70% Digital TV set-top-box subsidization

There is a certain irony in the fact that the majority those buyers who are able to take advantage of the subsidy probably don't even pay their TV licenses ...
 
There seems to be no mention of how they define ' the poor'.

Do you go into the shop, say ' I'm poor' and they give you the device on the cheap ?

I'm poor because I pay my taxes, electricity etc is different from I'm poor because I spend all my cash on booze and actually I'm too lazy to go to work.
 
Gambit said:
They haven't commited to terrestrial HD channels yet. It's unlikely the first set top boxes will support HD as this will push the price up big time.

Mpeg 4 uses a lot less bandwidth than Mpeg2 and therefore allows South Africa to cram a lot more channels in allotted wireless spectrum. (so theoretically we should be able to have a lot more channels than freeview in the UK). Mpeg 4 needs much more powerful decoder and years ago when freeview was launched mpeg4 decoding set top boxes were not feasable at a price that would attract early adopters.

DStv use mpeg4 for their hd channel but i bet they would like to switch to mpeg4 for all their channels as they would save a fortune on satellite bandwidth but obviously they would then need to replace all their non hdpvr subscribers decoders. So i think it would be foolish not to look to the future when rolling out a new technology even if it is a little more expensive.
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MPEG4 would be the way to go even though it costs more. Take a knock now to appreciate future benefits.
 
Can some kind forumite link me to the device? I don't watch TV, so haven't really kept up to date, but want to see if I can purchase an addon card for my plasma, it's got a slot-in upgrade feature for various features, but not sure what the tech is and what to look at.
 
I use my pc to watch TV, my pc has a TV tuner card (Winfast Entertainment Centre), and I plan on watching TV on my pc at least for the next 3 to 5 years before I buy a "real" TV such as an lcd TV or a plasma TV. My question is do I ned to buy a set top box?
 
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next 3 to 5 years is probably more than enough.. They won't be able to stop the dual-illumination period anytime before then
 
Sly21C said:
I use my pc to watch TV, my pc has a TV tuner card (Winfast Entertainment Centre), and I plan on watching TV on my pc at least for the next 3 to 5 years before I buy a "real" TV such as an lcd TV or a plasma TV. My question is do I ned to buy a set top box?
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It will probably take long to phase out analog tv. Your Leadtek TV Card should be good for a few more years.
 
Sly21C said:
I use my pc to watch TV, my pc has a TV tuner card (Winfast Entertainment Centre), and I plan on watching TV on my pc at least for the next 3 to 5 years before I buy a "real" TV such as an lcd TV or a plasma TV. My question is do I ned to buy a set top box?
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Like the other posters have said, No, you probably don't have to buy a set top box, since the dual illumination period will probably extend past the 3-5 years that you mention.

That said, you may want to get a DVB-T card for your PC anyway, since there are additional channels made available on the digital transmissions, which may be worth watching.
 
I've got one built into my TV which is coming in a box over from the UK. Score.

Does this mean we're going to be getting alot of new channels though? Where can we find info about this?
 
synack said:
I've got one built into my TV which is coming in a box over from the UK. Score.

Does this mean we're going to be getting alot of new channels though? Where can we find info about this?
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Yes, there are currently additional channels.

From here, they are:

SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, SABC Education, SABC Entertainment, SABC News International, SABC Sport, e.tv, e.tv Classic, and all the SABC radio stations and YFM.
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I dunno about the radio stations, I haven't been able to find them on my decoder yet.

You SHOULD be able to get the ones mentioned above with your built-in tuner. MNET also has extra channels, but you need an IRDETO2 decoder and activated smart card to get those.
 
MPEG4 was chosen because this will become standard in most countries in the future. Many countries who adopted DVB-T early used MPEG2 and are currently or will in the future be switching to MPEG4. This means viewers will have to purchase new decoders again. This is why we are using MPEG4.

As some others have said, this is also why the decoders cost more and why you cannot just by one from the UK and use it here. They are currently using MPEG2 iirc. I think there will be compatible digital TV's at a later stage.

The decoders are being manufactured by UEC (same company who makes DSTV decoders) and Reutech Digital (linked somehow with Nashua Electronics). HD and PVR versions will only be available at a later stage. The R700 ones are just normal decoders.

Dual illumination will not extend past 2015, as there is an international agreement that all analogue broadcasts will no longer be protected after this date. So the SABC would have to switch to digital by then or risk possible interference from analogue broadcasts in neighbouring countries. I'd put money on the proposed 2011 date or 2012 for the latest. But hey, this is South Africa, so who knows.
 
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