by Tech Talk | Oct 26, 2022 | Articles
DStv launched its stand-alone streaming service at the end of 2020, allowing new subscribers to get around decoder and dish installation costs.
This does require that you have a good enough internet connection to make the most of the streaming service, but home internet access and connection quality have risen after lockdowns and the trend towards remote work.
These streaming services have, until now, been priced identically to DStv’s satellite packages. In late 2021, MultiChoice offered a promotion on the streaming version of DStv Premium, discounting the price from R829 to R699.
With the new set of price changes, this discount has become permanent, and its other streaming packages have all seen a reduction in cost compared with their satellite versions.
Prices were reduced 14%, on average, which means a drop of R80 for DStv Compact Plus (now sitting at R469 per month) down to a drop of R21 for its cheapest package, DStv Access (which would now cost you R99 per month).
These changes come as MultiChoice faces stiff competition in the streaming space from international giants who have the scale to offer high-quality on-demand content from around the world for lower costs.
For comparison, a Netflix Standard account will cost you R159 per month and Premium R199 per month.
These Netflix plans also allow you to stream to a maximum of two or four devices at the same time, while all DStv packages had their simultaneous streaming limit lowered from two devices down to only one device in March this year.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
by Tech Talk | Oct 24, 2022 | Articles
MultiChoice has added a new kids channel for all its DStv and GoTV subscribers in Africa.
The Moonbug Kids Channel is the creation of the YouTube-focused preschool entertainment company Moonbug Entertainment.
The company offers numerous channels on YouTube covering a wide range of genres — including cartoons, learning, and music — in several languages.
These channels have tens of millions of subscribers between them.
MultiChoice said the Moonbug Kids Channel on DStv and GoTV will feature exclusive, linear, preschool content from the Moonbug portfolio of shows.
“The agreement highlights DStv’s shift in mindset about digital-first content,” MultiChoice stated.
MultiChoice group executive head of content strategy and third-party channels, Georginah Machiridza, said the quality and appeal of digital-first content had improved vastly in the past few years.
“Platforms like ours recognise these shows’ benefits in adding value to our customers,” said Machiridza.
MultiChoice said it would feature all Moonbug shows on the channel, including CoComelon, Blippi, Gecko’s Garage, Morphle, Arpo, and recent acquisitions such as Little Angel and Oddbods.
Moonbug EMEA and APAC managing director Nicolas Eglau said the channel would be free of adverts and leverage the company’s in-depth knowledge of kids’ viewing habits.
“MultiChoice are very selective about the kind of channel that gets on the platform, so for us being on MultiChoice is almost like a quality stamp of approval,” Eglau stated.
MultiChoice said the channel would feature engaging entertainment that not only pacifies but supports children’s development.
“The schedule will also support families with their daily routines such as mealtimes, playtime, bath time, bedtime, and more,” the broadcaster stated.
The channel officially launched on 20 October 2022 and is available in South Africa on all DStv packages — from Access to Premium.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
by Tech Talk | Sep 26, 2022 | Articles
MultiChoice’s efforts to reduce password sharing on its DStv streaming platform have been a major success.
This is according to MultiChoice SA CEO Nyiko Shiburi.
Password sharing has historically been supported to allow people living in the same household to watch different content on the same streaming platform.
However, it has also commonly been used to share the cost of a single account between multiple friends or family members who don’t live together — reducing the revenue that companies like MultiChoice receive.
“This is piracy and hurts the whole industry. When we invest in content, we expect certain returns, and when people share [passwords], we don’t get our money back,” said Shiburi.
To crack down on this practice, from 22 March 2022, DStv restricted the number of devices that can simultaneously stream from a single account to one.
Previously, subscribers could live stream channels to two devices at once.
The change caused several technical problems for DStv customers and resulted in a backlash.
However, Shiburi said that although the change was initially met with an uproar, it has been a great business decision.
“After we limited the number of [concurrent] streams, we have seen an uptick in the take-up of DStv as some of those people who were given passwords [of existing subscribers] came on board,” said Shiburi.
He expects the number of subscribers to continue to grow thanks to MultiChoice’s recent announcement that it has reduced DStv’s online streaming subscription fee.
In recent times, MultiChoice has placed a significant focus on diversifying its business model.
Most recently, it acquired the on-demand emergency response app Namola.
The app dispatches its network of responders to distress signals across South Africa.
DStv subscribers can add the Namola app to their bill from 26 October 2022.
“Namola is part of our strategy to expand our ecosystem beyond entertainment and to offer a suite of consumer services that meet the needs of our customers,” said Shiburi.
MultiChoice also recently announced a partnership with Sky, allowing it to sell the Sky Glass TV range locally from 2023.
These TVs use a QLED panel and offer built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to stream video from several services.
“This syndication partnership highlights our drive to put the needs of customers at the core of what we do, through both the bolstering of the customers viewing experience as well as demand for streaming aggregation,” said MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela.
Last year, MultiChoice also launched DStv Internet — a range of LTE data services on the MTN network bundled with DStv Trusted Home.
DStv Trusted Home promises to protect your home network from online security threats and malicious attacks, and keep children safer online with parental control features.
This year MultiChoice is expanding its broadband offerings to uncapped fibre contracts that come with its new Streama media box and a DStv subscription.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
