DStv without a decoder - 2020 expected release date

[Tinuva]

You must be one of the lucky ones.

I also never have any buffering issues. Can leave the stream on for hours and it just keeps going.

 

[milomak]

do people really think that a sports only package would be cheap?

fewer customers to cover epl, super rugby,rugby championship, f1, tdf etc costs

 

[RyanPCMR]

Blast from the past! I remember the frustrating experience that I had with DSTV SA before we could officially get Netflix in SA. The local content has never been more force-fed as it was in those days. Wonder if they will now let people select their own channels or will they still continue the rhetoric they've been using for years? Goodnight SA!

 

[Excalibur]

Yes, obviously you need a decoder to activate. Just get a cheap one, activate the card, then stash it away in your cupboard and use DSTV Now.

I have been doing this since moving to a new place, I have been won't to drill the walls and put up a decoder. It would be a bonus if this service can be cheaper than the satellite service considering I still have internet costs to bear.

 

[Excalibur]

I have a 20mbps fibre line and it never buffers.

What I notice is delay rather than buffering. As in you are following commentary on a match online and people talk of a goal before you see the footage on DSTVNow.

 

[satanboy]

What I notice is delay rather than buffering. As in you are following commentary on a match online and people talk of a goal before you see the footage on DSTVNow.

Yup

 

[StoneCold]

I applaud Multichoice for taking this route.

They would be daft to offer DSTV Now as a standalone service with the same bouquets that they currently have on their satellite, otherwise they'll not gain any subscribers, let alone get any subscribers back that they've lost in recent years.

The tricky part is create a package or multiple packages that would prompt people to subscribe. Having one package (Premium) that covers everything for R600 a month would be decent, but hell, if I was a satellite Premium subscriber for R809 a month I'd be ticked off. But then again, they need to factor in the price of a broadband connection, although a minimum of a 10mb will suffice which doesn't cost an arm and a leg (for most people).

I can see them doing some bundled deals with ISPs (Mweb comes to mind), but hell, how on earth are they going to price this?

I doubt we'll get custom bouquets to choose from (Supersport only package, I'm looking at you). However, I do believe they'll at least have a minimum of three subscription tiers.

If it were up to me, I'd come up with the following tiers:

"Lite", "Standard" and "Premium".

Lite - Covers only a few select channels from (EasyView, Access) and sports channels (SS 3&4)
Price range = R149 - R249

Standard - Covers more channels than Lite (Compact, Compact Plus) and more sports channels
(SS 3,4 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11)

Price range= R349 - R449

Premium - As the name implies, all channels are included from packages above (obviously)
Price range= R549 - R649

As for the Indian package, maybe have a separate tier and price it at R199.

I can't see them taking any other route with pricing if you factor in internet connectivity costs as well. But, I suppose time will tell, let's just hope they don't screw up the pricing because if they're smart they can regain market share in the streaming business

 

[Asgard85]

My issue personally is not about the cost of a decoder. If it is at the same or a similar price point to what they offer today then the value proposition does not change.

The same content @ the same price won't convince me.

 

[SpiderGear]

I applaud Multichoice for taking this route.

They would be daft to offer DSTV Now as a standalone service with the same bouquets that they currently have on their satellite, otherwise they'll not gain any subscribers, let alone get any subscribers back that they've lost in recent years.

The tricky part is create a package or multiple packages that would prompt people to subscribe. Having one package (Premium) that covers everything for R600 a month would be decent, but hell, if I was a satellite Premium subscriber for R809 a month I'd be ticked off. But then again, they need to factor in the price of a broadband connection, although a minimum of a 10mb will suffice which doesn't cost an arm and a leg (for most people).

I can see them doing some bundled deals with ISPs (Mweb comes to mind), but hell, how on earth are they going to price this?

I doubt we'll get custom bouquets to choose from (Supersport only package, I'm looking at you). However, I do believe they'll at least have a minimum of three subscription tiers.

If it were up to me, I'd come up with the following tiers:

"Lite", "Standard" and "Premium".

Lite - Covers only a few select channels from (EasyView, Access) and sports channels (SS 3&4)
Price range = R149 - R249

Standard - Covers more channels than Lite (Compact, Compact Plus) and more sports channels
(SS 3,4 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11)

Price range= R349 - R449

Premium - As the name implies, all channels are included from packages above (obviously)
Price range= R549 - R649

As for the Indian package, maybe have a separate tier and price it at R199.

I can't see them taking any other route with pricing if you factor in internet connectivity costs as well. But, I suppose time will tell, let's just hope they don't screw up the pricing because if they're smart they can regain market share in the streaming business

You sound like a Mutichoice analyst...

 

[Smokey888]

They would need to stream higher quality than potato for this to be viable.

when last did you actually watch DSTV now? or are you still on Dial up internet?

I travel for business quite often and stream DSTV now 3-4 hours per evening in the hotel and have no speed nor quality problems.

 

[whatwhat]

when last did you actually watch DSTV now? or are you still on Dial up internet?

I travel for business quite often and stream DSTV now 3-4 hours per evening in the hotel and have no speed nor quality problems.

Cute. I have 1GB symmetrical fibre and used by my TV provider to also give 4K IPTV.

Its obvious your definition of quality and mine are in two different realms.

 

[konfab]

They would need to stream higher quality than potato for this to be viable.

It will be African Potato you racist

 

[StoneCold]

You sound like a Mutichoice analyst...

LOL!

I can guarantee you that I'm not, but thanks, I'll take that as a compliment?

 

[Smokey888]

Cute. I have 1GB symmetrical fibre and used by my TV provider to also give 4K IPTV.

Its obvious your definition of quality and mine are in two different realms.

you did not answer my question.

 

[whatwhat]

you did not answer my question.

I actually watched it now, and it's terrible.

Remember I only try to watch Live Streams, I don't use Catch Up or any of the other ones.

 

[Smokey888]

again, I have zero issues with livestream. maybe i am lucky who knows, but I can assure you my quality is great, and so is my definition of great quality video

 

[Tinuva]

again, I have zero issues with livestream. maybe i am lucky who knows, but I can assure you my quality is great, and so is my definition of great quality video

DSTV now is good for 720p when stream the 1080p stream. They don't have 4K which is what @whatwhat is hinting at is missing on DSTV now. When they DID have the 4k test stream...that was great! But now its no more so the quality is definitely not worth it if you have a big TV.

 

[daveza]

Is the plan to do away with the decoder and satellite dish ?

The uhm, informal settlements will not be happy with that.

 

[Swa]

The issue with Dstv isn't the price but their inflexibility. If you want a specific genre you have to pay for the whole higher tier that includes it. Unlike Sky where you get the basic free to air package and then add on specific packages of quality content. They also need to get different providers on board like Netflix if they are to have quality streaming.

 

[NeonNinja]

I applaud Multichoice for taking this route.

They would be daft to offer DSTV Now as a standalone service with the same bouquets that they currently have on their satellite, otherwise they'll not gain any subscribers, let alone get any subscribers back that they've lost in recent years.

The tricky part is create a package or multiple packages that would prompt people to subscribe. Having one package (Premium) that covers everything for R600 a month would be decent, but hell, if I was a satellite Premium subscriber for R809 a month I'd be ticked off. But then again, they need to factor in the price of a broadband connection, although a minimum of a 10mb will suffice which doesn't cost an arm and a leg (for most people).

I can see them doing some bundled deals with ISPs (Mweb comes to mind), but hell, how on earth are they going to price this?

I doubt we'll get custom bouquets to choose from (Supersport only package, I'm looking at you). However, I do believe they'll at least have a minimum of three subscription tiers.

If it were up to me, I'd come up with the following tiers:

"Lite", "Standard" and "Premium".

Lite - Covers only a few select channels from (EasyView, Access) and sports channels (SS 3&4)
Price range = R149 - R249

Standard - Covers more channels than Lite (Compact, Compact Plus) and more sports channels
(SS 3,4 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11)

Price range= R349 - R449

Premium - As the name implies, all channels are included from packages above (obviously)
Price range= R549 - R649

As for the Indian package, maybe have a separate tier and price it at R199.

I can't see them taking any other route with pricing if you factor in internet connectivity costs as well. But, I suppose time will tell, let's just hope they don't screw up the pricing because if they're smart they can regain market share in the streaming business

Wouldn't make sense for some households/setups. Like my parents are subbed to DStv. I'm not. Wouldn't make sense to tell mom to cancel Premium and me register DSTVNow Premium at R649. Because they have no Internet. Plus the Premium they're paying includes DSTVNow.