DSTV competitor gives launch and product details

[Chevron]

After the recent dissolution of Telkom Media, consumer hopes of having more competition in the pay TV sector took a big knock. The last potential competitor to MultiChoice’s DSTV is now On Digital Media (ODM), which initially planned to launch services in the later stages of 2008.

Little has since been heard from the company regarding its progress.

Despite the fact that it was awarded a pay-TV broadcast license from ICASA some time ago, the company has not made an announcement regarding its product offerings or launch dates.

Roz Thomas, Media Liaison for ODM, informed MyBroadband that the service is set to be launched in the “second quarter of 2009”, citing the setback as a result of “a delay in all pay TV operators being issued with a licence”.

With regards to the service that ODM is planning to launch Thomas responded, “The key difference will be that ODM will offer its subscribers real choice at an affordable price. Real choice in the sense that subscribers will be offered the flexibility to tailor-make their pay TV offering so that it is uniquely relevant to each viewer at a price that suits each individual’s pocket.”

At this stage ODM could not confirm specific details regarding the channels or programmes that will become available. Thomas did however confirm that, “ODM will be offering content in the following main genres: News & Knowledge, Movies, Family & Sport, Kids, Music and Cultural programming”.

According to ODM their prices are set to ‘severely undercut Multichoice and will come in at R149 to R349 a month depending on the level of choice chosen by the subscriber’.

Thomas added that “Subscribers will also require a setup box that is MPEG4 DVB S2 compliant. These will be available through major retailers nearer to the launch at approximately R400”.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/7784.html

Not really many details, but hey. It's just good to know that they haven't folded yet. The ability to make custom packages sounds just awesome.

[Boggle24]

Hmm interesting, would have liked to see in more detail what kind of channels they might have, but it's nice to see there might still be some alternative on the way.

[Tryxst3r]

On Digital Media or On Demand Media? This sounds similar to a pay-per-channel bouquet.

[ioiiooio]

Tailoring your channel selection sounds good to me, the DSTV budget solution sucks since you can't choose which channels you want. I hope they'll have a channel dedicated to extreme sports, I hardly ever see that kind of thing on DSTV sports channels. I was wondering, with regards to licensing, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to screen Mtv; Discovery etc? I mean those channels aren't exclusive to DSTV are they?

[cr@zydude]

The problem for me would be that DSTV has the rights to most sports. Unless ODM pull off a major coup I'll have to stick with DSTV.

[Chevron]

The problem for me would be that DSTV has the rights to most sports. Unless ODM pull off a major coup I'll have to stick with DSTV.

They'll be able to show the sport, just with a delay. Probably an hour or two.

[Domanskip]

They'll be able to show the sport, just with a delay. Probably an hour or two.

*Ring Ring*
"Hello"
"DID YOU SEE THAT GAME BRU???"
"No it only starts in 2 hours for me."
"Well we're going for drinks... bye."

ODM- The Money You Keep Makes Up For The Friends You Don't.

[Valentine]

I like things simple. And that means paying a crap load of cash monthly to loaf and watch stuff. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[Garson007]

Multichoice's monopoly is too deeply entrenched to be uprooted, really. There is really no way an upstart can rival it without exceeding enormous amounts of money. Not to mention that the biggest pulling power of Multichoice is SuperSport, which is a massive network of exclusive content.

[Chevron]

I'd use them. I don't care about super sport. It's only to keep the other half happy anyway. All my entertainment i get via the net.

[Obi Two Kenobi]

Multichoice's monopoly is too deeply entrenched to be uprooted, really. There is really no way an upstart can rival it without exceeding enormous amounts of money. Not to mention that the biggest pulling power of Multichoice is SuperSport, which is a massive network of exclusive content.

Very true, the channels that DSTV have are very expensive contracts and it will take a few years for this 'rival' to come anywhere close to what Multichoice offers.

[Interfan]

DSTV has the sports I want. With ss,rai international and espn I am covered unless the rival can match it at a cheaper price I am not interested. Doubt they can match them since sports deals are usually exclusive.

[Chevron]

Boy am I glad I don't care about sports.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff275/chevron/Emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[G8crasha]

Multichoice's monopoly is too deeply entrenched to be uprooted, really. There is really no way an upstart can rival it without exceeding enormous amounts of money. Not to mention that the biggest pulling power of Multichoice is SuperSport, which is a
massive network of exclusive content.

Well, Telkom was deeply entrenched into the telecommunications sector, and now we have Neotel pushing ahead, changing. It will take Neotel a while to punch big enough holes into Telkom's market, but it will happen eventually. Likewise ODM might take a while to syphon viewers away from MultiChoice, but they have to start somewhere.


Hmm interesting, would have liked to see in more detail what kind of channels they might have, but it's nice to see there might still be some alternative on the way.

Yeah, me as well. I guess there are still plenty of channels overseas that can be syndicated.

[Azraphael]

Please, oh please can we get MTV Two here. Although if we ever did I think Multi Choice would get it. I think out of all the channels on DSTV, I only watch about 10 of them at the most so being able to pay per channel that you actually want would be awesome