Updated Multichoice terms and conditions

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milomak

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Is it just that they are now enforcing monthly billing?
 
That's what I'm asking. It seems like that to me. But you never know.
 
Can someone please publish the latest TC? I logged in but have problems accessing this info :(
 
Below are some of the more interesting points taken from the "Terms and Conditions" and the possible reason for their inclusion:

3. We may change the features or functionality of the Services over time. This may include charging you for a feature of the Services that you did not previously pay for.
4. We may change the delivery system for the Services over time, which could include upgrading the software on your decoder. We may also require you to upgrade your decoder
or other hardware used by you to receive the Services.
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DSTV will be launching HDTV services shortly and this will make use of MPEG-4 encoding. All the currently available DSTV decoders support MPEG-2 only, users wishing to receive the HD channels will thus be required to purchase a new decoder. Point 3 relates to the fact that the new HD channel(s) will initially be free but may be charged at an additional fee at a later date.

9. You must use our MultiChoice Smartcard in a decoder approved by us, and you may not tamper with the Smartcard.
19. You may not hack the encoding system or try to do so. This is a crime and we will also be able to sue you for liquidated damages.
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To placate the content providers, DSTV has to take preventative measures to ensure shows aren't recorded and redistributed. For the same reason, the HD PVR will only output HDTV content via the HDMI port and it will only output to devices that support HDCP encryption (the component output will be downscaled to SD quality).

Although the piracy discussion is a contentious one, the fact that DSTV keep the content providers happy means we get to see some of the shows just a couple of weeks after they premier on the US networks.

11. You are restricted to ONLY ONE downgrade in any given billing month.
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Some users only activate their account over weekends or for particular sporting events and thereafter deactivate the account. This is one of the reason a re-connection fee is charged when re-activating the service. With the addition of the EasyView Package, users were able to bypass the re-connection by simply downgrading their accounts instead of deactivating them.

15. You may not use decoders that enable you to receive and/or access your Service(s) on multiple viewing devices (as a way of illustration, Dual View and Multi-View decoders),
in different residential units.
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The HD PVR, SD PVR and the single view 1110 decoders will at some point support a feature called XtraView (previously referred to as Multiview). This functionality will allow users to have a second decoder (possibly more) in their household but at a reduced monthly cost. To ensure the secondary decoders are within the same household, the secondary decoders need to be connected to the primary decoder via coaxial cable. Although this does prevent significant abuse of the XtraView functionality, it's not a perfect solution.

One of the reason DSTV are making this functionality available is the fact that the current SD PVR will be the last decoder with built in functionality to provide 2 different viewing outputs.

24. Subject to any specific warranty cover you may benefit from, we make no warranties regarding the Equipment, the reception of the Services, or the quality of the content
you receive.
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With the addition of new channels taking up additional satellite transponder bandwidth (especially in the case of the HD channel), DSTV prioritises and adjust the bitrate of the broadcasts to allow everything to fit in the available/allocated bandwidth. There have already been many complaints with regards to the quality of some channels and the above clause protect them from any civil action. In the US, a class action lawsuit was lodged against DirecTV for downgrading their HD broadcast to what has been termed "HD Lite".

It's also been suggested that the standard 60cm dish uses in most DSTV installation may not provide sufficient reception for HDTV broadcasts.
 
Last edited:
rpm said:
Can someone please publish the latest TC? I logged in but have problems accessing this info :(
Click to expand...
The full "Terms and Conditions" are as follows:
Analogue and Digital Terms and Conditions (South Africa)
KEY TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION TO MULTICHOICE SERVICES
If we (MultiChoice Africa (Pty) Limited) accept your request to have access to MultiChoice Services, you will be bound by
a subscription agreement with us on certain terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions are available at the following Web Site: www.multichoice.co.za and include the following -
1. The Agreement is binding unless and until you or we give notice to terminate.
2. While you are allowed to terminate the Agreement at any time, you will be required to pay the full monthly
subscription fee(s) due for the billing month within which the termination date falls.
3. We may change the features or functionality of the Services over time. This may include charging you for a feature of
the Services that you did not previously pay for.
4. We may change the delivery system for the Services over time, which could include upgrading the software on your
decoder. We may also require you to upgrade your decoder or other hardware used by you to receive the Services.
5. You may change the Service(s) you want. This will mean a change to the fees you pay.
6. This agreement is a tax invoice as it meets all requirements as detailed in VAT Practice Note 2, read with section
20(7) of the Value Added Tax Act, 1991.
7. If your authority to access the Selected Service(s) is interrupted for any reason, we will require you to pay a
reconnection fee before such access is authorised again.
8. You must comply with the standard instructions in the User Manual we have issued and that applies to your decoder.
9. You must use our MultiChoice Smartcard in a decoder approved by us, and you may not tamper with the Smartcard.
10. We can disable the Smartcard if you breach the Agreement or for technical reasons.
11. You are restricted to ONLY ONE downgrade in any given billing month.
12. You must keep the Smartcard in the Decoder which we recommend at all times be connected to the mains power
supply and in standby mode.
13. You must keep us informed of:
13.1 your contact details; and
13.2 the whereabouts of the Smartcard.
14 We will not be responsible for your equipment unless your decoder is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
15 You may not use decoders that enable you to receive and/or access your Service(s) on multiple viewing devices (as
a way of illustration, Dual View and Multi-View decoders), in different residential units.
16 You may only use the Hard Disk Drive memory (“HDD”) of the PVR for so long as you are a paid-up subscriber in
South Africa.
17 You may not sell or otherwise transfer the PVR decoder and its related HDD without advising us of the identity and
contact details of the transferee.
18 You may only receive the services at your home in South Africa for private use. You may not show the Services to
the public nor use the content for any commercial purpose.
19 You may not hack the encoding system or try to do so. This is a crime and we will also be able to sue you for
liquidated damages.
20 You must pay the fees by due date.
21 We may over time increase the fees for the Service(s) on notice to you.
22 Subject to your right to withdraw your consent in certain instances:
22.1 you agree that we may obtain your personal information and use it, and disclose it to certain other persons, for
certain specified purposes, including for credit information sharing and debtor tracing, marketing and contract
administration; and
22.2 we and our associated companies may communicate with you by means of email or by text messages to your cellular
phone or to your decoder for display on your television screen, and we will not be liable to you as a result.
23 You accept that you will get no rights to the intellectual property in the MultiChoice systems or the content of the
Services and you will respect the rights of the owners thereof.
24 Subject to any specific warranty cover you may benefit from, we make no warranties regarding the Equipment, the
reception of the Services, or the quality of the content you receive.
25 You agree that our liability to you is substantially limited.
26 The Agreement replaces any previous agreement between you and MultiChoice group in relation to the Services.
27 We may change the terms of the Agreement from time to time, on notice to you.
28 We may transfer our rights under the Agreement to any other person.
29 You may not transfer your rights under the Agreement to any other person.
30 The agreement is subject to South African law.
31 You consent to the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court.
32 We will use your given address as your address for service.
Click to expand...
 
Normally I suspended my service as I wish! They kept my money in their account and only asked a R50 reconnection fee! Works out cheaper if I weren't at home for 3 days or more (+-R16 per day X 3 = R48)

Phoned them on the 7th of this month, wanted to suspend my service for 3 weeks, they informed me that I will lose my remaining credit (was around R350).

DSTV is going off tomorrow night, can't pay R460 for a week every month!
 
TivoZA said:
It's also been suggested that the standard 60cm dish uses in most DSTV installation may not provide sufficient reception for HDTV broadcasts.
Click to expand...

If they increase the bandwidth of their signal to get a higher bitrate, compared to just using bandwidth from other channels and thus degrading them, then the overall signal strength will drop. It is highly unlikely that they can increase the satellite's output signal. So you will need a 90 cm dish to get sufficient signal.
 
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