by Thinus Ferreira
As expected MultiChoice announced on Tuesday that it is adding Amazon Prime Video as a video streaming service to its latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder.
The addition of Amazon Prime Video comes after MultiChoice added Netflix SA to its new decoder box last month.
The addition of Amazon Prime Video to MultiChoice's carousel of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) means that the pan-African pay-TV operator will be able to keep crucial "bragging rights" to new international content that has been in danger of slipping away as streamers are making shows for their own platforms that they are not making available through their usual international distribution channels.
MultiChoice will now, for instance, be able to claim that it will be able to offer "the world's most expensive show", the upcoming Lord of the Rings series currently filming in New Zealand, in partnership with Amazon Prime Video. Without Amazon Prime Video, DStv subscribers would not have been able to see this much-awaited production.
There is no word yet on whether MultiChoice has any plans to add Disney+, discovery+, HBO Max, Paramount+ or any of the other flurry of international streaming services not yet available in South Africa.
"We are excited to add Amazon Prime Video to the DStv Explora Ultra’s pot of exceptional content," says Nyiko Shiburi, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, in a prepared statement.
"This opportunity unlocks access to more quality global content for our customers and is another way to access Amazon Prime Video content, whilst complementing DStv’s promise to offer the very best in local content.”
Similar to Netflix South Africa, DStv subscribers who have an existing Amazon Prime Video account can just log in through the DStv Explora Ultra. New Amazon Prime Video subscribers can open the app on the DStv Explora Ultra's homepage where they can sign up.
Unlike Netflix SA where the subscription fee is added in rand to the DStv subscriber's existing monthly bill, Amazon Prime Video will be billing customers directly - in order words, the subscription cost will not be forming part of the DStv bill.
