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 2010[1]
131 - SABC 1
132 - SABC 2
133 - SABC 3
134 - e.tv
137 - Botswana Television
150 - Soweto TV
151 - Lesotho TV[disambiguation needed]
HD
170 - M-Net HD
171 - SuperSport HD 1
172 - Discovery HD Showcase
173 - i Concert HD :-Sub-Saharan Africa
174 - SuperSport HD 2
175 - M-Net Movies 1 HD
Lifestyle
180 - BBC Lifestyle
181 - Travel Channel
182 - The Home Channel
183 - Style Network
184 - Fashion TV
198 - Event 1
199 - Event 2
Sport
200 - SuperSport Update
201 - SuperSport 1
202 - SuperSport 2
203 - SuperSport 3
204 - SuperSport 4
205 - SuperSport 5
206 - SuperSport 6
207 - SuperSport 7
208 - SuperSport Maximo
209 - SuperSport Select
230 - ESPN
231 - ESPN Classic
232 - TellyTrack
247 - SuperSport Action
Documentary
250 - Discovery World
251 - BBC Knowledge
254 - The History Channel
255 - Crime & Investigation Network
260 - National Geographic Channel
261 - Nat Geo Wild
264 - Animal Planet
265 - Ignition[disambiguation needed]
Children
301 - Cartoon Network
302 - Boomerang
303 - Disney Channel
305 - Nickelodeon
306 - BBC CBeebies
307 - Koowee
308 - KidsCo
319 - Mindset Learn
Music
320 - Channel O
321 - MTV Europe
322 - MTV Base
323 - VH1
324 - MK
325 - Trace TV
326 - AfroMusic
331 - One Gospel
111 - venda tv
Religion
341 - TBN
343 - Rhema
344 - Daystar
347 - Islam Channel
350 - Inspiration TV
News and commerce
400 - BBC World News
401 - CNN International
402 - Sky News
403 - E News channel
404 - EuroNews
405 - Russia Today
406 - Al Jazeera English
407 - NDTV 24x7
408 - Parliament Channel
410 - CNBC Africa
411 - Bloomberg
412 - Summit TV
415 - Weather Channel and News24
Specialist and separate subscription
430 - Raitalia
431 - BVN
432 - ERT World
440 - RTL Television
441 - Sat.1
442 - Das Erste
443 - ZDF
444 - ProSieben
445 - 3sat
446 - Deutsche Welle
447 - CCTV-4
448 - CCTV-9
450 - Sony Entertainment Television Asia
451 - B4U Movies
452 - Zee TV
454 - Sun TV
456 - Saffron TV
457 - SET Max
501 - RTP Internacional
502 - SIC Internacional
510 - Rede Globo
607 - TV5 Monde Afrique
Audio Channels
DMX Music
101 - Adult Contemporary
102 - Euro Hits
103 - Hot Traxx
104 - 70’s Hits
105 - 80’s Hits
106 - Familiar Favourites
107 - Soft Hits
108 - Love Songs
109 - Metro Blend
110 - City Scapes
111 - Groove Lounge
112 - Subterranean
113 - Power Hits
114 - Dance
115 - Electro Sphere
116 - Campus Rock
117 - Alternate Rock
118 - Hard Rock
119 - Classic Rock
120 - Golden Oldies
121 - Rock N Roll
122 - Classic R & B
123 - Urban Adult Contemporary
124 - Urban Beat
125 - Reggae
126 - Modern Country
127 - Traditional Country
128 - Gospel
129 - African Rhythm
130 - Italian Contemporary
131 - Smooth Jazz
132 - Jazz
133 - Blues
134 - Beautiful Instrumentals
135 - Contemporary Instrumentals
136 - New Age
137 - Light Classical
138 - Arias And Overtures
139 - Chamber Music
140 - Symphonic
Radio Stations
150 - BBC World Service 1
151 - BBC World Service 2
152 - BBC World Service 3
153 - Voice Of America
154 - World Radio Network
155 - Trans World Radio
156 - Talk Radio 702
157 - Classic FM
158 - Jacaranda FM
159 - YFM
160 - Chinese Radio International
161 - Kaya FM
162 - Raitalia Radio
163 - Radio Nederland Wereldomroep
164 - Radio Nederland Wereldomroep 2
165 - Channel Islam International
166 - Radio France Internationale
167 - Radio Wave
168 - Radio Energy
169 - 1485AM Radio
170 - Radio Veritas
171 - Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal
172 - TransAfrica Radio
173 - Jhankaar
174 - KL
175 - Link FM
176 - Radio Kosmos
178 - Jozi FM
179 - 94.7 Highveld Stereo
180 - 94.5 Kfm
181 - Metro FM
Free to Air Channels
There are several free-to-air channels available on DSTV simply by adding settings onto the decoder (excluding any of the HD Decoder models). More details can be found at the rites blog [2]
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 [3](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[4]. 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.
References
- ^ "DStv Channels: Animax killed, but a new channel will fill the gap". MyBroadband.co.za. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ http://rory.sharp.fm/rites/2006/01/freetoair_tv_channels_on_pas71.html
- ^ http://www.dstv.com/dstvsa/content/en/dstvsa/about_xtraView
- ^ http://www.dstv.com/dstvsa/content/en/dstvsa/hd