StarTimes Prices 2026: Bouquets, Channels & Support

Last updated: July 2026

StarTimes is one of the two big budget pay-TV services in Nigeria, and its prices, bouquet names, and contact numbers have all changed considerably over the years. Plenty of guides online still quote figures from a different era, which is why subscribers keep paying for packages that no longer exist.

This guide covers what StarTimes actually offers in 2026: the current bouquets and prices, what each one includes, the customer care channels that genuinely respond, and the quick fixes for the problems subscribers report most.

What StarTimes Is

StarTimes is a Chinese-owned digital TV operator that entered Nigeria in 2010 through a partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority, making it the first digital terrestrial service in the market. It has since grown into one of the largest pay-TV operators in Africa, and in Nigeria it competes directly with GOtv for the budget end of the market.

It sells two distinct products. The antenna service uses a small aerial and covers most major cities, and it is the cheaper of the two. The dish service uses a satellite dish and reaches areas where the terrestrial signal is weak, including much of rural Nigeria. Which one suits you depends mainly on where you live, and a local dealer can confirm which signal is stronger in your area.

StarTimes Bouquets and Prices in 2026

The antenna service runs four main bouquets. Nova is the entry tier at ₦2,100 a month, carrying local channels, news, and a basic entertainment mix. Basic follows at ₦4,000, adding more movies, kids’ content, and international channels. Classic sits at ₦6,000 with a broader spread of sport, series, and documentaries. Super tops the standard range at ₦9,800 with the fullest channel count and the strongest football coverage, and a dedicated Chinese-content bouquet sits alongside for those who want it.

If you last checked prices a few years ago, these will look sharply higher. The old ₦900 Nova and ₦1,300 Basic are long gone, and the former top tier called Unique no longer exists under that name. Prices are also reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure in the StarTimes ON app before paying.

The dish bouquets differ slightly in name and content from the antenna ones, since the satellite platform carries its own lineup. A dealer or the app will show the dish-specific options for your account type.

Why hardcoded channel lists go wrong

You will find sites listing every channel in every bouquet. Treat those lists with caution. StarTimes adds, drops, and moves channels regularly, which is why subscribers keep asking why a channel from an old list no longer appears. The reliable way to check what your bouquet includes today is the StarTimes ON app or the official StarTimes website, both of which reflect the live lineup rather than a snapshot from years ago.

As a guide to the categories rather than the specifics: Nova leans on Nigerian free-to-air channels and news, Basic adds international entertainment and kids’ channels, Classic brings in more sport and documentary content, and Super carries the premium football and movie channels that justify its price.

StarTimes Decoders and What They Cost

A StarTimes starter kit comes with the decoder, a remote, an outdoor antenna, and typically a free first period on one of the bouquets. Kit prices vary by promotion and dealer, so treat any specific figure you see online as a starting point rather than a fixed price, and confirm with an accredited dealer.

The decoders come in standard and HD versions, along with combo models that handle both terrestrial and satellite signals. If you are choosing between them, the HD decoder is worth the difference on any modern television, and the combo makes sense if you might move between antenna and dish coverage areas.

For the full setup process, from mounting the antenna to running your first channel scan, our guide on how to install a StarTimes decoder and antenna walks through every step without a technician.

How to Pay for Your Subscription

The StarTimes ON app is the most complete option. It shows your balance, lets you pay by card or transfer, and displays the current bouquet lineup so you can see exactly what you are buying. It is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Beyond the app, most Nigerian banks list StarTimes under bill payments in their USSD and mobile banking menus, and physical recharge remains available through dealers and agents. Whichever route you use, keep the decoder switched on while paying, since the activation signal reaches it over the air and cannot land on a powered-off box.

If you have paid and the channels have not opened, give it up to fifteen minutes before troubleshooting. If they still refuse to show, our guide on resetting a StarTimes decoder after payment covers the fix in the right order, starting with the checks that solve most cases without a full reset.

StarTimes Customer Care: The Channels That Work

StarTimes runs several support channels in Nigeria, and knowing which to use for which problem saves real time.

The customer care lines are 01-4618888, 09-4618888, and 0201-4618888, with the 0201 number operating around the clock. Have your smartcard number ready before you dial, since it is the first thing every agent asks for. You will find it on the card itself or in the decoder’s General Information menu.

For those who prefer chat, the WhatsApp line is 0817 239 8696. StarTimes is also genuinely responsive on its verified social accounts, particularly on X at StarTimes_Ng and its official Facebook page, which is often the fastest route for account issues that need a human.

For self-service, the StarTimes ON app clears common error codes and checks your balance without any waiting, and the contact form on the official website handles written complaints. For physical faults, a broken remote, or a dish realignment, StarTimes business halls operate in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.

Quick Fixes for the Most Common Problems

A few issues come up constantly in subscriber questions, and most have simple answers.

Channels missing after a rescan usually means the signal was weak during the scan. Check your antenna connection, then run the automatic search again from the menu. If a specific channel has vanished entirely, check the current bouquet lineup in the app first, since StarTimes may simply have moved or dropped it.

Picture with no sound on some channels usually traces to the AV cables. Reseat all three, matching yellow to yellow for video and red and white to their matching audio sockets. On a single channel, press the Track button on the remote, since some channels carry multiple audio tracks and the decoder occasionally lands on an empty one.

A subscription that expires faster than expected is usually a bouquet mismatch, where the payment amount bought fewer days on a higher tier than intended. Check which bouquet the payment actually landed on through the app before assuming a fault.

For error messages on screen, from smartcard errors to no-service warnings, our guide on fixing common StarTimes errors explains what each one means and the exact steps to clear it.

Is StarTimes Worth It in 2026?

For the price, genuinely yes, with honest caveats. StarTimes remains one of the cheapest routes to a decent channel lineup in Nigeria, and its football coverage at the Classic and Super tiers is strong for the money. Its weaknesses are fewer premium channels than DStv and a channel lineup that shifts more often than subscribers would like.

If you are weighing it against the alternatives, our comparison of DStv, GOtv, and StarTimes puts all three side by side on price, sport, and reliability.

Whichever bouquet you choose, confirm the current price in the app before paying, keep your smartcard number saved somewhere findable, and use the 0201-4618888 line or WhatsApp when something needs a human. For the live bouquet lineup, current promotions, and the contact form, the official StarTimes contact page is the authoritative place to check.

Frenzy valentine

Frenzy valentine is a passionate blogger, developer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and author of myfreshgists.com.