NewStats: 3,259,364 , 8,169,911 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 07:10 PM 2z6e3m

Use smart TV they say,
Only mumu dey use DSTV.

What of the cost of running a smart TV? Or am I using my own wrong?

I was on Compact plan of N12,500 before DSTV increased their subscription for the umpteenth time. I bought into the smart TV hype and decided to explore it. It has been there, but I never utilised its smartness. Also, I am not such a TV person, so I didn't notice how much of a guzzler it is, but recently I have a guest that probably doesn't know it runs on data. She watches TV at a stretch. I subscribed 120GB and I am not sure of the balance before her coming, but I saw it drain in 4 days.


I want to know...

1) Are there cheaper/extremely fast data plans that some of you access?

2) Does anyone use Starlink here? How much is it? What is subscription? Where did you buy it? I have been nursing the idea of getting one. For work, not TV, please.

Cc: Mynd44
Nlfpmod

I suggest that you Showmax so that you may watch the newest films and cast them on your smart TV.

I don't really have time to watch my DSTV which is running on Compact Plus.... When I have some free time, I simply launch the Showmax app, choose a live match or interesting movie, and cast it to my laptop.

The only time I make use of my DSTV is to vote for my Friend at Nigeria Idol, or to Stream Simon's Snake in the City show.

Allardyce:
I suggest that you Showmax so that you may watch the newest films and cast them on your smart TV.

I don't really have time to watch my DSTV which is running on Compact Plus.... When I have some free time, I simply launch the Showmax app, choose a live match or interesting movie, and cast it to my laptop.

The only time I make use of my DSTV is to vote for my Friend at Nigeria Idol, or to Stream Simon's Snake in the City show.

Thanks for this suggestion. I take it that Showmax doesn't use data, right?

pocohantas:


Thanks for this suggestion. I take it that Showmax doesn't use data, right?

I can watch a ton of movies with my 22GB MTN subscription till my one-month Showmax hip runs out.

Just subscribe, you can start with the N1,200 Showmax monthly subscription and see.

Allardyce:


I can watch a ton of movies with my 22GB MTN subscription till my one-month Showmax hip runs out.

Just subscribe, you can start with the N1,200 Showmax monthly subscription and see.

Thanks once again. I will check it out.

To really enjoy your smart TV, you'd need to be in a situation where you never have to bother about how many GB/MB you have left in your data plan. I was reading on Nairaland recently that Airtel offers unlimited internet for 20k, but I think you might need a 5G router to enjoy the benefits, I'm not really sure so be sure to do a little more research or visit the nearest office. Starlink is also an alternative, I think the price of the setup was reduced recently to about 400k or thereabouts and monthly unlimited is 38k.

determination26:
To really enjoy your smart TV, you'd need to be in a situation where you never have to bother about how many GB/MB you have left in your data plan. I was reading on Nairaland recently that Airtel offers unlimited internet for 20k, but I think you might need a 5G router to enjoy the benefits, I'm not really sure so be sure to do a little more research or visit the nearest office. Starlink is also an alternative, I think the price of the setup was reduced recently to about 400k or thereabouts and monthly unlimited is 38k.

Thanks. I am not really worried about it as I have gotten used to data and electricity costs due to my work. However, people kept mentioning smart tv and I almost thought it was free to use. So, it was more of a shock for me.

The airtel 5g router sounds like a good idea. That is if truly Airtel offers unlimited at 20k.

unless you have unlimited data, using a smart TV for watching content is useless... and might as well stay with DSTV.

if you do have unlimited data, you can easily get an IPTV app on your smart TV and watch channels/movies/series/sport etc from all over the world.

MrBrownJay1:
unless you have unlimited data, using a smart TV for watching content is useless... and might as well stay with DSTV.

if you do have unlimited data, you can easily get an IPTV app on your smart TV and watch channels/movies/series/sport etc from all over the world.

I think expensive is the word.

What is IPTV, please?

determination26:
To really enjoy your smart TV, you'd need to be in a situation where you never have to bother about how many GB/MB you have left in your data plan. I was reading on Nairaland recently that Airtel offers unlimited internet for 20k, but I think you might need a 5G router to enjoy the benefits, I'm not really sure so be sure to do a little more research or visit the nearest office. Starlink is also an alternative, I think the price of the setup was reduced recently to about 400k or thereabouts and monthly unlimited is 38k.

Don't Airtel supply the router? Would be silly if they don't.

Sure they do, I actually read the post from a nairalander talking about how he has been enjoying the unlimited 20 (20 for 20mbps speed) from airtel. He stated that the router comes in two variants, an outdoor unit(ODU) and the normal 5G routers that usually come with a small power bank. I was reading as a guest and I didn't save the link to that particular post, it would have come in handy at this point. I don't know if it's just me, but lately, MTN data just seem like a bottle of fanta given to a toddler, it's exhausted in no time. I've spent 8k on data this week alone.

budaatum:


Don't Airtel supply the router? Would be silly if they don't.

pocohantas:
I think expensive is the word.

true... very expensive (thus beats the purpose)

What is IPTV, please?

IPTV is a term for apps out there that will give you all the channels of the world on your device ( Movie channels, sport, series and documentary, children and adult content etc from everywhere around the world... some are free, but most have a small fee. i pay €45 per year, for unlimited content... i wonder why people with unlimited internet still pay for cable TV. here is what i wrote on the subject a while ago:

MrBrownJay1:
if you have a smart TV, smartIPTV (for example) on your TV, you can test it for 1 month for free before having to pay a once in a lifetime €5.99 fee (per device). then just the m3u links to the different channels on the app for free (But its unstable as you have to them back again every few weeks) OR just pay one of the various sites who give you the steady link (around €45 per yr).

i used the free links for a few years til i decided to pay for the steady links. best choice ever. both have the exact same channels from movies, to live sport, to PPV, to documentary, to children, to adult content... in every single country you desire. i get no less than 20000 channels worldwide to choose from.

BTW if you use a computer/phone to watch or mirror content to TV, same can be done.

pocohantas:
Use smart TV they say,
Only mumu dey use DSTV.

the real answer, unfortunately, is PIRACY

5 years ago - netflix was the answer - but now everyone has their streaming platform - amazon, disney, netflix, hbo, peacock etc. if you are into tv show or movies, you will not find all the contant you want on one platform. also, the complaints about dstv increasing prices? all the platforms have been increasing their prices and reducing their quality of service. netflix has cracked down on / sharing, increased prices twice in six months - if these changes have not reached our side, they soon will

i have come to see disruption' as BS. streaming services were supposed to eliminate all the issues people had with cable tv - but today they are cable tv online. Ads are returning as an example

the way around it is like brownjay said - but you need to be techie to find your way around it

i simply whatever catches my fancy and make plans to watch it....eventually

i am sure you will soon have a bun in the oven, so you cannot say scrap dstv. you need PBS and ceebeebies so you can raise pikins speaking phone and with critical thinking. just ensure access to music channels , zee world and africa magic are blocked with a .

pocohantas:


I think expensive is the word.

What is IPTV, please?

IPTV = Internet Protocol Television.

TV content that is delivered via the internet and not by the usual cable, terrestrial or satellite waves.

I provide IPTV service, check my ads for more info

pocohantas:


Thanks for this suggestion. I take it that Showmax doesn't use data, right?

Why

pocohantas:


Thanks once again. I will check it out.

Installation of Starlink would cost you over ₦40 0k. And I think there's a ₦30k+ monthly fee. Good side is it's unlimited; monthly is monthly..no expiration midway.


Secondly, if you are on MTN, you could do a 150gb for ₦16k monthly on a MiFi (or your personal device then share hotspot). Dial *121# for the offer from MTN.

Either way, both the smart tv, Starlink and DSTv are expensive. I use them and I can tell you there's no cheaper option.

I stopped using DSTv too tho since I watched only football with it. I use a free app to stream Live Matches now.


Meanwhile, if you are the movie type, you can Movie Box on Appstore or Playstore and movies free. Any movies.

If you follow a tv program or want a larger selection of movies (selected for you), DSTv can help. There is a movie package too.


Netflix is also expensive but can give you latest movies too and you can't find every movie you want there cos some are on Amazon, HBO, Disney etc. You'd do a monthly subscription plus data.




Cheers.

chatinent:


Installation of Starlink would cost you over ₦40 0k. And I think there's a ₦30k+ monthly fee. Good side is it's unlimited; monthly is monthly..no expiration midway.


Secondly, if you are on MTN, you could do a 150gb for ₦16k monthly on a MiFi (or your personal device then share hotspot). Dial *121# for the offer from MTN.

Either way, both the smart tv, Starlink and DSTv are expensive. I use them and I can tell you there's no cheaper option.

I stopped using DSTv too tho since I watched only football with it. I use a free app to stream Live Matches now.


Meanwhile, if you are the movie type, you can Movie Box on Appstore or Playstore and movies free. Any movies.

If you follow a tv program or want a larger selection of movies (selected for you), DSTv can help. There is a movie package too.


Netflix is also expensive but can give you latest movies too and you can't find every movie you want there cos some are on Amazon, HBO, Disney etc. You'd do a monthly subscription plus data.






Cheers.

What if you pay less and still get all dis offer with IPTV 🙂.. I provide IPTV service. Check my ads for more info

GentleBosss:



What if you pay less and still get all dis offer with IPTV 🙂.. I provide IPTV service. Check my ads for more info

Tell me about it.

Can 1TB last one for a year?

I am considering subscribing Mtn 1TB data plan for 100k.I think in the long run it saves money.

pocohantas:


Thanks. I am not really worried about it as I have gotten used to data and electricity costs due to my work. However, people kept mentioning smart tv and I almost thought it was free to use. So, it was more of a shock for me.

The airtel 5g router sounds like a good idea. That is if truly Airtel offers unlimited at 20k.

Yes they do, we just got 1 last week and for the first time in years we are not bothered about data exhaustion for work and for entertainment.

Rayd502:
Can 1TB last one for a year?

I am considering subscribing Mtn 1TB data plan for 100k.I think in the long run it saves money.

For a heavy , NO.

You never chop belleful you run go buy smart TV, for this kind Tinubu economy?

I'm also on the search for the most affordable monthly plan for smart TV and laptop. We got an MTN router and did one plan for 8k and the data got exhausted by the next day. How can one unlock the router so I can do the unlimited Airtel subscription?

pocohantas:
Use smart TV they say,
Only mumu dey use DSTV.

c

Okay..

Fg

Smart tv is abay

.

Your mistake is using the smart TV pre installed apps. What guys with tech know-how are doing is just get Amazon firestick and connect to the TV, then subscribe unlimited data. With firestick it consumes less data and you still have more TV channels at your disposal. Do your research

I said it.I really weighed the pros and cons and since I don't even watch TV I bought a flash drive then ed some animations movies for my kids, and slotted into the tv for them.
Every other month I like ten more from the Moviebox app for them.
Everybody is now at rest

For those asking.below is what it looks like.I just checked out playstore and discovered there's an update so the app looks diff now and I can't tell which.

Ist pic is the app
2nd is what it looks like when it's opened