Big changes for DStv Stream

MultiChoice has added a “Watch from Start” feature to DStv Stream in preparation for the launch of Sky Glass products in South Africa, TV with Thinus reports.

The company describes the feature’s addition as its “first step in bringing full cloud PVR functionality” to DStv Stream.

The pay-TV broadcaster announced its plans to launch Sky Glass products locally in September 2022, but it has pushed back the launch date several times.

However, the company is now reportedly on track to launch Sky Glass products — branded as DStv Glass in South Africa — by the end of 2024.

It recently added the Watch from Start feature to DStv Stream, which, as the name implies, lets viewers restart a programme with the click of a button.

According to the report, the feature had to be incorporated into DStv Stream to facilitate the launch of DStv glass products.

Previously, DStv Stream users had to manually drag back the slider on the buffer bar to return to the start of a stream.

MultiChoice said the functionality is the first step in enabling full cloud PVR functionality, which will let customers record live events on any device to watch later.

It is currently available on iOS, Android, web, Hisense, tvOS, and most Samsung TVs in South Africa and the Rest of Africa.

However, MultiChoice says it will roll out to other platforms soon.

It added that it had made other enhancements to DStv Stream to make the app easier to navigate and use.

So far, these have rolled out to LG, Samsung, and Hisense TVs, but MultiChoice says it will add them to the DStv Streama shortly.

MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela first announced the company’s plan to bring Sky Glass products to South Africa in a statement released in September 2022.

It will make the pay-TV broadcaster Sky’s second Glass syndication partner. It partnered with Australia’s Foxtel in 2021.

The Sky Glass TV range features 4K QLED displays with an integrated Dolby Atmos-supporting sound bar. They will be available in various sizes and colours in South Africa.

“We are truly excited about the syndication partnership with Sky and Comcast, and what it means for our customers,” said Mawela.

“This syndication partnership highlights our drive to put the needs of customers at the core of what we do, through both the bolstering of the customers’ viewing experience as well as demand for streaming aggregation.”

Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO.

However, MultiChoice’s initial statement indicated a launch towards the end of 2023.

Then, the company’s November 2022 interim results revealed that it had pushed back the launch “toward the end FY24.”

This indicated a launch before the end of March 2024, as the company’s financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

No launch came before 31 March, and MultiChoice has been cagey about sharing details surrounding the launch since then.

MyBroadband asked the broadcaster for an update on its plans in February 2024, but it said the information would be announced at an appropriate time.

“MultiChoice is truly excited about the syndication partnership with Sky and Comcast, and what it means for our customers,” it said.

“The launch dates and further information of DStv’s Glass will be formally announced in due time.”