MultiChoice today announced three additional Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to join MWEB as distribution partners for its DStv ON DEMAND service online.
The ISPs are: Vox Telecom, Neology and Cybersmart; the first additional ISPs to meet MultiChoice’s quality and technology requirements.
“Since we launched DStv ON DEMAND we have been in discussions with several ISPs about offering the service to their subscribers. We’re very pleased to announce the first wave of partners and look forward to announcing more very soon,” says Jason Probert, GM: DStv ON DEMAND. “Now more DStv subscribers will be able to watch their favourite television shows online.”
“Vox Telecom is continually looking at new and exciting innovations to offer its customers, so we are pleased to announce that we will soon be able to offer DStv ON DEMAND to our customers. We have no doubt that it will be a valuable addition to our current services,” says Clayton Timcke, Group Marketing Manager for Vox Telecom.
“Neology is excited to be able to provide this service to its client ISPs. This is a good first step in pushing video on demand services in South Africa – a real game changer. DStv’s insistence on quality over quantity is a breath of fresh air in the ISP space and the basis of our own approach to service delivery,” comments Regardt van de Vyver, Managing Director, Neology.
"Our customers have always been able to stream video on our unshaped ADSL and leased line services, but other than the odd youtube clip there has not been much in the way of content. DStv's ON DEMAND service changes all this. The fact that we can serve this content locally over our peering links, instead of having to source it from overseas, improves our customers' experience and does not cost us the earth to run" says Laurie Fialkov, MD of Cybersmart.
Each ISP will communicate the date that the service will become available to their customers. The ISP’s are working on the integration and their service offering and will communicate to their customers once they are ready with their commercial offering.
50 new movies a month available online.
Jason Probert added that as of this month the online DStv ON DEMAND offering will include 50 movies per month. “Adding more ISPs is just one way in which we are improving the service. The DStv ON DEMAND offering online now includes 50 new movies per month. We are always looking for ways to add more value to the service.”
About DStv ON DEMAND
This service offered to DStv’s Premium subscribers was launched in May 2010. It is offered free of charge and is a service in which selected DStv programming is stored on a server or decoder hard drive, allowing subscribers access to these programmes at a time that is convenient to them.
The service is available on PVRs (excluding HD PVR 2P) or online. The DStv ON DEMAND online offering provides 80 hours per week of premium content including blockbuster movies, award-winning series, the best sporting action, kids’ shows and documentaries. The DStv ON DEMAND offering on PVR decoders provides 20 hours of the most popular TV series and sports magazines shows for up to 7 days after broadcast on DStv Channels. DStv ON DEMAND online offering has over 300 hours of popular TV series and movies and is available up to 30 days after broadcast on DStv Channels.
About Vox Telecom
Vox Telecom is a leading alternative, independent telecom operator, providing voice and data services to the Southern African market. The Group competes through its primary brands Vox Orion, Vox Datapro, Vox Amvia, @lantic and Vox Telepreneur and has offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth as well as in Windhoek, Namibia. Vox Telecom, over the past 13 years, has established itself as one of the major players in the telecoms market. Vox is listed on the Alternative Exchange (AltX) and is the largest black-owned telecommunications company in South Africa. For more information visit www.voxtelecom.co.za
About Neology
Neology provides systems, consulting and support services to ISPs and network operators throughout Africa. Our unique combination of in-house software combined with best-of-breed hardware and systems provide our customers a turn-key solution able to meet their complete network needs. Our skilled support staff provides your business with the input and assistance required to ensure smooth operation across all aspects of your business.
About Cybersmart
Cybersmart specialises in providing high quality, unshaped broadband at low cost to consumers, businesses and other Internet Service Providers. Capacity on both the Seacom and the SAT-3 cable systems delivers an uninterrupted and improved internet experience when connecting internationally. Capacity and peering links with all major South African network operators ensures that their local network is as reliable and as fast as their international delivery. Established in 1998, Cybersmart provides broadband service nationally, with points of presence in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
