Launched by Airtel Kenya, Airtel TV is the carrier’s first Entertainment market attempt that will see subscribers watch Live TV Programs, and Video on Demand content on their smartphone screens.

As revealed by the telco, Airtel TV is the brand’s portal to connect users to local and International content at no cost. As seen in various markets like Uganda and India, the App holds content from some of the world’s top studios like CNN, BBC, and alot more.

Popular Airtel TV Channels

• CNN
• BBC
• Nickelodeon
• Telenovela
• Hollywood Movies
• Bollywood Plus
• Hollywood Shows
• Family TIme
• Kiddies
• Hollywood Hits
• Music Videos
• Blockbuster Movies
• NTV Kenya
• Citizen
• eTV Africa
• AlJazzera
• Among Others

How to Subscribe to Airtel TV (Free)

Apparently, Airtel TV is free in all markets where it’s available. But to cater for your subscription (what you would have paid), your Airtel data is used to stream all content on the App.

This means you need an active data connection to use the App without any subscription prompts. Thus, your data usage caters for the subscription cost you would have incurred for a monthly package.

Besides that fact that a no subscription plan is great, after all, you don’t have to care about any sort of monthly subscriptions. The App’s data usage guage (similar to that of YouTube) may surpass what may have been your subscription budget.

Hence, if compared to Apps like YOTV Channels which operates in Uganda with subscription packages, but free streaming (Zero data). Airtel TV would have been better with a 2-way standard, subscribe for free Data, or no-subscription in exchange for data usage.

However, the major difference between the two apps is the ability to stream with data and no-data (Zero data) where Airtel TV uses the former as YOTV cruises with the latter model.

The two apps have grown in popularity for their Ugandan-crisp content allowing users to watch live TV channels without any PayTV subscription or decoder needed.

Since both Apps have almost the same local channels and differing in on-demand content, choosing the best to install on your Smartphone requires a feature by feature balance and expenses factored into play.

Subscription

Airtel TV is a zero subscription TV streaming service, but a data-required App. This means, you don’t need to subscribe to any packages to use the app, but you need data to stream content on the App.

The App is 100% free and limited to Airtel users only, meaning you can’t stream content if connected to a VPN or another network.

On the other hand, YOTV Channels is a generic streaming App partially affiliated to MTN due to their recent partnership to create subscription packages for less on a Zero data model.

This means you need to pay for a subscription package to use the App, but don’t need data to stream/watch content on the App.

With YOTV, subscription packages are only available to MTN customers, though you can pay and use the service even when using a different network like Africell, Smile or Lyca Mobile.

Layout

Both Airtel TV and YOTV channels have responsive layouts that attract user attention when streaming content. However, the two differ in content layout, Airtel TV has a drawer layout, and with featured, Shows, Movies and Live TV as the active tabs a user can choose from.

Likely, YOTV has a landing layout with multiple tabs housing a Home,TV,VOD (Video on-demand),Recordings and Account menus a user can choose from. Identically, both Airtel TV and YOTV have a search form a user can use to locate videos by keyterm.

Data Consumption

While Airtel TV uses mobile data to run and stream all content on the App. YOTV is Zero-rated and doesn’t require any data to run and stream content. This means Airtel TV consumes the same amount of data you’d use to stream YouTube videos as YOTV will run without any data needed.

Number of Available channels

Both Airtel TV and YOTV allow you to stream all free to air local TV channels within the App. But the two differ on the Video-on-demand side with different video categories available to watch within any of the Apps.

YOTV features MunoWatch__a Ugandan translated movies channel that allows you to watch movies by top VJs in Uganda like VJ.Junior, VJ.Jingo among others on top of other channels featuring Nollywood, Hollywood and Soap movies under VOD.

Airtel TV, on the other hand, doesn’t house translated movies, but has Nollywood, Hollywood, and soap movies just like YOTV. In simple terms, Airtel TV is more like Startimes App dressed in the telco’s colors.

On a lucky patch, YOTV features Live Radio under its Live category. This means you can listen to FM Radio Stations using the App in case you’re not streaming videos. On the contrary, Airtel TV doesn’t have radio support, but full video support.

Extra Functionality

Pause, Rewind, Record, is the YOTV Channels slogan representing the App’s ability to pause Live TV, rewind Live TV in case of a missed scene and record to save on your Smartphone’s memory. This means you can watch 7 pm news at 10 PM incase you missed watching them.

Airtel TV on the other hand strictly allows you to watch and stream Video content, we realized no extra functionalities on top of the regular streaming procedure. This means, you watch content the same way you would on a TV by following your program guide.

The Best App to Choose: YOTV Channels

With the ability to pause live TV, watch already streamed Live TV programs, Record for better storage, on top of paying only a monthly subscription and stream with no-data (ZERO data).

YOTV is the best choice to stream LiveTV, Live Radio, and On-demand Content since you don’t need data to run the App on top of extensive features and ability to stream with any network connection.

On the other hand, Airtel TV misses catchy features and requires data to run in a country where data is considered expensive on top of being a necessity. More so, since the App only runs with Airtel data, it means you can’t utilise offers like Don’t be cheated. So, YOTV beats Airtel TV.

The App’s launch shined days after YoTV Channels partnered with MTN to allow its users to benefit from a no-data policy and still watch Live TV Channels in clear quality.

Well, as Airtel TV garners more popularity bulls, Installing and using it may be one of those useful procedures you need may to know. However, you need to have an active Internet bundle like Freaky Friday to use the App.

Installing the Airtel TV App on Your Smartphone

To download the Airtel TV App, simply head to your Smartphone’s Store, Google Playstore (for Android), and Apple store (for IOS). Enter the Airtel TV keyword to download the top result by Airtel Africa from the list.

• Visit the Google Playstore or Apple Store
• Enter the search term ” Airtel TV”
• Click the top result developed by Airtel Africa
• Install the app by clicking the download button
• Once installed, Open the App to signup or login
• Done: Load Airtel Data to start watching content

Once downloaded, open the App to allow any relevant permissions and hit the register button to or simply login if you had used the App before.

Installing Airtel TV on your Smart TV

Smart TVs run on mobile operating system models giving them the ability to run Smartphone apps. To use the Airtel Tv app, you can either mirror your Smartphone to the TV or Install the App through these steps:

• Visit the Google Playstore on your SmartTV
• Enter the Airtel TV search term
• Click on the first result by Airtel Africa and download the App
• Once Installed, locate the App on your apps list
• Open the App, then register to start watching Airtel TV content

How to Signup/register on the Airtel Tv App

To register on the Airtel TV App, you should have an active Airtel Simcardas non-Airtel numbers can’t be used on the App. This means, you must enter your 070 or 075 number to continue.

• To register on the Airtel TV App
• Open the App and click register
• Accept the App’s terms of use
• Enter your Airtel Number and Email (optional) to continue
• Wait for a one time Pin/Sms
• Enter the received Pin if not automactialy detected and hit submit
• Done: Enjoy Airtel TV content
• NB: You don’t need any subscription fees to watch, but an active data bundle.

Once registered, the Airtel TV App hosts on-demand TV content like Movies, Music videos to spice up the live local TV Channels you would still get on your Free to Air TV or decoder.

Editor’s Note: For Android users, Incase your Phone has playstore access issues, you can download the Airtel TV App manually from 3rd party providers like APK pure by simply searching the key term Airtel TV Apk to download from Google or any other search engine.

Unlike any other Streaming app in Uganda, Airtel TV is the first platform with full backing from a telecom operator and no direct affiliation to 3rd party Innovators. However, the App is limited to only the telco’s customers with no subscription fees attached on usage

According to the Airtel Managing Director, V.G Somasekhar, Airtel TV is part of the telco’s initiatives to promote local content and talent. Additionally, Airtel users are able to access the App without paying for any subscription fees, but only load a data bundle of their choice as he said:

The platform will deliver the very best of entertainment experience directly to all Airtel customers across the country. With our 4G network, subscribers will enjoy a seamless viewing experience without interruptions. We are confident that the platform will delight, entertain and inspire Airtel customers as it offers first-class entertainment

V.G Somasekhar – Managing Director, MTN Uganda

How to download the Airtel TV App

Airtel TV is currently available on the Google and Apple store for Android and IOS users respectively. Once downloaded, users are required to signup with an Airtel number where a One Time Pin (OTP) is sent for authentication.

Once registration is complete, all a user requires is an active Airtel data bundle to stream content on the App. However, once the data expires, then the app can’t work until a new data bundle or Freaky Friday offer is loaded.

All in All, Airtel’s new streaming App is a disruptive piece of Innovation that will mount stiff competition on PayTv providers with YoTV in the green corner allowing MTN users to stream local content without any active data bundles but instead an active subscription plan.