ODM Launch in December?

[Drewster]

http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=74879

On Digital Media Ltd. may begin pay- television services to compete with Napers Ltd. in South Africa before 2010 if the start-up gets a license to transmit signals itself, Chief Technology Officer Frans Lindeque said.

“The plan is to start offering services in December but that may slip a bit,” Lindeque said in an interview in Johannesburg today. “We won’t know for sure for another two to three months.”

Here's hoping!

 

[hoegh]

from this article it looks like they will be targeting the lower LSM's and the fact that they don't even know which technology they are going to deploy doesn't look positive to me

 

[Drewster]

I guess it's my overly optimistic nature to expect something decent for a better price point.

All I want is a few decent channels which I'll be happy to pay for, instead of the mountain of channels which I don't even bother with.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

ODM's pay TV service I read will start with 60 channels. Up from their initial release that stated 40 channels. They will also have exclusive access to a satellite already launched by Astra SES, which is a major shareholder in ODM, and will also supply the bulk of content from European channels. Consumers will have the option to select genre-based channel packages over and above a base package, working much the same way as UK pay TV provider Sky TV. Although they will cater for the lower LSM market as their main target, there will be ample content available for the higher LSM markets as well. ODM is ALL good news.

 

[hoegh]

ODM's pay TV service I read will start with 60 channels. Up from their initial release that stated 40 channels. They will also have exclusive access to a satellite already launched by Astra SES, which is a major shareholder in ODM, and will also supply the bulk of content from European channels. Consumers will have the option to select genre-based channel packages over and above a base package, working much the same way as UK pay TV provider Sky TV. Although they will cater for the lower LSM market as their main target, there will be ample content available for the higher LSM markets as well. ODM is ALL good news.

one can only hope this is the case, but two points concern me,

1) they don't know which technology they are going to use, this sort of thing takes a hell-of-alot of research to get right, and that means time, I just don't see anything before the end of this year

2) im fairly certain monochoice/supersport have got a monopoly on all the sport which could make it hard for them to break into the market with the higher LSM's

but hey, who knows maybe this is the start of something good

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

As far as I understand ODM needs to either get a license from Icasa to send an uplink of their services by themselves or make use of another company that already has a license and capital to uplink their content. They do basically own the satellite to which the uplink must be done though. It's all confusing, but that's what Icasa is best at.

 

[JustAsk]

ODM's pay TV service I read will start with 60 channels. Up from their initial release that stated 40 channels. They will also have exclusive access to a satellite already launched by Astra SES, which is a major shareholder in ODM, and will also supply the bulk of content from European channels. Consumers will have the option to select genre-based channel packages over and above a base package, working much the same way as UK pay TV provider Sky TV. Although they will cater for the lower LSM market as their main target, there will be ample content available for the higher LSM markets as well. ODM is ALL good news.

Yes saaierwaaier,i thought it was you.Still talking kark as usual.You don't have a clue how these things work,do you? Exclusive my ass.

one can only hope this is the case, but two points concern me,

1) they don't know which technology they are going to use, this sort of thing takes a hell-of-alot of research to get right, and that means time, I just don't see anything before the end of this year

2) im fairly certain monochoice/supersport have got a monopoly on all the sport which could make it hard for them to break into the market with the higher LSM's

but hey, who knows maybe this is the start of something good

The facts in that article is not correct.They haven't yet decided on an ENCRYPTION.They'll use mpeg4 dvb-s2.

As far as I understand ODM needs to either get a license from Icasa to send an uplink of their services by themselves or make use of another company that already has a license and capital to uplink their content. They do basically own the satellite to which the uplink must be done though. It's all confusing, but that's what Icasa is best at.

More kark from you,saaiewaaier.
ODM's broadcast centre is in Germany,SES Astra, and it's got bokkeroll to do with no license.It's to save on costs and strategic placement for channel distribution is crucial.For example,Comedy Central is acessible from there.You only need a license and content to start a tv station.Anything else can be outsourced.

Saaierwaaier.Sirius 4 IS NOT AN EXLUSIVE ODM SAT.IT REPLACES SIRIUS 1/2.The weaker transponders is for AFRICA.Get that in your head.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Jirlikheid JustAsk. What are you on about. Did I insult your religion or race or something. I said "as far as I understand", didn't say I understand correctly. I don't freakin work for them or anything, I merely got the info off other articles. On the ODM site may I add. And no, I'm not saaiewaaier. Perhaps, have you considered that it's you who talks the kark? Read my sig.

 

[telkomsuig]

Like Neotel versus Telkom. The proof will be when they actually launch something. Sport will be the one area where ODM will battle for a very long time to get rights to the popular sporting codes. IMO DSTV will be the only option for a very long time!

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Is it not possible for ODM to get Fox Sports. I know that Fox Sports in Australia has rugby rights, maybe those rights can apply worldwide. Don't they sell rights to broadcast networks rather than countries. Could be a loophole for ODM.

 

[telkomsuig]

Sports rights and any other content rights are sold per region not channel. Multichoice has exclusive rights for Rugby in the African market for example for the next 5 years.

 

[soup]

So it's December, and guess what the On Digital Media website is saying!

You guessed it, same old "Website down for maintenance". This is quite sad really, as it's not doing the brand any good. It certainly does not give me any reason to trust them, and they have not even launched yet. All this is quite negative, and i would love it if someone could provide some positive information.

Is there anybody, anybody at all who has some authority, that might like to comment on the status of the company please?

 

[MarvMart]

You guessed it, same old "Website down for maintenance". This is quite sad really, as it's not doing the brand any good. It certainly does not give me any reason to trust them, and they have not even launched yet. All this is quite negative, and i would love it if someone could provide some positive information.
?

It is what it is ... And that's nothing ...

 

[Quantum Theory]

ODM's pay TV service I read will start with 60 channels. Up from their initial release that stated 40 channels. They will also have exclusive access to a satellite already launched by Astra SES, which is a major shareholder in ODM, and will also supply the bulk of content from European channels. Consumers will have the option to select genre-based channel packages over and above a base package, working much the same way as UK pay TV provider Sky TV. Although they will cater for the lower LSM market as their main target, there will be ample content available for the higher LSM markets as well. ODM is ALL good news.

60 channels... I don't think so. Unless they WANT to go bust before they even have a subscriber base. They will start small, I'm sure.

 

[Nod]

You can still get to their website, just not the front page:
http://www.ondigitalmedia.co.za/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=category&catid=34&Itemid=79

 

[ColinR]

Are ODM using the same satellite to broadcast, ie no dish adjustment required?

Edit: saw this so most likely an adjustment..

 

[Nod]

Are ODM using the same satellite to broadcast, ie no dish adjustment required?

Edit: saw this so most likely an adjustment..

Not only that, but they'll also require a new satellite receiver.