MultiChoice launches its third new DStv Explora decoder - the smaller Explora 3A - doing away with its award-winning design.

MultiChoice has launched the third in its line of Explora digital video recorder (DVR) decoders - the boxy Explora 3A - the smallest one yet, oddly doing away with the front-facing info-faceplate and dumping its sleek soft-pebble look that won prizes and designer acclaim, but that comes with the same number of recording hours as the Explora 2A.

MultiChoice launched the original Explora in mid-2013, followed by the Explora 2A in October 2016 with half the recording capacity of the original.

Now the Explora 3A, still made in East London in South Africa, has been pushed to market, with a recommended retail price of R999 without installation and R1699 with installation, to replace the Explora 2A which will no longer be manufactured.

Similar to the Explora 2A, the Explora 3A can record 110 hours of content on a TB Seagate hard drive, and comes with a A7 DStv remote control with batteries and an HDMI cable.

The Explora 3A doesn't have the front panel display where DStv subscribers would normally see the channel number displayed. Also different is that the decoder makes use of a mini-smartcard that is already inserted into the decoder.

The recommended installation for the Explora 3A is the same as for the other two Explora types, namely a DStv Smart LNB with an 80cm satellite dish.

MultiChoice says the Explora 3A requires less cabling into a house when using a DStv Smart LNB (low-noise block), is smaller, and is built using mostly recyclable components.

According to MultiChoice the Explora 3A is now available at all DStv agencies, service centres and participating retail stores and is sold alongside the DStv HD5 Series decoder, which can be used in XtraView.

MultiChoice Malawi promises support to film and TV producers in Malawi as pay-TV operator looks at 'localising the MultiChoice brand' in the small East-African country.

MultiChoice Malawi told local filmmakers the pay-TV operator will support them to get their TV and film content broadcast on M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel and is looking at "localising the MultiChoice brand" in the small East-African country.

Gus Banda, MultiChoice Malawi general manager, told the media at the MultiChoice Malawi year-end showcase event for press held at the Bingu International Convention Center in Lilongwe, Malawi, that MultiChoice Malawi running DStv Malawi and GOtv Malawi is committed to investing in Malawi's fledging film and TV industry.

 "The future African storytellers have benefited from the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) which was launched in May this year and the year ahead looks promising as we attempt to localise the MultiChoice brand, encouraging and supporting the local filmmakers to get their content on Zambezi Magic amongst other local investment highlights," said Gus Banda.

"We are committed to showcasing the best African content across the continent. The digital age means we are in a position to take African stories to the world and create a global market for what we do."

Chimwemwe Nyirenda, MultiChoice Malawi marketing manager said DStv subscribers in 2019 can look forward to the launch of a new DStv decoder, the Explora 3, the African Cup of Nations 2019 (Afcon) on SuperSport, and the Netball World Cup in which the Malawi Queens will be taking part.