In 1986, pay-television came to South Africa when a single-channel analogue service, M-Net, was launched by Naspers and local businesses/companies. For almost seven years, all of M-Net's operations were handled by a single dedicated company until 1995 when a second subsidiary company, MultiChoice, was launched. This company would take over the operations of M-Net including decoder sales, subscriber services (which were also available in local shops) and account management. MultiChoice would also embark on establishing presence in multiple countries outside South Africa.
Not long after, a digital satellite service in South Africa was announced by MultiChoice and was launched that same year on 6 October 1995 as DStv, an abbreviation for Digital Satellite Television. On its launch, the debut television channels included M-Net, MGM, TNT, Sci-Fi Universal, SuperSport, ESPN, Cartoon Network, BBC World News, CNN International and Sky News. Over the 2 decades since then till today, television channels launch on the platform when channel carriage contracts are signed and/or renewed between MultiChoice and another media conglomerate/broadcaster and ceases transmission when channel carriage contracts are not renewed.
This was followed by the launch of new services including: W4 Eutelsat satellite with Ku-band services to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands in 2000, Interactive Television in 2002, the Dual-view decoder in 2003, and the DStv PVR decoder and the DStv Compact subscription package bundle in 2005.
The year 2008 saw the introduction of the HD PVR decoder, the XtraView decoder and the high definition feed of the M-Net channel.
In 2010, DVB over IP (Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol) and DStv Catchup services were launched, as well as the HD PVR 2P decoder same year and M-Net Movies 1 got simulcast in high definition for the first time. DStv BoxOffice (a film/movie rental/on-demand service) and DStv Mobile were launched in 2011. Since 2012, DStv has also been re-broadcast on Saint Helena, but with only 30 selected channels.[2]
As of 2022, Canal+ retains a 20.1% stake on DStv.
Channels and bouquets
DStv airs more than 200 television channels and radio stations. The list of channels differ and vary across the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. There are five or six bouquets/packages, each with a different price range, and four add-on packages for premium film and series channels, Indian, Portuguese, French channels.[3] Most current-day DStv decoders also offer access to MultiChoice's streaming platform, Showmax, along with other third-party apps through broadband connection and/or Wi-Fi connection.
Reception equipment
DStv has their set-top boxes manufactured by domestic company, Altech UEC, along with Arris International (for South Africa only) and Chinese electronics company, Skyworth, for the rest of the continent. The choice of boxes include a standard box with "XtraView" capabilities, an older personal video recorder, and the then-newest PVR box known as the Explora. An additional decoder known as the currently-discontinued Drifta allows the conversion of a DStv DVB-H signal to another digital device such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone for portable in-home viewing.[4]
DStv App
DStv also offers a mobile app for mobile phone and tablet devices, along with PC to control DVRs and parental controls and allow access to recorded content and video on demand services. The app was previously known as DStv Mobile until 2016 and DStv Now until 2020.
Controversies
Price fixing
In May 2017, DStv admitted to price fixing and contravening the Competition Act and agreed to pay R22 million in penalty fees as well as R8 million to the Economic Development Fund of South Africa.[5]
References
^McLeod, Duncan (11 November 2019). "DStv rakes in subscribers, but they're spending less on average". Tech Central. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
^"Television | Saint Helena Island Info: All about St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean". Saint Helena Information Website. Saint Helena. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
^"Compare DStv Packages". DStv South Africa. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^. DStv. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
^Lindeque, Mia (26 May 2017). "DStv agrees to pay R22m penalty for price-fixing". EWN. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
External links
Official website
April 24, 2023
dstv, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2014, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources DStv news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Digital Satellite Television commonly abbreviated to DStv is a Sub Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service owned by MultiChoice and based in Randburg South Africa Launched on 6 October 1995 the service provides multiple audio radio and television channels and services to subscribers 1 mostly in South Africa Nigeria and Zimbabwe DStv formerly had operations in Thailand under United Broadcasting Corporation UBC which is now TrueVisions DStvTypePublicIndustryPay televisionFounded6 October 1995 27 years ago 6 October 1995 HeadquartersRandburg City of Johannesburg South AfricaArea servedSub Saharan AfricaProductsDirect Broadcast SatelliteIPTVServicesCable televisionStreaming televisionOwnerMultiChoice 79 9 Canal 20 1 WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 2 Channels and bouquets 3 Reception equipment 3 1 DStv App 4 Controversies 4 1 Price fixing 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditIn 1986 pay television came to South Africa when a single channel analogue service M Net was launched by Naspers and local businesses companies For almost seven years all of M Net s operations were handled by a single dedicated company until 1995 when a second subsidiary company MultiChoice was launched This company would take over the operations of M Net including decoder sales subscriber services which were also available in local shops and account management MultiChoice would also embark on establishing presence in multiple countries outside South Africa Not long after a digital satellite service in South Africa was announced by MultiChoice and was launched that same year on 6 October 1995 as DStv an abbreviation for Digital Satellite Television On its launch the debut television channels included M Net MGM TNT Sci Fi Universal SuperSport ESPN Cartoon Network BBC World News CNN International and Sky News Over the 2 decades since then till today television channels launch on the platform when channel carriage contracts are signed and or renewed between MultiChoice and another media conglomerate broadcaster and ceases transmission when channel carriage contracts are not renewed This was followed by the launch of new services including W4 Eutelsat satellite with Ku band services to Sub Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands in 2000 Interactive Television in 2002 the Dual view decoder in 2003 and the DStv PVR decoder and the DStv Compact subscription package bundle in 2005 The year 2008 saw the introduction of the HD PVR decoder the XtraView decoder and the high definition feed of the M Net channel In 2010 DVB over IP Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol and DStv Catchup services were launched as well as the HD PVR 2P decoder same year and M Net Movies 1 got simulcast in high definition for the first time DStv BoxOffice a film movie rental on demand service and DStv Mobile were launched in 2011 Since 2012 DStv has also been re broadcast on Saint Helena but with only 30 selected channels 2 As of 2022 Canal retains a 20 1 stake on DStv Channels and bouquets EditThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources DStv news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message DStv airs more than 200 television channels and radio stations The list of channels differ and vary across the regions of Sub Saharan Africa There are five or six bouquets packages each with a different price range and four add on packages for premium film and series channels Indian Portuguese French channels 3 Most current day DStv decoders also offer access to MultiChoice s streaming platform Showmax along with other third party apps through broadband connection and or Wi Fi connection Reception equipment EditDStv has their set top boxes manufactured by domestic company Altech UEC along with Arris International for South Africa only and Chinese electronics company Skyworth for the rest of the continent The choice of boxes include a standard box with XtraView capabilities an older personal video recorder and the then newest PVR box known as the Explora An additional decoder known as the currently discontinued Drifta allows the conversion of a DStv DVB H signal to another digital device such as a laptop tablet or smartphone for portable in home viewing 4 DStv App Edit DStv also offers a mobile app for mobile phone and tablet devices along with PC to control DVRs and parental controls and allow access to recorded content and video on demand services The app was previously known as DStv Mobile until 2016 and DStv Now until 2020 Controversies EditPrice fixing Edit In May 2017 DStv admitted to price fixing and contravening the Competition Act and agreed to pay R22 million in penalty fees as well as R8 million to the Economic Development Fund of South Africa 5 References Edit McLeod Duncan 11 November 2019 DStv rakes in subscribers but they re spending less on average Tech Central Retrieved 28 May 2020 Television Saint Helena Island Info All about St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean Saint Helena Information Website Saint Helena Retrieved 5 November 2021 Compare DStv Packages DStv South Africa Retrieved 25 May 2019 Drifta decoders DStv Archived from the original on 26 May 2012 Retrieved 23 June 2013 Lindeque Mia 26 May 2017 DStv agrees to pay R22m penalty for price fixing EWN Retrieved 30 August 2017 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title DStv amp oldid 1149054869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
