An insider says Wananchi Group’s home entertainment brand Zuku has been losing hundreds of customers every week as competitors slash prices to up to 60 percent and as more affordable players set up shop.
To counter this and retain its customers and sign up new ones Zuku will offer 90 days free television subscription to new customers who purchase Zuku TV services from today while existing customers will be offered free 30 days television viewing on their current bouquet based on referrals they give for any new customer from September 15.
By giving customers three months free viewing of the Zuku Smart bouquet which has 36 Digital TV channels and 18 radio stations, Zuku aims to wean them to more expensive channels or even retain them. After the 90 days expire, customers will have the option to retain the current bouquet for only Kshs. 399 or to upgrade to other packages available; Zuku Classic and Zuku Premium for Kshs. 999 for 72 channels and Kshs.1399 for 99 channels respectively.
Zuku 3-play, which gives customers both TV, Internet and Phone has started to give customers who want Internet only as way to help retain them.
TechMoran is yet to confirm is this promotion is present in Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi where Zuku operates or just in Kenya. Earlier Zuku used to give a one month of free subscription to customers who paid six months subscription consecutively while those who paid Zuku Smart for 12 months consecutively or in advance received two months free subscription but seems this did not have much impact.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Zuku Satellite TV Managing Director Jay Chudasama said, “The Zuku TV Satellite will be offering three months free subscription to new customers. This offer will have no shelf life and begins in September moving forward. This free service offer outlines Zuku’s value for money proposition with a focus on delivery of high quality content at affordable prices. We offer our customers strong products and value for money service – the most affordable TV service with a focus on local content. Zuku provides strong, quality signal anywhere in the country that guarantees access to affordable family entertainment.”
But speaking to a number of customers randomly, Zuku’s problem is not only its pricing but its poor customer service and customers getting less bandwidth than they paid for. The phone service service is also clunky and doesn’t add any value to the package. Zuku also has millions of customers therefore straining its capacity to provide stable connections to all their customers.
