TopTV Review
With all the pent-up anticipation surrounding TopTV it is hard not to be drawn into the excitement of it all. I decided that I would go for it, as DStv was working out to be too costly. Go big or go home is my motto hence only the full R249 package would do.
After discovering that certain shops were already selling TopTV on the Friday before launch, I tried my luck at PEP stores in Stellenbosh. Lo and behold they handed the device over without hesitation.
First glance reveals an incredibly small device, no HD, only basic RCA, RF, and strangely enough a USB connector that is currently disabled. The smartcard is inserted on the side.
On launch day I phoned in at 07:30 to get connected and give my new TopTV service a spin. However like many others I could not get through. After repeated attempts between 07:30 and 13:00 I left two messages. At 13:30 I received a phone call, all my details were taken down without issue.
I eventually managed to organise an installer for Monday 3 May. As I already have a DStv dish I instructed the installer to install the TopTV dish and leave my current DStv dish alone. Surprisingly enough both dishes are exactly the same.
A quick run through the TopTV channels revealed that quite a few are not operational yet. The problem is there is no clear indication highlighting which channels are unavailable. You only realise that you’re on a non-operational channel once you have watched the same advertisement 7 times.
A lot of the movies are old, such as Ghost Rider and the series’ are seasons that are way past their due date. So far nothing seems current which is a great disappointment. The lack of a dedicated South African news channel is also a concern, no local South African weather updates either. Unless you are happy to rely on SABC or eTV for your local news, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
The music channels are fantastic, everything you can imagine. Sure you might not have VH1 and MTV but there are more than enough alternatives. TopTV also has dedicated music genre channels that rival DMX found on DStv. There aren’t as many channels as DStv but it is a case of quality over quantity. If anything the music entertainment is worth the cost.
Another point is the information about some of the channels – the time seems to be out a bit. One example I can remember off hand is Family Guy only starting an hour later than the decoder indicated it would. Some channels have shows on them that don’t make sense. For example Top Crime was showing Relic Hunter. But on the up side channels such as Top History and Discovery are fantastic.
The software on the decoder feels clunky and awkward at times. It is not as responsive as I would like it to be. However I am sure with a couple of software updates it will be sorted out.
Whilst there are clearly a few glaring issues that need to be improved the bottom line is that it is only R249 and offers a decent quality of service. My fix-it list would include: prioritizing the procurement of more current entertainment, working on airing those missing channels pronto, fixing their schedules (both the TV guide and ensuring that the right shows are on the correct channels) and hey presto … you’ve got a decent offer that’s worthy of giving DStv a run for its money.
TopTV review << give your view of the new TopTV service
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