by Thinus Ferreira
StarSat is adding four new TV channels in late-March and during April, and is improving the pay-TV operator's mid-tier package with four other TV channels as well.
After deciding that StarSat won't do any price increase in 2023, China's StarTimes Media SA that runs StarSat from Midrand with the Randburg-based MultiChoice as its main rival, is adding the CBS Reality, CBS Justice, Kartoon Channel! and FilmBox Action channel later this month and in April to its StarSat Super package.
CBS Reality will be added to StarSat channel 170 on 22 March and carries shows like Judge Judy and Cheaters. CBS Justice will be added to StarSat channel 222 from 22 March and is for crime-lovers with true-crime series, ranging from crimes committed by the rich and famous to passion killings by the guy next door.
Kartoon Channel will go live on StarSat on channel 304 on 10 April and is aimed at kids between two and 10 years of age. The channel has kids shows on weekdays and family-friendly movies over weekends, with content ranging from Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten to Peppa Pig.
FilmBox Action will be added to channel 140 on StarSat on 10 April and is dedicated to the action genre, with iconic action heroes in
classic Hollywood films, spectacular series from America, Europe, and Asia,
and modern blockbusters.
StarSat is also improving its mid-tier offering with the four channels of Manchester United TV (StarSat 252), Real Madrid TV (StarSat 254), MSNBC (StarSat 263) and Fashion TV Africa (StarSat 282) being made available to StarSat Super package subscribers.
StarSat says that with South Africans having experienced a year marked by a "state of emergency, rising inflation and flooding, the average consumer
struggles to make ends meet. Service providers should try assisting their
customers in this time of need".
"StarSat, unlike some of its competitors, will keep prices for all TV bouquet offerings
unchanged in 2023," says John Yan, StarSat CEO.
"Just like all other service providers, our costs go up yearly. We at StarSat, however, have decided to absorb
that cost to allow South Africans to continue to afford our rich and diverse
content offer."
"We're very pleased that we managed to secure four new channels for our Super Package
subscribers," says John Yan. "We trust that these channels will be
a boon to our customer's television enjoyment."
From 17 March StarSat, as part of a new content marketing initiative, StarSat is also going to make one higher-tiered TV channel available to StarSat Special package subscribers, starting with the launch of a new English-dubbed telenovela, Marry Me, Marry You.
StarSat says the pay-TV operator plans to announce the acquisition of several new TV channels
in the second half of 2023.
