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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Ferndale, Randburg, South Africa |
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| 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.
Contents |
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 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.
Channels
DStv has expanded its offering to nearly 100 video channels and 78 audio channels. In August 2008 Multichoice introduce its first HDTV channel M-Net HD on channel 170. In early 2010 it will launch an additional three HDTV channels, MNet Movies HD, SuperSport HD and a documentery channel.
General Entertainment & Movies
100 - DStv Guide
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
108 - Hallmark Channel
109 - TCM
110 - M-Net Series
111 - KykNET
112 - Magic World
113 - Sony Entertainment Television
114 - Africa Magic
115 - Africa Magic +
120 - BBC Entertainment
123 -
124 - E! Entertainment
125 - Zone Reality
126 - Animax
131 - SABC 1
132 - SABC 2
133 - SABC 3
134 - e.tv
137 - BTV
150 - Soweto TV
HD
170 - M-Net HD
Lifestyle
180 - BBC Lifestyle
181 - Travel Channel
182 - The Home Channel
183 - Style Network
184 - Fashion TV
198 - Events - Big Brother Africa 4
199 - Events
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 Channel
251 - BBC Knowledge
254 - The History Channel
255 - Crime & Investigation Network
260 - National Geographic Channel
261 - Nat Geo Wild
264 - Animal Planet
265 - Ignition
Children
301 - Cartoon Network
302 - Boomerang
303 - Disney Channel
305 - Nickelodeon
306 - BBC CBeebies
307 - Koowee
319 - Mindset Learn
Music
320 - Channel O
321 - MTV Europe
322 - MTV Base
323 - VH1
324 - MK
325 - Trace TV
331 - One Gospel
Religion
341 - TBN
343 - Rhema
347 - Islam Channel
350 - Inspiration TV
News & Commerce
400 - BBC World News
401 - CNN International
402 - Sky News
403 - eNews Channel
404 - EuroNews
405 - Russia Today
406 - Al Jazeera International
408 - Parliament Channel
410 - CNBC Africa
411 - Bloomberg
412 - Summit TV
415 - Weather Channel
Specialist & Separate Subscription
430 - Raitalia
431 - BVN-TV
432 - ERT World
440 - RTL
441 - SAT1
442 - Das Erste
443 - ZDF
444 - Pro Sieben
445 - 3SAT
446 - Deutsche Welle
447 - CCTV 4
448 - CCTV 9
450 - SET Asia
451 - B4U Movies
452 - Zee TV
453 - NDTV 247
454 - Sun TV
456 - Saffron TV
457 - SET Max
501 - RTP Internacional
502 - SIC International
510 - TV 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 - Rai International Satelradio
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. More details can be found at the rites blog[1]
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
- DStv Premium
- DStv Compact
- DStv EasyView
- DStv Portuguesa
- DStv Indian N
- DStv Indian S
Vodacom Packages
- DStv Select 1
- DStv Select 2
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
