DStv is going to suffer

[furpile]

How about factoring in the price and availablity of decent broadband... I think that messes with the Netflix business model in South Africa. The only viable broadband options will be ADSL 10mbps+ or FTTH uncapped, both of which don't come cheap and are not available in many areas in South Africa. The wireless options like 3G & LTE don't offer any affordable uncapped services.

So if Netflix are to have a decent impact on MonoChoice... it'll be very reliant on a successful national broadband roll-out to the masses!

Firstly, I watch Netflix just fine on a 2 Mbps line, quality is the same as normal DSTV channels. We don't watch a lot but at the moment a 40 GB cap is enough (use between 500 and 700 MB an hour).

Secondly, as of December there were 965,046 ADSL lines in South Africa. I don't know how many lines Telkom are capable of adding taking into account copper theft, old exchanges, no ports available etc.

As of March 2014, there were 5,008,039 DSTV subscribers. So as a maximum, DSTV can lose 20% of their customers, and a lot will still stay for sport until there is an alternative. More people will get connected with fibre over the next few years so there might be more people moving away from DSTV there.

So I don't think Netflix will end DSTV, but it will hurt them (depending on content offered). The article earlier about DSTV requiring you to have a PVR decoder to stream also shows the direction they are moving, which is not what is best for consumers.

 

[ghostR]

Good, Monochoice can close down. As far as they go in my books, They're thiefs.

 

[Pitbull]

Firstly, I watch Netflix just fine on a 2 Mbps line, quality is the same as normal DSTV channels. We don't watch a lot but at the moment a 40 GB cap is enough (use between 500 and 700 MB an hour).

Secondly, as of December there were 965,046 ADSL lines in South Africa. I don't know how many lines Telkom are capable of adding taking into account copper theft, old exchanges, no ports available etc.

As of March 2014, there were 5,008,039 DSTV subscribers. So as a maximum, DSTV can lose 20% of their customers, and a lot will still stay for sport until there is an alternative. More people will get connected with fibre over the next few years so there might be more people moving away from DSTV there.

So I don't think Netflix will end DSTV, but it will hurt them (depending on content offered). The article earlier about DSTV requiring you to have a PVR decoder to stream also shows the direction they are moving, which is not what is best for consumers.

Not entirely correct. If people know that they can have internet for their R 700 a month instead of paying for DSTV. The whole picture chances. I suspect many people can't afford both DSTV and ADSL as per your example. And they don't know how cheap it actually is. I personally would much rather spend R 700 on internet than on a TV subscription. And I'm sure bulk of SA would too if that is an option to them. They just don't know it. My dad thinks only rich people can afford Internet, yet he has Premium DSTV

 

[Pitbull]

Good, Monochoice can close down. As far as they go in my books, They're thiefs.

This would kill Rugby as a professional sport in SA without a doubt. They need to split Supersport from DSTV.
If DSTV closes shop there is no way Rugby will get the funding it currently gets from Broadcasting rights.

 

[furpile]

Not entirely correct. If people know that they can have internet for their R 700 a month instead of paying for DSTV. The whole picture chances. I suspect many people can't afford both DSTV and ADSL as per your example. And they don't know how cheap it actually is. I personally would much rather spend R 700 on internet than on a TV subscription. And I'm sure bulk of SA would too if that is an option to them. They just don't know it. My dad thinks only rich people can afford Internet, yet he has Premium DSTV

That's true, and why I said I don't know how many Telkom are capable of adding. What is the maximum number of lines they can support with their existing equipment? With any decent infrastructure you could kill off DSTV, especially as it would be the Premium subscribers that go the streaming route before poeple on the cheaper plans.

 

[Pitbull]

That's true, and why I said I don't know how many Telkom are capable of adding. What is the maximum number of lines they can support with their existing equipment? With any decent infrastructure you could kill off DSTV, especially as it would be the Premium subscribers that go the streaming route before poeple on the cheaper plans.

I think the Telkom issue is what is driving so many FTTH and WISP providers to the fore front. I personally love it, the faster Telkom dies and take DSTV with them, the better

 

[krycor]

I think DSTV as a satellite provider's days are numbered as DTTV will even out the playing field if encryption & paying for content via the new platform is allowed on the state issued boxes / STB. DSTV has thus opposed it continually as they know all too well that they will see massive drops in numbers and competition will not be playing for just the premium clients they have but all due to economies of scale.

Altech UEC is kinda in a sweet spot but again, they will face competition with their 'premium' devices being less loved and DSTV scaling down as the market is lost.. STB products will being back some work i guess but remember it will be with more than just UEC doing it so for the 1st time in 35? yrs they will have local competition. Wonder if they got some golden handshakes going in the background for tenders to keep their competition down :-/

I wonder if Samsung will be developing the STB functionality into their tuners directly.. i recall they established retrofitting factories with this in mind, besides the usual tax benefits of doing final builds within the country.

 

[ToxicBunny]

UEC is not reliant on the SA market for STBs in the slightest, we are probably one of their smaller markets.

 

[Vice]

Coming at the end of 2016 :wtf: what's the hold up for

 

[krycor]

UEC is not reliant on the SA market for STBs in the slightest, we are probably one of their smaller markets.

hrm.. well not STB, but their entire dstv/sat line for SA & Africa. Anyone know whats happen vs dstv in countries with DTTV?

 

[Heisenborg]

DSTV isnt going anywhere. If anything they will only get stronger. Our broadband is p!s poor and expensive for most. They have sport locked down and this is a sport mad country.

The 10000 people (guessing a number) who may use netflix will be of no concern to monochoice whatsoever. Simple population growth is enough to make monochoice grow, and this isnt changing anytime soon.

Those who believe Netflix is a game changer are in for a massive shock.

 

[Ho3n3r]

DSTV isnt going anywhere. If anything they will only get stronger. Our broadband is p!s poor and expensive for most. They have sport locked down and this is a sport mad country.

The 10000 people (guessing a number) who may use netflix will be of no concern to monochoice whatsoever. Simple population growth is enough to make monochoice grow, and this isnt changing anytime soon.

Those who believe Netflix is a game changer are in for a massive shock.

This is sadly true. But I don't care about Monochoice, they have no influence on my life, so let them be.

 

[Pitbull]

DSTV isnt going anywhere. If anything they will only get stronger. Our broadband is p!s poor and expensive for most. They have sport locked down and this is a sport mad country.

The 10000 people (guessing a number) who may use netflix will be of no concern to monochoice whatsoever. Simple population growth is enough to make monochoice grow, and this isnt changing anytime soon.

Those who believe Netflix is a game changer are in for a massive shock.

I don't really think that Netflix users as an example even cares if DSTV is around for another million years. What they want to do is educate people on an alternative solution, being a lot cheaper and you can watch what you want when you want with no adverts.

 

[Compton_effect]

O apologies. I thought h linked the Roku I quoted. Yea, either the Roku or the Chromecast, you don't need both.

Another good option is the Roku Streaming Stick
http://www.takealot.com/roku-3500r-streaming-stick/PLID32802097

Best of both worlds - size of the ChromeCast with Roku's functionality.
But you only need one player.

For the record - I have a 10mb line configured to 6mb to have the best line quality, and a 180Gb capped account (With the midnight package). I've had my one kid watch something on the Roku, the other one on the tablet, while I surf the web and my wife is working - without issue. I download at least one show every evening - and I never reach my cap.

 

[ChrisStar]

Netflix Total Cost?

well, they still have more than a year to make coin while the sun shines
and Netflix, while they may intend to do biz in SA... i'm wondering if they've started interacting with the anc and our government, to see what will be involved for them to offer services? we all know the anc has a knack for f'ing up good business opportunities if the offer doesn't go their way.
still, DSTV would do well to offer streaming and 'pick-your-channel'-packages
but i doubt if i'd personally go back to them.... i'm also one of those 'instant gratification' sods, that want what i want, when i want it
and TV has become less of a priority recently... my NF subscription has been a waste the past few months, haven't had time to spend more than about 3 hours viewing NF in past 2 months ... but at least its there when i get a few minutes

Do you pay only the subscription for Netflix? What about Data?

 

[Ho3n3r]

Do you pay only the subscription for Netflix? What about Data?

Obviously you pay for data.

 

[Nerfherder]

I don't disagree with him.. but I honestly think he underestimates the financial muscle Multichoice can bring to this equation.

Means nothing if they are not prepared to move with the times.

They have a large War chest that will eventually be depleted.

 

[sybertiger]

if they make a buid your own package they wont suffer

like there is just 5channels on dstv that good
rest is load of ****

 

[Drifter]

None of these options will get me Binnelanders. That is a deal breaker for the wife.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Means nothing if they are not prepared to move with the times.

They have a large War chest that will eventually be depleted.

I honestly do think MC will surprise people in terms of what they are prepared to do, and what they are working with behind closed doors.

The licensing they have managed to wrap up in exclusives and such is probably going to be a big hindrance to Netflix have a decent library in this country to start with.. and if they launch their own streaming type service that includes sport and such, they will quite honestly blow Netflix out of the water.