general public is very enthusiastic and eager about DMS Namibia pages. In addition, businesses couldn’t wait to provide their services on the system as to them it showed a much more effective way to promote their product to those who don’t have internet and newspaper access.”
DMS allows governments, network operators and broadcasters to push forwards with the deployment of digital broadcast services (terrestrial, cable or satellite) by removing the hurdle of monetisation. Facilitating the deployment of interactive services over and above traditional television, DMS allows operators to monetise not only through low-cost TV service subscription but additionally through selling interactive services using a variety of revenue share models. DMS has been designed to help bring about digital transition in markets around the world where other information and entertainment distribution technologies (including the internet) have so far failed
Kahorongo addsed, “We’re very pleased to be the first in Africa to develop our own applications using DMS. While currently at the demonstration stage, we believe that interactive services that provide both entertainment and a TV-based information platform are very important in the drive towards digital by broadcasters like NBC.”
Andrew Pons, director of marketing, Exset, said, “Across Africa the TV screen offers the most low-cost way of reaching populations on the wrong side of the digital divide. In turn, DMS offers the way to monetise those deployments by providing access to the TV screen to governments, magazines, major brands, teleshopping services and more. Exset is proud of the technology that it has developed and the fact it will allow the monetisation of digital TV services where previously impossible.”
