StarSat
 | |
| StarSat TopTV (previously) | |
| Company type | Public |
| Industry | Satellite television |
| Founded | 1 May 2010 |
| Headquarters | Block C, Riverview Office Park, Halfway Gardens x, 100 Bekker Road, , |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite, Pay-TV |
| Parent | StarTimes |
| Website | www |
StarSat (formerly TopTV until 31 October 2013[1]) is a South African direct broadcast satellite television service that began broadcasting on 1 May 2010.[2] StarSat is operated by On Digital Media,[3] who were granted a pay-TV license by ICASA in September 2007.[4] On Digital Media is currently 20% owned by Luxembourgish satellite operator SES and 20% owned by Chinese company StarTimes.[5] StarSat's service is aimed at the LSM 6-9 demographic, targeting middle class viewers.
History
On Digital Media (Pty) Ltd launched TopTV on 1 May 2010.[2]
On 30 April 2013, shareholders of On Digital Media voted to approve China-based company StarTimes taking over a 20% share of ODM. By doing so, StarTimes effectively acquired a 65% economic interest in ODM.[5] The vote also included adoption of a business rescue plan.[1]
TopTV was officially rebranded as StarSat on 31 October 2013.[1] The new packages and channels associated with the new brand were made available on 1 December 2013.[1][6]
Broadcast and Reception
StarSat services are broadcast via satellite, using the SES-5 satellite at the 5° east orbital position, and 3 of the six 36 MHz transponders in the "Sub Saharan Africa Ku-band" beam providing coverage of the whole sub-Saharan Africa region.[7] Transmissions are in the DVB-S2 MPEG-4 digital TV format with reception using a simple set-top box and with the Combo3 PVR decoder launched in 2011.
Conax is used as conditional access system.
See also
- Astra 4A broadcasting satellite
- Astra 5°E orbital position
- SES satellite operator
- Astra satellite family
- MX1
References
- ^ a b c d "Goodbye TopTV, Hello StarSat" (Press release). TVSA. October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ a b "TopTV Launch - Rise Up South Africa!" (Press release). On Digital Media. 29 April 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "On Digital Media website". Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ de Lanerolle, Indra (2011). "Convergence and regulation in South Africa: in search of a new public interest paradigm". info. 13 (3): 47–63.
- ^ a b "More delays in store for TopTV as shareholders head to court". City Press. 22 October 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "About Us". StarSat. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "Astra 4A". SES. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
