add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Digital Satellite Television (also known as DStv) is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. In South Africa and neighbouring countries, it broadcasts on Ku band via the Intelsat 7 and 10 satellite (PAS7 and PAS10), which only requires a small satellite dish, while several other countries in the rest of Africa receive broadcasts via both Ku band and C-Band which requires a larger 1.2m dish. Subscribers in South Africa also receive the South African Broadcasting Corporation's three terrestrial channels, SABC 1, 2 and 3 and the privately owned free-to-air terrestrial channel e.tv. These are not available to subscribers elsewhere, for rights reasons, although until August 1, 2008, they could receive the SABC Africa channel, until it was dropped by DStv due to poor performance. Other countries are also able to receive their terrestrial channels, including TV Uganda and TV Mozambique. In each case for rights reasons these terrestrial channels are not available to subscribers outside the 'home' countries. DStv has numerous products and services, in 2005 introduced its own Personal Video Recorder (PVR). On 24 July 2008 they introduced the High Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD PVR) which allows the subscriber to record DStv's content. This functionality is similar to that found on set-top Digital Video Recorder units in other countries, such as Britain's Sky+ PVR. However, neither of these systems allow viewers to download or archive the recorded content.
[edit] HistoryPay-television came to South Africa in 1986, when an analogue, single-channel service, M-Net, was launched by Naspers. For almost seven years, all M-Net's operations were handled by a single company. Then, in 1993, Naspers created a subsidiary company, Multichoice, which was to handle the business arm of M-Net, such as decoder sales, subscriber services and account management. In 1995, Multichoice announced that it was launching a new digital, satellite service in South Africa and, on October 6, 1995, DStv was officially activated to subscribers. A digital satellite decoder cost between 4,000 and 4,500 rand, while the monthly subscription fee was 175 rand. The original video channel bouquet consisted of 17 channels: M-Net, Movie Magic, TNT Classic Movies, Sci-Fi Channel, SuperSport, ESPN, Hallmark Channel, SelecTV, Travel Channel, K-TV, Cartoon Network, BBC World, CNN International, Sky News, Trinity, VH-1 and TV5 Afrique. [edit] ChannelsDStv has expanded its offering to nearly 100 video channels and 78 audio channels. In August 2008 Multichoice introduced its first HDTV channel, M-Net HD on channel 170. On 15 December 2009 the second HD channel, a documentary channel, Discovery HD Showcase started on channel 172 and a sport channel, SuperSport HD started broadcasting on 26 December 2009 on channel 171. [edit] General entertainment and movies100 - DStv Guide [edit] HD170 - M-Net HD [edit] Lifestyle180 - BBC Lifestyle [edit] Sport200 - SuperSport Update [edit] Documentary250 - Discovery Channel [edit] Children301 - Cartoon Network [edit] Music320 - Channel O [edit] Religion341 - TBN [edit] News and commerce400 - BBC World News [edit] Specialist and separate subscription430 - Raitalia [edit] Audio Channels[edit] DMX Music101 - Adult Contemporary [edit] Radio Stations150 - BBC World Service 1 [edit] Free to Air ChannelsThere are several free-to-air channels available on DSTV simply by adding settings onto the decoder. More details can be found at the rites blog[1] [edit] Sentech Vivid11170V This bouquet carries the SABC channels as well as e.tv. These services are encrypted and require a Vivid decoder and smart card. It also carries several free to air TV and radio services including SABC News International and God TV. [edit] PackagesCurrently MultiChoice and Vodacom offer DStv subscriptions: [edit] MultiChoice Packages[edit] Vodacom Packages[edit] External links | |||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
