Details about DStv's cancelled Ultra decoder

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

Journalist
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
6,488
Reaction score
4,777
Details about DStv's cancelled Ultra decoder

Another victim of Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice appears to be the shelving of what MultiChoice planned to be its 4th-generation, likely voice-controlled, DStv Ultra decoder.

MultiChoice designed this advanced, sleek white DStv Explora-type set-top box as part of its new DStv Premium "pearl plan" to win back and keep top-paying subscribers.
 
Let's hope this was the last MC article for the week.
I guess we're still in for articles about the SABC, SAPO and Eskom before it's Friday drinks time?
 
Hanno Labuschagne said:
MultiChoice designed this advanced, sleek white DStv Explora-type set-top box as part of its new DStv Premium "pearl plan" to win back and keep top-paying subscribers.
Click to expand...

Edit: Article is authored by Thinus - interesting development... :cool:

I'm very suspicious of how good that may have been - decoders have been on the decline re quality for many years, everything after the Explora 2 was inferior, for one reason or another.

But ok anyway, rather let them spend money on improving content (AND PACKAGES)
 
Last edited:
Does everybody remember all of the gimmicks DStv tried over the years?
- Interactive services ( https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/8571-multichoice-to-remove-some-dstv-itv-services.html )
- Keyboard and modem for the decoder, to read email and do basic on-screen shopping
- Penny auction channel
- Some other live-gaming channel, where you could pay to change the music (IIRC it had a mini-golf game?)
- On-decoder games
- DStv Mobile service / Drifta modem
- (I guess this one actually paid off, but we refused to pay extra for something that would be on DStv just a bit later) BoxOffice

In that regard I do wonder why they never just got a proper international decoder, but always had to come up with their own software that always pushed the decoder past what it could actually do, that is, ended up slow as heck, especially after a few software updates. This was really only fixed with the first Explora, which is still usable after 13 years.
 
Last edited:
Saada indicated that rather than developing an expensive new high-end decoder, they would be focusing on enhancing the streaming experience for premium customers.

“We’re really focused on over-the-top, and we will make a number of announcements on streaming,” he said.
Click to expand...
:cool::cool:
 
G.A.S said:
- Keyboard and modem for the decoder, to read email and do basic on-screen shopping
Click to expand...

Lol
I had one of those in a hotel room in Melbourne, actually quite useful at the time.

G.A.S said:
In that regard I do wonder why they never just got a proper international decoder, but always had to come up with their own software that always pushed the decoder past what it could actually do, that is, ended up slow as heck, especially after a few software updates. This was really only fixed with the first Explora, which is still usable after 13 years.
Click to expand...

They had to use their own design to ensure top encryption security, which allowed for achieving some of the contracts with the US studios.
Got that straight from the horse's mouth, absolute fact.

We're also still using an original Explora :cool:
 
Brian_G said:
They had to use their own design to ensure top encryption security, which allowed for achieving some of the contracts with the US studios.
Got that straight from the horse's mouth, absolute fact.
Click to expand...
I kinda get that insofar the actual content is concerned. But stuff like the TV guide and interactive content often left something to be desired. Especially once the decoder was past a certain age (e.g. Pre-Pace -> 720i -> SD PVR -> HD PVR -> Explora)
 
They don't get it. No one cares about these kind of features; they only care that DSTV is too expensive.
 
The Gilded said:
They don't get it. No one cares about these kind of features; they only care that DSTV is too expensive.
Click to expand...

No, a nice surprise - these new guys are starting to realise that - covered in the article.
 
G.A.S said:
Does everybody remember all of the gimmicks DStv tried over the years?
- Interactive services ( https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/8571-multichoice-to-remove-some-dstv-itv-services.html )
- Keyboard and modem for the decoder, to read email and do basic on-screen shopping
- Penny auction channel
- Some other live-gaming channel, where you could pay to change the music (IIRC it had a mini-golf game?)
- On-decoder games
- DStv Mobile service / Drifta modem

In that regard I do wonder why they never just got a proper international decoder, but always had to come up with their own software that always pushed the decoder past what it could actually do, that is, ended up slow as heck, especially after a few software updates. This was really only fixed with the first Explora, which is still usable after 13 years.
Click to expand...
The Drifta actually came in very handy to watch sporting events during working hours.
 
1000141247.jpg
My lonely boy. Streaming has seen it sidelined.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X