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Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
Whatever happened to satellite TV competition?
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
What else... lol
A few things I can think of to encourage competition:
1. Off the shelve decoders
2. Operator can only create bouquets, not license every content provider available.
3. EPG data must be available in xmltv format
4. Content should be shown as intended (no removal of language or additional adverts)
I'm sure there are more. Off the shelve decoders will force operators to comply to a standard, and not lock people in.
Content is the big problem. Monochoice had ages to sign exclusive deals with every content provider out there. I think personally, that this is the reason why we don't have anything yet. Local only content will not sell your product. People want to see the latest series and movies out there.
1. Off the shelve decoders
2. Operator can only create bouquets, not license every content provider available.
3. EPG data must be available in xmltv format
4. Content should be shown as intended (no removal of language or additional adverts)
I'm sure there are more. Off the shelve decoders will force operators to comply to a standard, and not lock people in.
Content is the big problem. Monochoice had ages to sign exclusive deals with every content provider out there. I think personally, that this is the reason why we don't have anything yet. Local only content will not sell your product. People want to see the latest series and movies out there.
Actually, I don't think even that is necessary.
How about ICASA just gets out of the way?
Why is this country so in love with regulation? The powers-that-be want a license (and license fee) for just about everything. Enough already.
How about just saying: if you want to broadcast, then go ahead and broadcast (I'm talking about satellite here). If you think you are able to build a business, why should anyone stop you? Why does ICASA think it needs to examine your 'business plan'? It's private capital being risked, after all. If your investors want to risk their money, that's their business, not ICASA's.
I'll bet there are plenty of smart South Africans who are quite keen to go ahead and broadcast, but because of regulation, can't, or are loathe to try.
If it wasn't this regulated, we could have a truly free market, and natural market forces can go ahead and increase choice and lower cost for the consumer.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! I get so mad just thinking about how this damn country wants to control and regulate the hell out of everything! *spit*
much of the wowtv (or whoever they are) stuff is already available free-to-air using dstv decoders anyway. dstv is now "increasing" its channels by including channels that were already available free-to-air a la botswanatv.
as usual, the south african consumer gets to continue what they do best: now touch ur toes...
as usual, the south african consumer gets to continue what they do best: now touch ur toes...
lenosb
Well-Known Member
I use this package as I can't get a decent terrestrial signal in the Randhart, Alberton area.The R20.00 DSTV compact package provides SABC1, 2, 3, ETV, Al Jazeera and one or two other rubbish channels.
NathanCrow
Well-Known Member
Could they possibly be any more vague:
SABC1 could claim similar content, but that doesn't mean I'd watch it.
If businesses fail it affects a country's rating negatively. We still need some regulation, and in fact lack of it doesn't necessarily guarantee good service at lower prices, e.g. cellphone companies are still expensive and there four of them. I am not talking SME's and little shops at the corner, where if it goes bust it only affects about 5 people. These are corporates to the scale of internal, you need them to be stable, for a longer term.
You don't think the cellphone industry is regulated?
Rabbit7766
Well-Known Member
Who cares, satellite tv is dying anyway. In a few years everything will be coming through one data "pipe" and we wont need multichoice/dstv
so you're willing to have no tv for 5 years before IP TV arrives?
thats how long it will take...
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
Wrong! Dstv EasyView is the cheapest one that goes for R20 a month
Compact is the second most expensive option and is 10 times more at R200.
ODM = FAIL!!
I've written to them many times asking things like when are they planning to launch not a specific date just what year i suggested 2009 maybe? I asked things like do they plan to include some free 2 air channels in their bouquets or only paid channels? I've asked if there's any more hurdles to over come now that they have been issued a licence? I've asked what satellite they will use and what geographic areas are covered?
I've send them alot of emails over the past 2 years or so and to date have not received one reply NOT ONE!
Not even a "Hi thanks for the interest in our company but we know nothing at this stage, you are super! - Piet Jakobus: Marketing
NOTHING NOTHING they are absolutly gay
UglyKidJoe
Well-Known Member
Who cares, satellite tv is dying anyway. In a few years everything will be coming through one data "pipe" and we wont need multichoice/dstv
I agree completetly, which is why bandwidth infrastructure is everything.
Content will be provided on a global scale with sites like youtube and joost. Then people will watch "local content" only if it is good, and not because it is forced upon us. Imo, that is the only way to improve it anyway
We just need the friggin bandwidth.
It is the future.
ODM has postponed their launch 4 times already and claimed a while ago they are not planning to compete with Multichoice, rather opting to cater for the "lower" end of the pay-tv market. Sounds like DSTV compact with less channels.
I would love to see some serious competition for MC, but I get the feeling we are gonna be stuck with one choice as the only real viable option for quite a few years to come.