OpenView HD is now available on all household satellite dishes
OpenView HD, South Africa’s first free-to-view direct-to-home satellite television platform, will soon also be available on the same satellite dish used to receive DStv, Vivid and Freevision services. A few months ago, Platco Digital, the e.tv sister company which owns OpenView HD, entered into an agreement with national transmission supplier, SENTECH, to lease space on the IS20 satellite. IS20 is the same satellite which carries DStv and SENTECH’s free-to-view platforms.
OpenView HD launched in October last year on the SES5 satellite with 15 channels, including SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv and a variety of entertainment, movie, kids and religious channels. Since the launch, OVHD has been pursuing various options to extend the free television channel offerings to all South Africans. To get OpenView HD, consumers are required only to make a one-time purchase of a decoder and satellite dish after which they can enjoy the OpenView HD service for free without any monthly fees.
The latest development means that all South Africans who already have existing satellite dishes which receive DStv, Vivid, Freevision or Top TV, will need only to buy and install a decoder to get OpenView HD. The OpenView HD decoder will work with any of these existing satellite dishes.
Customers will have the option of just buying the decoder for R849 if they already have a working dish. The decoder comes with Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Installation Guide but professional installer assistance will also be available if required.
“We are delighted to be able to increase viewer access to the OpenView HD platform and extend options for TV viewers across South Africa. The IS20 offering will make it easier for the consumer pocket, as those with existing satellite dishes will not need to purchase new ones,” says Maxwell Nonge, MD of Platco Digital.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is a leading provider of satellite services worldwide. Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies.
Intelsat IS 20 satellite is a geostationary communications satellite which is set at Intelsat 20 at 68.5°E.
About OpenView HD
Platco Digital is an independent distribution company offering digital carriage solutions on various platforms including the direct to home (DTH) services. Platco Digital launched the OpenView HD product, which is a free-to-view direct to home (DTH) satellite offering. OpenView HD is South Africa’s first Free-to-Air Satellite Television offering that was launched in October 2013. The channel offers content that ranges from Children & Education, Culture & Lifestyle, Entertainment and Religion. OVHD offers 18 free television channel with no monthly subscription.
About SENTECH
As a leading provider of content distribution platform services, SENTECH enables the distribution of Broadcasters’ (Public, Commercial and Community) Digital Content Services using its Open Access, Dynamic and Interoperable Digital Content Distribution Technology Platforms.
The channels to feature on OpenView HD are as follows: SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3, E-tv HD, Ekhuruleni TV, E-kasi+, E-Movies+, E-Toonz+, E-Africa+, Beat Lab TV, ASTV, Glow, UCBN TV, Da Vinci Learning, Deen TV, Mindset, LX TV, Relevant, Spirit Word, and INI.
