TopTV prices to be halved: StarTimes

[Polymathic]

its all a front to get us to buy more Chinese made products

 

[w1z4rd]

I have TopTV so this is good

 

[w1z4rd]

As long as they dont take away my MSNBC I dont mind.

 

[Avenue]

Some sport enthusiast forumites seem to forget that MBB forumites represent about 5% of the population of this country. We are not the target market of TopTv. It is aimed at lower LSM groups. What sport do low LSM groups care about: soccer.

Soccer is the only sport they need to show to be viable. Showing cricket and rugby and F1 and tennis etc will only draw mostly white consumers which represent less than 10% of the population.

Hopefully with the lower prices they can capture the market that DSTV is already pricing themselves out of. I'm going to call this now: if this deal goes ahead watch Monochoice release a bunch of new boquets at very low prices to try and drive the new competition out in a clear and blatant display of monopoly abuse. And also watch ICASA and DoC silently watch and tiddle their thumbs.

I really hope they dont- They're going to have to pay above the 277 million DSTV paid to secure soccer rights. You know how many subscriptions they have to sell to get that back, and then we will be left with old channels stuffed with repeats. On the other hand it may be their only other option.

+1
If the Chinese can get HD, PVR and PSL (...in HD?) and keep their 'full bouquet' under R200 (or cheaper if possible), that would be a great step forward and I am sure that hundreds of thousands will abandon Compact.
The thing though, is that Monochoice signed an extension with the PSL in 2011 and the deal will last 5 years. Might prove impossible for another provider to muscle in on some of that action, at least until 2016.

If they want to compete for the rights, they need to take this to court for abuse of a monopoly. Signing a 5 year contract does exactly that. But just like the government stepped in with the lanseria kalula issue, they need to do the same for sports rights, where all parties split the rights.

 

[Marcan]

Some sport enthusiast forumites seem to forget that MBB forumites represent about 5% of the population of this country. We are not the target market of TopTv. It is aimed at lower LSM groups. What sport do low LSM groups care about: soccer.

Soccer is the only sport they need to show to be viable. Showing cricket and rugby and F1 and tennis etc will only draw mostly white consumers which represent less than 10% of the population.

Hopefully with the lower prices they can capture the market that DSTV is already pricing themselves out of. I'm going to call this now: if this deal goes ahead watch Monochoice release a bunch of new boquets at very low prices to try and drive the new competition out in a clear and blatant display of monopoly abuse. And also watch ICASA and DoC silently watch and tiddle their thumbs.

Agree with you in most respects, actually La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga can replace in many ways the EPL. If you are willing to stray from the old and known clubs. And just interested in decent footie.
And no doubt ICASA/ DoC will delay it terribly or mess it up completely.

 

[DjStyles]

It’s obvious you’re keen on angling ... because DSTV have got you hooked

Haha

 

[Priapus]

I hope Top TV succeed with this. Multichoice needs competition. R700 p/m for digital TV is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.
Even if Top TV don't do many sports channels - there's always a way to access those channels, so if I can pay R200 or so for everything but sports - sign me up!

 

[Bryn]

I hope Top TV succeed with this. Multichoice needs competition. R700 p/m for digital TV is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.
Even if Top TV don't do many sports channels - there's always a way to access those channels, so if I can pay R200 or so for everything but sports - sign me up!

DSTV is R625 a month, and it's good value if you watch a lot of sport. Every foreigner I've ever had stay at my place can't believe how good our sports coverage is and what we pay for it. Sky Sports and its measly two HD channels are charged separately, make the cable price very expensive and doesn't show everything thanks to rights issues or clashes with lower league football (can't broadcast EPL with lower leagues playing).

 

[AlmightyBender]

Agree with you in most respects, actually La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga can replace in many ways the EPL. If you are willing to stray from the old and known clubs. And just interested in decent footie.
And no doubt ICASA/ DoC will delay it terribly or mess it up completely.

Yeah those would be great, but the key league that they need to get good access to is PSL and have the ability to show many games simultaneously like DSTV can. EPL attracts a high LSM crowd in this country and the broadcast rights would be prohibitive without intervention by the state.

 

[oom]

Sounds like they know what they are doing.

I think we'd all love some real competition to Monochoice.

Lol @ Monochoice, 100% accurate!

DSTV is R625 a month, and it's good value if you watch a lot of sport. Every foreigner I've ever had stay at my place can't believe how good our sports coverage is and what we pay for it. Sky Sports and its measly two HD channels are charged separately, make the cable price very expensive and doesn't show everything thanks to rights issues or clashes with lower league football (can't broadcast EPL with lower leagues playing).

This might be true if you love sport, however someone like myself who could not really be bothered with it should not be forced to pay sooooo much in order to get everything else. Many friends whom I have spoken to regarding Hulu and Netflix ask me the same question, can I get SuperSport! I think multichoice has enough people who are willing to pay for the full bankshoot as they are Sport junkies, but to those of thus that are not, give us a package with NO sport and drop the price a lot!

Just my 2c, but of course, we stay in South Africa, and we will continue to be raped cause thats the way it is!

I hope TopTV works and really gives Multichoice a run for the Billions!

 

[Bryn]

This might be true if you love sport, however someone like myself who could not really be bothered with it should not be forced to pay sooooo much in order to get everything else. Many friends whom I have spoken to regarding Hulu and Netflix ask me the same question, can I get SuperSport! I think multichoice has enough people who are willing to pay for the full bankshoot as they are Sport junkies, but to those of thus that are not, give us a package with NO sport and drop the price a lot!

Just my 2c, but of course, we stay in South Africa, and we will continue to be raped cause thats the way it is!

I hope TopTV works and really gives Multichoice a run for the Billions!

That's the problem with DSTV - it's either great value or terrible value.

Just out of interest, what good non-sport channels aren't available in the cheaper bouquets?

 

[Inevitability]

Does Compact get HD at all?

 

[supersunbird]

That's the problem with DSTV - it's either great value or terrible value.

Just out of interest, what good non-sport channels aren't available in the cheaper bouquets?

- The movie channels.
- From now on KykNet
- Mnet
- BBC entertainment
- Discovery
- Comedy Central
- Disney Channel

 

[Bryn]

- The movie channels.
- From now on KykNet
- Mnet
- BBC entertainment
- Discovery
- Comedy Central
- Disney Channel

Ah, that sucks. I understand fully why DSTV don't offer a sports subscription, but I don't understand why they don't offer a good package without sport.

 

[Polymathic]

MTN should open their own pay-tv division

 

[Grubscrew]

MTN should open their own pay-tv division

Now with Mahala viewing times, upto 100% off between Thursday 2:45am and 3:05am. And introducing a world first, billing based on a roulette wheel. MtnTV

 

[Bryn]

MTN should open their own pay-tv division

MTN should do nothing but be a less scummy company.

 

[Zenbaas]

Link not working

Chinese pay TV provider StarTimes has appealed to the government to compel its competitor, DStv, to re-sell some of its exclusive content like the English Premier league matches.

In an interview with the Nation on Wednesday Pan-Africa Group Ltd managing director Michael Wu said Multichoice, through its DStv brand, has denied the majority of Kenyans a chance to enjoy high quality entertainment through prohibitive pricing.

“We have held talks with the necessary authorities on this issue and discussions are still ongoing. We are willing to buy the content from Multichoice and sell it to consumers at a more affordable rate, as it happens in other markets like Nigeria,” Mr Wu said.

The company said the move would not only benefit the consumers with affordable rates but would open up the market for penetration by other pay TV providers.

“Having exclusive rights to broadcast the English Premier League is the only advantage our competitor has over us. We have already gained a significant share of the market, with over 130,000 subscribers in less than a year. We believe we can gain more ground if the competition ground is levelled,” said Mr Wu.

DStv rivals, led by Wananchi Group, have also been calling on the regulator to compel MultiChoice to sell them some of its exclusive content which it has used to defend its market share.

But in a recent interview, MultiChoice Africa executive chairman Nolo Letele said the company had no plans to sell any of its content to other players.

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