Eben Greyling, chief executive officer (CEO) of Pay-TV Platforms at Naspers, has said MultiChoice is focusing on increasing its online content in the wake of growing internet penetration in Africa.
During a press conference yesterday in which Greyling discussed the multimedia company’s financial report for the year ending 31 March, he mentioned how MultiChoice had begun focusing on the penetration and growth of its lower paying subscriber base through introducing cheaper bouquets.
Furthermore, with regards to Naspers’ pay-TV business division, Greyling said the multimedia company is also focusing on increasing the delivery of online content due to the growing penetration of internet in South Africa and the rest of the continent.
“Regarding competition we continue to see an increase in competition across the continent from both traditional players as well as online players. Existing players in the broadcasting space are aggressively growing their business and we’re also seeing new players,” said Greyling.
“Regarding the online delivery of content there’s also video-on-demand (VOD) services and international players such as Apple expanding their online business here. We’re sure that this trend will definitely increase in the future and our own online developments will continue in future to help face this onslaught.”
This follows the recent launch of DStv extra and according to a report by Channel 24, DStv Extra was not announced to the press, but will cost a monthly ZAR380 (US$37.60), which is the middleground between DStv’s most expensive Premium bouquet and the cheaper DStv Compact bouquet.
With 86 channels included in the new bouquet, it has 33 channels less than DStv Premium, but has 13 more channels than DStv Compact.
Furthermore DSTV Extra reportedly has more general entertainment content than DSTV Compact, but less premium sports than DStv Premium. The new bouquet will not provide viewers with high definition (HD) content.
Viewers subscribing to DStv extra will have the option of accessing the DStv BoxOffice, which allows for the renting of movies through an HD personal video recorder (PVR).
“Growth in the lower prices DStv Compact bouquet remains strong,” Channel 24 quoted Greyling as saying.
Furthermore the DStv BoxOffice on PVR recently became available online with the DStv Catch-Up service being made available for the iPad.
Greyling said Multichoice intends to make the DStv catch-up service available for Android tablets as well as other devices.
