DStv facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Industry | Pay television |
| Founded | 6 October 1995 |
| Headquarters | Randburg, City of Johannesburg, South Africa |
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Area served
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Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Products |
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| Services |
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| Owner |
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DStv, short for Digital Satellite Television, is a popular TV service in Sub-Saharan Africa. It uses satellites to send TV shows, movies, music, and radio to homes. DStv is owned by a company called MultiChoice and is based in South Africa. It offers many channels and services to people in over 50 countries, especially in South Africa, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.
The Story of DStv
How Pay-TV Started in South Africa
In 1986, a new way to watch TV came to South Africa. It was called pay-television. A company named Naspers launched a single TV channel service called M-Net. This meant people paid a fee to watch it.
For almost seven years, M-Net handled everything on its own. Then, in 1995, a new company was created. This company was called MultiChoice. MultiChoice took over many of M-Net's jobs. This included selling decoders, helping customers, and managing accounts. MultiChoice also started to grow its business in other countries outside South Africa.
DStv's Launch and Early Days
Soon after MultiChoice was formed, they announced a new digital satellite TV service. This service, called DStv, launched on 6 October 1995. DStv stands for Digital Satellite Television.
When DStv first started, it offered 16 channels. These included popular channels like Cartoon Network, CNN, ESPN, and Sky News. There were also music channels and channels for movies and sports. The launch of DStv was successful. By November 1995, over 10,000 decoders had been sold.
Within a few weeks, DStv added more channels. These included Discovery Channel and BBC World. This meant subscribers could watch BBC World all day, every day.
Growing Across Africa
DStv grew very quickly. By February 1998, DStv had 70,000 subscribers across Africa. Just a few months later, in June of that year, the number jumped to 215,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa. By March 1999, nearly 350,000 people were watching DStv. This growth showed how popular the new digital TV service was becoming. More channels like National Geographic Channel were also added.
New Ways to Watch and Interact
In 2000, DStv started offering interactive services. These were special channels that let people play games, get news, and check the weather. Soon, they even planned to offer internet services and banking through TV.
Over the years, DStv has continued to add and remove channels. This happens when MultiChoice signs new agreements with other TV companies. If an agreement isn't renewed, a channel might stop being available.
In July 2003, DStv launched Africa Magic. This channel focused on movies and entertainment from Africa. It quickly became very popular, especially in South Africa and Nigeria.
DStv also introduced new technologies. In 2003, they launched the Dual-view decoder. This allowed people to watch two different channels on two different TVs at the same time. In 2005, they launched the DStv PVR decoder. This allowed viewers to record live TV shows. They also introduced the DStv Compact package, which offered a different selection of channels at a lower price.
Modern DStv Services
In 2008, DStv introduced the HD PVR decoder. This allowed viewers to watch shows in high definition (HD), which means much clearer pictures. They also launched XtraView, which let people connect multiple decoders in one home.
By 2010, DStv started offering DVB over IP (Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol). This meant some content could be delivered using the internet. They also launched DStv Catchup, which lets subscribers watch shows they missed. In 2011, DStv BoxOffice was launched. This service allowed people to rent movies on demand. DStv Mobile also started, letting people watch DStv on their mobile devices.
Since 2012, DStv has even been available on Saint Helena, a small island. However, it only offers a selection of 30 channels there.
Challenges and Changes
MultiChoice Nigeria has faced some difficulties. Between April and September 2024, the company lost many subscribers. This was mainly due to tough economic times in Nigeria, with prices going up a lot. Many families found it hard to afford pay-TV services.
DStv also faces competition from streaming services like Netflix. People are changing how they watch TV. To deal with this, MultiChoice has invested a lot of money in its own streaming service, Showmax. Showmax has been growing very quickly.
Canal+ Becomes a Major Owner
In February 2024, a French company called Canal+ made an offer to buy more shares in MultiChoice. They offered a higher price than before. MultiChoice at first thought the offer was too low. However, after more talks, Canal+ increased its offer.
By June 2024, Canal+ Group had bought 45.2% of MultiChoice's shares. This means Canal+ is now a very big owner of MultiChoice. To follow South African laws, the part of MultiChoice that handles DStv in South Africa will become a separate company. This new company will be called LicenceCo. It will be mostly owned by South African investors, with Canal+ owning 49%.
DStv Channels and Packages
DStv Channel Options
DStv offers more than 200 TV channels and radio stations. The channels available can be different depending on where you live in Sub-Saharan Africa. There are usually five or six main packages, each with a different price. There are also extra packages you can add. These include special movie channels, or channels in Indian, Portuguese, or French languages.
Most modern DStv decoders can also connect to the internet. This allows you to access MultiChoice's streaming platform, Showmax. You can also use other apps through your internet connection.
DStv Angola & Mozambique
In Angola and Mozambique, DStv offers nine special packages for Portuguese-speaking viewers. These packages have different names like Mega & Premium, Bué, and Família.
CANAL+ French Channels
DStv also offers two special French channel packages. These are called French Touch and French Plus. They are provided by CANAL+ S.A. and offer more than 15 French channels. These channels cover different types of shows, including:
