As expected MultiChoice and M-Net this
morning officially announced its GOtv digital terrestrial television (DTT)
offering that will cost viewers without a satellite dish R998 to start watching
channels already available on its satellite TV service DStv.
At an additional R99 per month for 12 TV channels, GOtv costs exactly
the same as StarSat's StarSat Special package with 47 TV channels, and the DStv
Access offering over 50 TV channels.
At this price point it raises questions as to
why and what type of viewers without pay-TV and who are possibly considering
taking up pay-TV, would opt for this DTT product and not rather go straight for
one of the existing commercial satellite pay-TV options available.
On face value even Platco Digital's OpenView
HD (OVHD) free-to-air satellite service, with a once-off decoder-and-dish cost
of R1000 and offering over 18 TV channels with no monthly subscription, seems
to be a better deal.
To start watching GOtv, a customer must buy a
GOtv decoder of R699. The decoder work with an antenna. The recommended "GOtenna" is sold separately for R299.
Interestingly GOtv operated in several other
African countries under the same brand name, has more channels on offer to
subscribers and cost less than in South Africa.
GOtv in Kenya for instance cost R95 for 23 TV
channels; GOtv in Lesotho offers 20 TV channels for R99.80. GOtv in Namibia for
instance carries Sabido's eNCA (DStv 403), while other countries include several TV news
channels.
GOtv for South Africa's website doesn't list a single TV news channel
as part of the offering. Asked why there's not a single news channel available in the offering, GOtv says "the GOtv decoder will receive all free to air television and radio services, which will include several news channels".
Asked why the GOtv South Africa offering has less channels than in other countries, M-Net says it can only offer up to 12 channels on its GOtv service in South Africa as provided for in its DTT licence.
"GOtv will give many South Africans who are
currently watching analogue television the chance to experience digital quality
TV at an affordable price," says Tsabiso Letsoela, GOtv South Africa's general
manager.
"The digital GOtv service offers compelling channels with clearer
pictures and sharper sound quality".
Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO says the pay-TV
broadcaster – since GOtv is an M-Net service – "is excited to launch our
digital terrestrial television service", saying "this is a major step forward
for local television".
Although the SABC's channels and e.tv are not
listed on GOtv's website for South Africa or in a press release, a spokesperson
told TV with Thinus that GOtv subscribers in South Africa, besides the 12 channels,
will get the free-to-air channels on GOtv like SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 and radio
stations "as long as your GOtv package is active".
Besides the GOtv Value package for R99 per
month there is also a GOtv Lite option of 2 TV channels, Mzansi Music and
Dumisa, at a subscription of R45 paid every three months.
GOtv uses a digital network of towers
throughout South Africa like what cellphone companies are doing.
Potential GOtv subscribers will first have to
check whether they fall within the coverage areas since the signal is currently
limited to mostly major sentra like Cape Town, Jeffrey's Bay, Port Elizabeth,
East London, Durban, Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and the Johannesburg and
Pretoria, Polokwane and Mbombela areas. National DTT coverage will improve
overtime.
What about existing M-Net analogue
subscribers?
For the existing tens of thousands of M-Net
analogue subscribers – M-Net viewers watching M-Net, SuperSport and the
Community Service Network (CSN) through M-Net decoders – there's not a DTT
option available yet.
"While M-Net analogue customers will have to
switch over to digital television at some stage, they don’t have to do anything
right now," says M-Net.
"Before each province shuts down their analogue
signals, M-Net will be in touch to guide its analogue customers through the
migration process".
M-Net analogue subscribers will get a "like-for-like package" and the exact business rules will be communicated and
they will get correspondence this week, and more detailed communication with
their options in the next few months.
"We are committed to assist our M-Net
analogue subscribers through every step of the migration process," says the
pay-TV provider.
"You'll keep getting your M-Net terrestrial
service until this signal gets switched off. Closer to the cut-off time, we'll
be in touch to guide you on what you need to do and how you need to do it. We
only expect the switch-off to be a year or more from now."
M-Net analogue subscribers who are
worried or have questions or concerns can email terrestrial@mnet.co.za
