DStv

Type	Public
Industry	Pay TV
Founded	1995
Headquarters	Ferndale, Randburg, South Africa
Products	Direct Broadcast Satellite
Website	www.DStv.com

DStv ("Digital Satellite Television") is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on K_u band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7, which only requires a small satellite 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 Namibia's NBC, Uganda's UBC and Mozambique's TVM. For rights, reasons these terrestrial channels are not available to subscribers outside their respective countries.

In 2005 DStv 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 the United Kingdom's Sky+ & Sky+HD PVR. However, neither of these systems allow viewers to download or archive the recorded content. On 22 July 2011 they introduced a service called DStv Box Office, where you can rent a selection of 15 new movie titles from your PVR decoder.

History[link]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

The original video channel bouquet consisted of 17 channels: M-Net, MGM TV, TCM, TNT Sci-Fi Universal, SuperSport, ESPN, Hallmark Channel, SelecTV, Travel Channel, KTV, Cartoon Network, BBC World News, CNN International, Sky News, Trinity Broadcasting Network, MTV, VH1 and TV5Monde.

Video Channels[link]

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. M-Net Movies 1 HD started on 1 October 2010, the first simulcast HD channel.

Note: This is a list of all channels offered by DSTV but each country has a different selection of the channels below.

General Entertainment and Movies[link]

HD[link]

Lifestyle[link]

Sport[link]

Documentary[link]

Children[link]

Music[link]

Religion[link]

News and Commerce[link]

Specialist and Separate Subscription[link]

Audio Channels[link]

DMX Music[link]

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[link]

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 94.2
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
182 – Radio Pulpit
183 – Namibian National Radio
184 – Capricorn FM
185 – Cape Talk

Free To Air Channels[link]

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 ^[1]

NB: Always leave "Network 1 Setup (Home)" unchanged!!

Packages[link]

• DStv Premium
• DStv Compact
• DStv EasyView
• DStv Indian South
• DStv Indian North
• DStv Portuguesa
• DStv Select 1
• DStv Select 2
• DStv Mobile
• DStv Mobile DVBH
• DStv Lite

Decoders[link]

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 ^[2](similar to Sky‘s multiroom).

Standard Decoder[link]

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[link]

A High Definition PVR which was first released in 24 July 2008. It contains a 500GB hard drive, allowing recordings of 150 hours standard definition content and/or 50 hours of high definition content.^[3] 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.

Drifta Decoder[link]

^[4] A Drifta is a mobile decoder that receives a DVB-H signal, converts it into Wi-Fi, then relays it to a Wi-Fi enabled viewing device: cellphone, laptop, PC, tablets and most smartphones.

For the product to work it must be within DVB-H coverage. Visit www.dstvmobile.com for more detailed coverage information

At purchase

• Drifta Device
• Battery
• USB cable
• Power Adapter

Features

• Broadcast Mobile TV on your PC, Smartphone or Tablet
• Connects to your device via Wi-Fi or USB
• Access the Mobile TV Guide
• Small, light-weight and ultra portable
• Rechargeable with up to three hours of viewing

Discontinued decoders[link]

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[link]

External links[link]

• DStv homepage
• DStv Africa homepage
• Vodacom DSTV Select Homepage
• M-Net homepage
• [1]
• Dstv installers