DStv drops support for app on "older" Samsung and Hisense TVs, hawks Streama box

Jan

Jan

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DStv kills app on some Samsung and Hisense TVs, pushes Streama box

MultiChoice has cut some Samsung and Hisense TV owners off from accessing its streaming service using their preinstalled DStv app.

A MyBroadband reader from East London reported the issue this week, saying they received no warning that they would lose access.
 
Jan said:
DStv kills app on some Samsung and Hisense TVs, pushes Streama box

MultiChoice has cut some Samsung and Hisense TV owners off from accessing its streaming service using their preinstalled DStv app.

A MyBroadband reader from East London reported the issue this week, saying they received no warning that they would lose access.
Click to expand...
Why? Because of a change to HEVC or something, and the older TVs may not support it?

He also said his Hisense TV wasn’t old. He had bought it on 8 December 2021.
Click to expand...
Come on Jan. Purchase date means nothing. Should've asked him for the TV model and then done an investigation into that.
 
Vorastra said:
Come on Jan. Purchase date means nothing. Should've asked him for the TV model and then done an investigation into that.
Click to expand...
The first Hisense TVs that received the DStv Now app were 2018 models. I would contend that they are also not "old".

mybroadband.co.za

DStv Now launches Xbox and Hisense TV apps

MultiChoice has announced that two new versions of its DStv Now app have been released.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

I've asked MultiChoice which models are affected and will report back if they give a response. If they don't... well then things get interesting ;-)
 
Jan said:
The first Hisense TVs that received the DStv Now app were 2018 models. I would contend that they are also not "old".

mybroadband.co.za

DStv Now launches Xbox and Hisense TV apps

MultiChoice has announced that two new versions of its DStv Now app have been released.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

I've asked MultiChoice which models are affected and will report back if they give a response. If they don't... well then things get interesting ;-)
Click to expand...
What's your speculation for the "incompatibility"? Like I said above, DSTv using a newer codec perhaps?
 
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Vorastra said:
Why? Because of a change to HEVC or something, and the older TVs may not support it?


Come on Jan. Purchase date means nothing. Should've asked him for the TV model and then done an investigation into that.
Click to expand...

Whilst I agree that the user could'ce bought a 10 year old TV on some stock sellout special. I don't think the consumer should be punished. MC could've just stopped developing on that platform, grandfathered it out over 6 months to a year, instead of just cutting it...
Way back when I worked for the Multichoice devil, I recall they had many conversations around even going into the smart TV market, as the TV's don't really get supported by the manufacturer after a relatively short time - so you end up having to support several versions of Android or whatever. Given, this was really long ago, so it could be completely irrelevant now.
 
Vorastra said:
Why? Because of a change to HEVC or something, and the older TVs may not support it?
Click to expand...

That's one theory.

Another theory I've heard is that they're cutting off TV models as part of their password-sharing crackdown.

They want to implement a "proximity control" system — maybe these "older" model TVs don't support the tech they want in the DStv app to do that.

mybroadband.co.za

DStv working on increasing streaming limit — but you’ll need one of its devices

DStv says it is developing a “proximity control” system that will allow users within the same household to enjoy multiple concurrent streams.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
 
Jan said:
That's one theory.

Another theory I've heard is that they're cutting off TV models as part of their password-sharing crackdown.

They want to implement a "proximity control" system — maybe these "older" model TVs don't support the tech they want in the DStv app to do that.

mybroadband.co.za

DStv working on increasing streaming limit — but you’ll need one of its devices

DStv says it is developing a “proximity control” system that will allow users within the same household to enjoy multiple concurrent streams.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
Click to expand...
I was following that article's forum thread. One of the okes IIRC said they'd probably just do a MAC lookup as a simple way of verifying. I wonder if whatever API they have to work with on those series of TVs, as you said, just doesn't allow that.

Interested to see how this story develops.
 
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Dropped DSTV months ago. Anyways checked app on my TV's.

Hisense Q8600 - Working (26 months old)
Samsung UA48JU6000 - Not working (5 years old)

Question. Does the DSTV Streama make your already smart TV smarter and does DSTV assume it's clients are dumber for paying R1299 for a feature their TV's already had?
 
Sad that instead of fixing their laggy app, they simply up the minimum requirements to run it.
 
Vorastra said:
Interested to see how this story develops.
Click to expand...
Updated the article with MultiChoice's statement and responses to my questions.

The Cliff Notes:

"As we continue to improve the DStv streaming experience, we release regular app updates... The new version of the app allows for better security controls and allows you to enjoy the best of our new features."

Devices running the following software versions are no longer supported:
  • Android mobile/TV app versions lower than v2.4.6
  • iOS app versions lower than 10.19.0
  • tvOS app versions lower than 1.15.0
And the following TV models are affected:
  • Samsung 2015
  • Samsung 2016
  • Hisense U2.5
"In some cases, TVs that were manufactured recently may contain older chipsets which ultimately affect the support of the DStv app."

Commentary: They are being deliberately vague in their response to my question on password sharing, so that is almost certainly the reason.
 
Jan said:
Updated the article with MultiChoice's statement and responses to my questions.

The Cliff Notes:

"As we continue to improve the DStv streaming experience, we release regular app updates... The new version of the app allows for better security controls and allows you to enjoy the best of our new features."

Devices running the following software versions are no longer supported:
  • Android mobile/TV app versions lower than v2.4.6
  • iOS app versions lower than 10.19.0
  • tvOS app versions lower than 1.15.0
And the following TV models are affected:
  • Samsung 2015
  • Samsung 2016
  • Hisense U2.5
"In some cases, TVs that were manufactured recently may contain older chipsets which ultimately affect the support of the DStv app."
Click to expand...
Lol

No. Just punting their device
 
Jan said:
Updated the article with MultiChoice's statement and responses to my questions.

The Cliff Notes:

"As we continue to improve the DStv streaming experience, we release regular app updates... The new version of the app allows for better security controls and allows you to enjoy the best of our new features."

Devices running the following software versions are no longer supported:
  • Android mobile/TV app versions lower than v2.4.6
  • iOS app versions lower than 10.19.0
  • tvOS app versions lower than 1.15.0
And the following TV models are affected:
  • Samsung 2015
  • Samsung 2016
  • Hisense U2.5
"In some cases, TVs that were manufactured recently may contain older chipsets which ultimately affect the support of the DStv app."

Commentary: They are being deliberately vague in their response to my question on password sharing, so that is almost certainly the reason.
Click to expand...
Now what security implementation for password sharing could be affected by older chipsets. Unless it's just them saying things to say things.
 
Ultimately, this company will fade into oblivion. They will simply keep bleeding premium subscribers every year.

"Innovate? No thanks. Lock users in and keep decreasing features and usability? Ding ding winner!"

There is a reason why Multichoice is a hated brand in the country.
 
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