How to get your hands on a free digital TV decoder

Chris

Chris

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How to get your hands on a free digital TV decoder

South Africans who want to watch the SABC and eTV’s free-to-air channels can get a free digital decoder from the government to access these channels once analogue broadcasts have been switched off.

The SABC recently started displaying a scrolling notice on broadcasts that still use its old analogue TV signals which informs viewers that they must register for a free digital terrestrial TV (DTT) decoder at their nearest Post Office.

“The main purpose of this message is to alert the public about the impending analogue switch off and the need to change to alternative digital technologies for television viewing,” the SABC said in a statement.
 
Would anyone who can afford the decoder actually want one?

"It should be noted that only South African households that depend on SASSA social grants and those with a monthly income of less than R3,200 qualify for a free decoder.

They must also have a functioning TV set and a television licence." :ROFL:
 
wernervn said:
Would anyone who can afford the decoder actually want one?
Click to expand...

I gave my OVHD decoder to my mom.
Still have some other starsomething one lying around waiting to be dumped.

Enough rubbish in my house already, thank you :)
 
It should be noted that only South African households that depend on SASSA social grants and those with a monthly income of less than R3,200 qualify for a free decoder.

They must also have a functioning TV set and a television licence.

EISH!!!

Are those who never could be bothered paying a TV lisence, now going to get the big squeeze, or they going to get exempted ...
 
My 3 year old TV already has one.
Unlike the SA Government, it's not from the dark ages.
 
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Click Bait, It's not free, you as an end user still needs to pay a TV license plus from the article:

They must also have a functioning TV set and a television licence.


Households earning more than R3,200 per month are expected to purchase their own decoders or STBs.
Click to expand...
 
So they want to send an installer to come and install it too? How much of my tax money is going to this company who will be plugging in 3 leads for each and every "free" decoder?
 
dualmeister said:
My TV already has one.
Unlike the SA Government, my TV is not from the dark ages.
Click to expand...

My TV does not have one, and I will not be getting one either, free or not. I stream all my "TV Content" . SABC, has gone the way of the Dodo, and DSTV, followed shortly after. As far as I am concerned, over the air is deader than the Dodo.
 
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I dunno.

When we got DStv in the late 90s the difference in picture quality was incredible vs. terrestrial TV (even with a signal booster); and when the SABC channels were added to DStv, we basically disconnected the old antenna.

That was when there was still the occasional show on SABC worth watching...

Now, neither SABC nor DStv have anything I watch.
 
Alkern said:
Wait!!! Stop the bus...
Does this mean I don't need a TV license any more... My Car can no longer be on the road, because it's a boat!
Click to expand...
Speaking of cars - would you need a TV licence if you car has a TV tuner?
 
Geoff.D said:
Yes.
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So I need a licence for the car to have it legal on the road for everyones safety
A licence to operate the vehicle in the interest of everyones safety
A licence to watch SABC 1 - how dangerous is SABC1?
 
Nithan15 said:
So I need a licence for the car to have it legal on the road for everyones safety
A licence to operate the vehicle in the interest of everyones safety
A licence to watch SABC 1 - how dangerous is SABC1?
Click to expand...
About as dangerous as watching ANY video service when driving, INCLUDING that fancy digital display, and GPS now available on some cars.
 
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