DStv
| File:DStv.PNG | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Ferndale, Randburg, South Africa |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite |
| Website | www.DStv.com |
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.
History
Pay-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 R4,000 and R4,500, while the monthly subscription fee was R175.
The original video channel bouquet consisted of 17 channels: M-Net, Movie Magic, TNT Classic Movies, Sci-Fi Channel[disambiguation needed], SuperSport, ESPN, Hallmark Channel, SelecTV, Travel Channel, K-TV, Cartoon Network, BBC World, CNN International, Sky News, Trinity, VH-1 and TV5 Afrique.
Channels
DStv 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.
General entertainment and movies
100 - dish
101 - M-Net
102 - M-Net Africa
103 - M-Net Movies 1
104 - M-Net Movies 2
105 - M-Net Stars
106 - M-Net Action
107 - Mzansi Magic
108 - Universal Channel
109 - TCM
110 - M-Net Series
111 - KykNET
112 - Magic World
113 - Sony Entertainment Television
114 - Africa Magic
115 - Africa Magic Plus
120 - BBC Entertainment
121 - Discovery Channel
123 - Vuzu
124 - E! Entertainment
125 - Zone Reality
126 - Animax - DStv have indicated that this channel will be discontinued on October 31 2010Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
Sentech Vivid
11170V
26657 S/R
5/6 FEC
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.
The SABC radio channels are available FTA.
Packages
Currently MultiChoice and Vodacom offer DStv subscriptions:
MultiChoice Packages
Vodacom Packages
Decoders
DStv has range of decoders (set-top box) manufactured by Altech UEC and Pace. The latest decoders allow subscribers to use XtraView. This allows a subscriber to link two decoders under a single subscription at a cost R65, to increase the viewing environments [1](similar to Sky‘s multiroom).
Standard Decoder
The Standard Decoder (DSD 1110 and DSD 1131) is DStv’s entry level single view decoder, manufactured by Altech UEC. It has XtraView capability, where it can be linked to itself or the HD PVR.
HD PVR
A High Definition PVR which was first released in 24 July 2008. It contains a 500GB hard drive, allowing recordings of 150 standard definition content and/or 50 hours of high definition content[2]. The HD PVR is XtraView cable being able to link to itself, the standard decoder or the SD PVR.
They are currently two versions available of the HD PVR:
- HD PVR (4 tuner) was the initial HD decoder, it’s manufactured by Altech UEC and Pace. It allows to view one channel and concurrently record another two channels.
- HD PVR 2P (2 tuner) was released in May 2010, a cheaper version to the 4 tuner currently only being manufactured by Pace but a Altech UEC version is expected. It allows to view one channel and simultaneously record one channel.
Discontinued decoders
These are decoders which DStv no longer produces:
- SD PVR, DStv’s first personal video recoder which allowed to view two and record one concurrently. It was manufactured by Altech UEC and has XtraView capability with the HD PVR.
- Dual-View decoder is a decoder which allowed two separate viewing environments. It was manufactured by Altech UEC.