MultiChoice, Naspers’ dominant\u00a0pay-TV operator will look to protect its premium sports broadcasting rights as new free to air\u00a0rivals enter the market, writes the Sunday Times.<\/p>\n
Sentech\u2019s Freevision platform launched, following a launch by Platco Digital, of its OpenView HD platform in September. However, MultiChoice\u2019s draw card on the DStv platform remains its sports rights, something the new entrants do not offer.<\/p>\n
Sasha Naryshkine, equities analyst at asset management firm Vestact, said: \u201cIf you do not have the sport, you are not relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did Top TV not crush DStv? No sport. Why are there hundreds of thousands of new subscriptions to the DStv Compact model? Because they own, very successfully, the rights for the PSL, and do a really fine job of broadcasting them.\u00a0Nobody wants to watch \u2018delayed live\u2019 TV,\u201d the analyst told the Sunday paper.<\/p>\n
Platco Digital is a subsidiary of Sabido Investments, a media company which also owns e.tv.\u00a0It has an initial line-up of 16 channels, while Freevision has 38 channels, the Sunday Times notes.<\/p>\n
Sentech CEO Setumo Mohapi said Freevision was a ‘gap-filler for areas outside the reach of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission network’.<\/p>\n
The channel\u00a0bouquet\u00a0will be expanded to include the SABC\u2019s and e.tv\u2019s DTT channels once the tussle between MultiChoice and e.tv over the DTT set-top box control system has been resolved.<\/p>\n
OpenView requires users to by a decoder and satellite dish for a once-off amount of about R1,599 (dependent on retailer). Thereafter the service is free.<\/p>\n
Freevision has a one-off installation cost starting at R1,350. Asked how Platco would monetise the platform, MD Maxwell Nonge said: \u201cThe channels we carry pay us carriage fees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Top TV operator On Digital Media, unable to compete, recently laid a complaint with the Competition Commission over DStv\u2019s refusal to share its exclusive long-term sport broadcasting rights to other operators.<\/p>\n
Brand change for TopTV?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-tv slams secret DStv-SABC deal: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sentech confirms new satellite TV service Freevision<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n