Sweden’s Next Generation Broadcasting (NGB) has sold off its local subsidiary Digital Broadcasting Uganda in an effort to pursue other markets.
Industry speculation has been rife that NGB will eventually pull out of Uganda’s pay TV market. Earlier this year, the Swedish company expressed interest in other sectors.
“The Sixth Swedish Pension Fund (AP6), investors in NGB Africa have decided to refocus their Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) investment plan from Africa,” NGB said in the statement.
The two firms have been operating Smart Television, one of the 6 local pay television companies in Uganda under NGB Uganda Limited. The firm’s exit means that Digital Broadcasting now owns 100% stake in Smart TV.
NGB Africa had similar pay TV joint ventures in Ghana, and Kenya where it launched the services in 2010 before pursuing the Uganda market. In July 2011, NGB pulled out of Kenya, citing a frustrating business environment. The business has been taken over by Transmex Kenya.
Andrew Matapare
