“As TopTV continues to operate under the business rescue plan, announced in October 2012, it has become necessary to review the pay-TV operator’s current channel line-up and make certain adjustments in the interim period,” the beleaguered satellite pay-TV operator said.

The operator said in its statement that it regrets the timing of this change, but explained that due to operational reasons it has become necessary to prepare for a proposed new channel structure.

TopTV added that it is currently in negotiations with a prospective investor, saying that more details regarding this issue will be made public in the coming weeks.

“These talks are at an advanced stage and should they reach finality, a much-needed cash injection will be made into the operation that could result in a restructure of the business and the channels that are currently on offer,” TopTV said.

*information obtained from mybroadband

Includes dish kit and installation

6 March 2013

MultiChoice completed its annual price review and would like to advise its customers of the new subscription price which will come into effect on 1 April 2013. We are sending every customer an email or a postal letter indicating your pricing. We would like to thank you for your support of DStv during 2012. We look forward to continue to provide you with great entertainment in 2013.

The following will increase with effect from 1 April 2013:

DStv Premium from R590 to R625

DStv Compact from R260 to R275

DStv Select from R166 to R175

Access Fee for PVR and/or XtraView from R65 to R70 *PVRs and/or XtraView is billed only one access fee per month

Analogue (MNet Only) from R285 to R300

The following packages and services will NOT increase:

DStv Lite

DStv Mobile *Remains free to DStv Premium customers

Decoder Care Contracts

A more comprehensive table indicating all the prices is included at the bottom of this message. If you would like to get in touch with us, dial the call centre or use one of the following alternative touchpoints:

1. Self-service: DStv.com/SelfService – account details, reset error codes, payments
2. More information: Press OK on your DStv Remote to access Easy Info
3. Via social media: facebook/DStv; twitter @DStvCare; DStv Forum on DStv.com – responses during business hours
4. Via email: enquiries@multichoice.co.za - responses within 24 hours
5. Via telephone: 011 289 2222 (or your locally-listed number if outside of Johannesburg) – operational 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week

Adjusted Packages/Services as of 1 April 2013:

DStv Premium Bouquet

DStv Compact

DStv Select 1 & 2

DStv EasyView from R20 to R29

Access Fee for Dual-View, PVR and/or XtraView

DStv Premium with MNet Analogue/Terrestrial

DStv Indian (North + South) Bouquet from R466,20 to R493,90

DStv North + South Indian Add-On from R300,30 to R318,10

DStv North Indian + Portuguesa from R530,30 to R561,80

DStv North Indian Add-On from R171 to R181,10

DStv North Indian Bouquet from R265,10 to R280,80

DStv Portuguesa Bouquet from R265,10 to R280,80

DStv Portuguesa Add-On from R171 to R181,10

DStv South Indian Add-On from R129,30 to R137

DStv South Indian Bouquet from R201,10 to R213

ZEE TV from R123,80 to R131,10

EastNet from R36,10 to R38,20

Standard Repair – Standard Decoder from R342 to R365

Standard Repair – Dual View from R399 to R425

Standard Repair – DStv PVR (SD + HD) from R479 to R510

Standard Repair – MNet Analogue/Terrestrial Decoder from R433 to R460

There’s no increase to below products:

DStv Lite

DStv Mobile *Remains free to DStv Premium customers

Decoder Care Contracts – Single View

Decoder Care Contracts – Dual View

Decoder Care Contracts – SD PVR

Decoder Care Contracts – HD PVR

Decoder Care Contracts – HD PVR 2P

Decoder Care Contracts – IP HD-1

Decoder Care Contracts – Drifta

Decoder Care Contracts – Walka

Decoder Care Contracts – Walka 7

Notifications to have DStv smartcards exchanged have left some subscribers wondering what is expected of them

DStv subscribers with older model smartcards are being notified in batches to swap out their cards at MultiChoice or their agents. This has been happening since October 2011 and will continue for some time, a MultiChoice spokesperson told MyBroadband.

MultiChoice explained that this was “to ensure [subscribers] receive an up-to-date and secure service.”

The smartcard swap is free, but MultiChoice said that it is important to note that only subscribers who have received a message on their decoders asking them to swap their smartcard should swap. Subscribers who have not received a message do not need to do anything.

Subscribers who have received notifications are given a deadline by which to exchange their old smartcard, but MultiChoice clarified that reports that customers are cut off after the deadline are inaccurate.

PVR customers are being warned on various forums, including the DStv forums, that your recordings may be lost when swapping the smartcard, but this too is a problem that has been rectified, MultiChoice said.

It is recommended that subscribers take their decoder along for the swap and stress (in a friendly manner) that they want to keep their recordings.

Update: MultiChoice has contacted MyBroadband to state that the reports of subscribers being cut off after the deadline they receive are inaccurate, and that no reconnection fee is therefore payable as no disconnection takes place. MultiChoice also emphasised that recordings on PVRs are not lost.
*information obtained from mybroadband website

The Minister of Communications, Dina Pule, must state clearly and unambiguously whether foreign-made set-top boxes (STBs) or digital converters can be imported to and sold in South Africa. So wrote Butch Steyn, shadow deputy minister of communications, on the DA website.

These STBs will be required to receive the new digital terrestrial television (DTT) signal that’s scheduled to be switched on in Q3 2012.

An unsubsidised STB is expected to cost about R700 at retail.

Steyn said that he has written to the minister asking her to clarify comments she made during a Sunday Live interview on SABC 1, in which she indicated that STBs or digital converters manufactured outside South Africa would be allowed onto the local market.

“If so, the minister needs to state clearly whether these imported devices will have to conform to the same standards and offer the same facilities as those being prescribed under the contentious STB Manufacturing Sector Development Strategy that was approved by Cabinet in March 2012,” Steyn said.

Steyn said that locally manufactured STBs made to the approved specifications will not readily find export markets because they lack the ability to use TVs as screens that can connect to the Internet.

Another term used for this in industry is a “return path.”

The price-competitiveness of locally made products was another concern, Steyn said.

According to Steyn, the strategy has attracted industry criticism as the unnecessarily complex STBs produced will cost consumers twice that of an imported simple digital converter.

“The Minister’s lack of clarity on the import of STBs or digital converters is the latest in a litany of uncertainties about the wisdom and affordability of government’s STB strategy,” Steyn wrote.

Locally made STBs will not be ready for the market before mid–2013, about 9 months after the switchover to digital TV begins, Steyn said.

“The Portfolio Committee on Communications has already made a decision that stakeholders in the STB programme must come before the committee to explain the muddled state of affairs around STBs,” Steyn said.
8information obtained from mybroadband website

MultiChoice and On Digital Media (ODM), South Africa’s satellite pay TV operators, have said that they will fight compliance notices they recently received from the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

The NCC wants DStv (Multichoice) and Top TV (ODM) to unbundle their channel bouquets to allow viewers to individually subscribe to channels.
In response to questions on the matter, MultiChoice SA’s head of corporate affairs, Jackie Rakitla, said that the pay TV operator is not in a position to respond to any questions in this regard until the matter has been resolved at the Consumer Tribunal.
ODM’s CEO, Vino Govender, said that the NCC’s demands threatens Top TV’s business model and “could force the only pay-TV alternative to Multichoice out of business.”
If ODM remodels its product structure it will cause its business serious harm, could lead to their closure, and could affect as much as 6,000 jobs nationally, Govender said.

Govender also said that ODM has taken legal steps to “repudiate the commission’s line of action.”

According to Govender, they considered offering “Pick ‘n Mix a la carte options” before launching Top TV, but found that the model made no financial sense.

“Content providers would have hiked the cost of channels substantially,” Govender explained, adding that from a systems and administrative point of view such a model is impossible to maintain.

The National Consumer Commission was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.
*information obtained from mybroadband website

The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has welcomed a recent ruling by the National Consumer Tribunal which has cancelled a compliance notice served to MultiChoice by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) under the Consumer Protection Act.

Among other things, the NCC said that MultiChoice needed to offer channels individually and not only in the current set of bouquets.

“The ruling by the National Consumer Tribunal demonstrates that proper compliance with the Act is being enforced,” said Jaap Scholten ISPA Co-Chairperson. “ISPA commends the Tribunal for its rulings, and urges the Internet service provider industry to take note.”

In this case, the Commission served a compliance notice for various alleged infringements of the Act on MultiChoice, an entity licensed and governed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

ISPA said that section 100(2) of the Act states that the Commission must consult with ICASA before serving a compliance notice on an entity regulated by ICASA.

The Tribunal found that the Commission did not properly consult with ICASA before it issued the compliance notice and therefore ruled the compliance notices invalid.
*Information obtained from mybroadband website

MultiChoice and Altech UEC has launched a new 2-tuner HD PVR in South Africa

MultiChoice has announced the introduction of an Altech UEC supplied 2-tuner HD PVR 2U into the South African market.

The HD PVR 2U, two- tuner PVR, offers one recording environment and one viewing environment, independent of each other. It also offers the ability to fast forward, pause, use slow motion and rewind live TV.

The PVR can record up to 150 hours of standard definition programming or 50 hours of high definition programming. It can also be linked to any of DStv’s Xtraview-enabled decoders and PVRs to provide an additional viewing environment.

Other features include a 24-hour i-Plate, Dolby 5.1 surround sound capability, favourite channels selection, series record, full parental control and aspect ratio toggle.

The HD PVR 2U offers a rugged power supply and surge protection on both the LNB inputs and the HDMI port.

DStv UEC HD PVR 2U

Rodger Warren, Managing Director of Altech UEC South Africa said: “Altech UEC products are not new to the South African television market. We have been partnering with MultiChoice since the launch of DStv. We have consistently delivered high quality, reliable decoders to the market including the popular world-first dual view decoder in 2005 and other standard satellite decoders, like the new DSD 1132.”

DStv Premium subscribers will have access to DStv’s value-added services. DStv On Demand provides catch-up viewing of the most popular series and sporting events, and BoxOffice is a movie rental service from the comfort of your couch.

The Altech UEC HD PVR 2-tuner decoder will be available at leading retailers and furniture stores with from May 2012 at a retail price of R1,499.

Subscribers should also note that a standalone HD PVR in the home has an additional monthly access fee of R65.

MultiChoice confirmed that the current HD PVR 2P, which is also priced at R1,499, will continue to be available alongside the new locally manufactured HD PVR 2U.

info obtained from mybroadband site

We have the perfect gift for dad! Have you ever heard him mention the rugby game he had to miss when he went fishing with the guys, or that movie he’d been waiting all month to catch on DSTV and then he had to take mom shopping…… sound familiar?

Get him a Drifta. Drifta is a mobile TV decoder that receives a DVB-H signal and converts it into a Wi-Fi signal for Wi-Fi enabled viewing devices such as laptops, PCs, tablets and smartphones.

The Drifta is completely portable, so you can take your entertainment with you.

• Broadcast Mobile TV on your iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, select Android devices, Blackberry phones running on OS5 or higher, with  and Windows PCs including laptops and notebooks, .
• Connects to your device via Wi-Fi or USB.
• Access the Mobile TV guide.
• Small lightweight and ultra portable.
• Rechargeable with up to three hours of viewing.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!

Just because moms are important to us, we want to help you spoil YOUR mom! If you order your mom’s new DSTV installation before 10 May, we will not only do the installation, but also deliver a bunch of flowers on your behalf to your mom.