DStv will \u201cone day\u201d offer online-only bouquets and subscription video on demand services similar to Vidi, Altech Node, and Netflix. This is according to group CEO Imtiaz Patel who made the comments during an interview with MyBroadband at a recent MultiChoice event.<\/p>\n
The event was held to introduce the DStv Explora decoder\u2019s Internet features and its new mobile application for Android and iOS, DStv Now.<\/p>\n
Among the new services MultiChoice announced on the night<\/a>\u00a0was an expanded catalogue of downloadable catch-up content for the Explora through DStv Catch Up Plus and the ability to set personal video recordings remotely.<\/p>\n DStv Now<\/a> promises access to online Catch Up content (which includes Catch Up Plus) in addition to live online streams of a number of premium channels on DStv.<\/p>\n Channels supported by DStv Now\u2019s live streaming feature include all the sports channels on the DStv Premium bouquet, M-net, and the M-net movie channels.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you are seeing the preparedness of the organisation for the day when you have true broadband [in South Africa],\u201d said Patel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re getting ready for the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Patel said that when they design and implement services, such as DStv Now\u2019s live streaming and Catch Up Plus, they need to make sure they are usable by non-technical subscribers.<\/p>\n For this reason MultiChoice said it has been slow to adopt certain online features because the bandwidth limitations and costs associated with broadband access in South Africa would have made for a poor user experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re an innovative company. We go with technology. Sometimes we\u2019ll wait, and other times we push the boundaries,\u201d Patel said.<\/p>\n Asked whether MultiChoice had plans to offer DStv channel bouquets that only include Internet-based services, whether live streaming or video on demand, Patel said there is no doubt that it \u201cwill eventually come\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHow far down the line is the question,\u201d Patel said. \u201cAt the moment it\u2019s not possible. It\u2019s not viable. It doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n However, Patel said that if you look at where the rest of the world is going you would be naive to think that it is not going to happen.<\/p>\n DStv Explora Internet services launched<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DStv Now mobile application with live streaming unveiled<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DStv prices: decreases and increases<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore DStv and video on demand news<\/h3>\n