After over a decade on-air in South Africa Discovery Inc. abruptly dumps Fine Living on StarTimes and StarSat without warning or explanation.

by Thinus Ferreira

Discovery Inc. has abruptly removed its Fine Living TV TV channel this week after more than 10 and a half years on-air in South Africa, with pay-TV subscribers and loyal viewers who got no warning that the lifestyle channel is being terminated or any explanation why.

Fine Living, also known as Fine Living Network or FLN, first came to South Africa since May 2010 when On Digital Media (ODM) launched its TopTV pay-TV service as a competitor for MultiChoice DStv.

China's StarTimes operating in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, eventually took over ownership of TopTV in South Africa that was rebranded as StarSat, although Fine Living continued as one of Discovery's channels on the StarSat platform and was added to StarTimes as well.

For a while, Fine Living was also carried on Cell C's now-shuttered Cell C black video streaming service as a linear TV channel until that loss-making subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service went bust. 

While Fine Living (StarSat 281) had small distribution within South Africa, the beloved lifestyle channel had a hugely passionate fan base. These viewers are truly shocked and upset by Fine Living's abrupt axing.

The small but persevering Fine Living channel weathered multiple international corporate and distribution changes at Discovery Inc. as well as bouquet realignment changes inside StarTimes, and continued broadcasting for over a decade in South Africa while many other TV channels would come and go with much shorter on-air lifespans.

The unexpected and unexplained end of Fine Living on StarTimes and StarSat is very reminiscent of when Discovery Inc. and MultiChoice abruptly axed Animal Planet from the DStv channel line-up in December 2017 without warning or explanation.

The removal of Animal Planet, and Discovery Inc. and MultiChoice's lack of communication at the time, caused brand damage and riled DStv subscribers for months afterwards who were extremely unhappy not just that it happened but the apparently careless way in which nobody could tell paying subscribers that it would be happening and why.

The public relations agency Razor PR now repping Discovery Inc. told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry about the abrupt disappearance of Fine Living that "Fine Living is currently unavailable, and we apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, please contact StarTimes customer service by phoning 0719077077, via email at info.ke@startimes.com.cn or by visiting www.startimestv.com".

Razor PR provided no reason as to why Fine Living is "unavailable".

On Wednesday afternoon the company said that "fans will continue to be able to enjoy a range of home renovation and property content on HGTV, as part of a strategic decision to focus on Discovery’s flagship brands".

To watch HGTV, StarSat subscribers will have to switch to DStv since HGTV is not available on StarTimes or StarSat and only on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Meanwhile, StarSat told upset subscribers in a message seen by TVwithThinus that "due to the strategic adjustment of Discovery, the lifestyle channel Fine Living will be offline, but we are looking into a channel with similar content".

StarSat told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that Discovery Inc. abruptly ceased broadcasting Fine Living this week without warning but was actually only supposed to take Fine Living away from paying subscribers at the end of December 2020.

"Please note that Fine Living was off-lined because the channel provider ceased the production of the channel. Communication is yet to be sent to customers as this was supposed to be at the end of December".

Upset StarSat subscribers like Celeste Ahmed asked: "Fine Living on channel 281is off. What's going on?" 

Tony Concalves said: "My favourite programme is King Pool. Now where can I watch this programme? You have removed Line Living. Why could you not take away StarTimes Africa on channel 180 - nothing showing, just the logo on?"

Leheezy Likhead said: "When are you replacing all those channels you took off? I can't image the stress of us paying while you play taking channels off without replacing them immediately".

Deon Smith said: "The question is when are you guys going to replace Fine Living? If you remove something you must replace it immediately because your customer is paying for it".

StarSat finally launches its first PVR capable decoder in South Africa; here's all the details about StarSat's new Combo 3 decoder.

Pay-TV operator StarSat has finally launched its first personal video recorder (PVR) capable decoder in South Africa, making it possible for subscribers to digitally record programmes available on StarSat's TV channels for the first time.

The new StarSat decoder called the StarSat Combo 3 decoder, costs R399 and includes a satellite dish and free installation.

The black with orange trim decoder is similar to the black and lime green trim Combo HD decoder that StarSat's Chinese parent company StarTimes introduced elsewhere in Africa in late-2016, with only a different outer shell and the exact same remote control.

The StarSat Combo 3 decoder is so-called since it incorporates 3 abilities. Besides the ability to be used as a PVR if a subscriber attaches an external hard drive or big enough USB, it combines the features of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and digital satellite direct-to-home (DTH) technologies on the same decoder.

This enables StarSat subscribers to get access to subscription pay-TV channels like the various bouquets offered by StarSat, but also the free-to-air digital TV channel signals that might be available.

While South Africa is lagging far behind with the switch to DTT, a process known as digital migration, and with almost no DTT channels available, StarSat subscribers with the new decoder can now for instance pick up the SABC News (DStv 404) channel as well that so far has only been available to DStv satellite viewers.

While the SABC News channel is available exclusively to MultiChoice's DStv subscribers as part of a SABC channels deal, SABC News is already being broadcast as a digital terrestrial channel as well, with people who can receive it with a proper DTT set-top box (STB) able to decode the signal like the new StarSat decoder.

The RF In and RF Out feature also allows StarSat subscribers to connect more than one TV set to the Combo 3 decoder.

The new StarSat Combo 3 decoder has "only" 21 buttons, with users who can also customise menu transparency and has options to change the interface colour.

The new StarSat Combo 3 decoder is the third decoder for the company in South Africa. StarSat, formerly known as TopTV, launched in May 2010 and quickly promised the introduction of a PVR.

After initial promises that didn't come to fruition, TopTV multiple times over the past years promised the introduction of a PVR decoder to the market but it never materialised.

After the struggling On Digital Media (ODM) that entered business rescue got a cash bailout rescue from the Chinese pay-TV operator StarTimes and renamed TopTV to StarSat, StarTimes Media South Africa introduced a new white decoder in November 2013.

Use of this second, white decoder that was R599 but also without digital recording capability, became compulsory in 2016 for StarSat subscribers.

The new third decoder, the StarSat Combo 3, offers "a vastly improved viewing experience to our customers in high definition (HD)," says John Yan, StarSat CEO.

Asked why StarSat is now introducing a new decoder with a PVR ability, the pay-TV operator says it is "constantly striving to improve its service and commitment to the customer experience, with emphasis on providing the highest possible quality digital signal".

"The Combo 3 is capable of providing a full HD 1080p signal, thus ensuring that StarSat is able to deliver on this commitment to its customers".

Asked about the recording capacity and how many hours the StarSat Combo 3 decoder can record, the company says the decoder's recording functionality "is facilitated through any external USB storage device by the customer, either a flash drive or external hard drive, thus not limiting the customer to a set number of hours on an internal hard drive".

Asked what will happen to StarSat subscribers using the white decoder they were forced to upgrade to a year ago or lose their signal, the company says "the white decoder is still an active device and supported by StarSat."

StarSat gives subscribers the opportunity to upgrade. "Any customer wishing to upgrade to the Combo 3 decoder will be able to do so, at a cost of R299, through a StarSat customer experience centre in Gauteng, Durban or Cape Town, or directly through the StarSat customer service centre who will courier a decoder to the customer."

"Customers will also be able to upgrade their older decoders to the Combo 3 through the retail distribution channel in due course".

StarSat subscribers often complain that its electronic programme guide (EPG) is often wrong, out-of-sync with days and time, and some channels EPG grid empty. The EPG is however needed and used to enable PVR recordings.

StarSat was asked if EPG improvement is something it's looking at doing, and if so, what kind of improvements are being made.

"The software innovations in the Combo 3 decoder have facilitated a more responsive, easy-to-use, interactive remote control, as well as improving the accuracy of the EPG, thus facilitating the recording functionality in a simple or uncomplicated manner," says StarSat.

StarSat was asked how many new Combo 3 decoders have been manufactured so far and how much stock is being placed in South Africa in the first batch to market. "Stock of the Combo 3 is en-route to all StarSat retail partners, with sufficient quantities of decoders available to satisfy customers or market place demand," the company says.

StarSat was asked how long StarTimes has been working on the new StarSat Combo 3 decoder, where it's manufactured and what influenced the design and colour.

"The StarTimes headquarters is located in Beijing, China, and this is also the prime location of the group's R&D and manufacturing facilities," says StarSat that recently moved its South African headquarters from Woodmead to Midrand in Johannesburg.

"As a recognised technology provider, continually working on innovative products and services, StarTimes was motivated to deliver a decoder that was sleek and streamlined in design, with a touch of class, and believe that the Combo 3 delivers well on this brief".

StarSat abruptly drops Natura channel after almost 6 years; replaces it with Odisseia channel; can't bother to tell subscribers or the media.

StarSat has quietly dumped and taken away yet another long-running channel it had from StarSat subscribers, inexplicably removing Natura (StarSat 230) and replacing it with the basically unknown Odisseia channel.

On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa spells Odisseia as "Odiseeia" on its StarSat decoder's electronic programme guide (EPG) - which for the channel is empty anyway and contains absolutely no programming information.

On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa couldn't be bothered to tell StarSat subscribers that Natura is being discontinued or that Odisseia is starting; nor was there any announcement to TV critics or South Africa's media in the form of a press release or any publicity or marketing information.

Natura was one of the few remaining launch channels when StarSat started as TopTV in May 2010 and now the nature documentary channel is also gone, a month and a half short of its 6th year on the satellite pay-TV platform.

Natura was run by AMC Networks International Zone, also responsible for channels like AMC (DStv 140 / StarSat 115), JimJam (StarSat 303 / DStv 310), Extreme Sports Channel (StarSat 253) and CBS Action (DStv 133), CBS Drama (DStv 134) and CBS Reality (DStv 132) on MultiChoice's DStv and StarSat's platforms.

Odisseia, also from AMC Networks International Zone, has now been swopped in as a replacement for Natura. It's lesser known and started out as a Portuguese pay-TV documentary channel.

AMC Networks International Zone likewise couldn't be bothered in the slightest to alert the media about its new channel being available and has done nothing to raise any awareness in South Africa's media and with TV critics about "Odiseeia".

'THE BIG SWITCH-OFF': StarSat switching off black TopTV decoder from the end of this month; subscribers urged to swop their old decoder out for free.

StarSat subscribers using TopTV decoders will lose their viewing from the end of this month when these black boxes are switched off, with subscribers who have to upgrade and migrate to the new StarSat branded decoders if they want to continue receiving channels.

These original black TopTV decoders will no longer work properly after the end of March StarSat tells TVwithThinus, with subscribers who will have to swop decoders or lose their TV channels in what the pay-TV service calls "The Big Switch-Off".

The past few months the Woodmead-based On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa has been on a drive to rid the market from the original black TopTV decoders that were introduced in May 2010 when ODM launched TopTV as South Africa's second satellite pay-TV service.

When China's StarTimes can onboard to bail-out the struggling pay-TV-operator in business rescue, the new, HD-enabled and StarSat branded white decoders manufactured in China, were introduced to South Africa in November 2013 as part of a process to move away from the damaged "TopTV" brand.

TopTV subscribers, now StarSat subscribers, could however continue to use the original black decoders.

In August 2015 ODM started a free "decoder exchange programme" in a subsidised campaign to get the black decoders out of the market.

As part of the soft phase-out approach the past seven months, StarSat subscribers could turn in their "old" TopTV branded black decoders and  switch to the white boxes for free by taking their old set-top boxes to certain retail stores and pay R99 for which they got a R99 credit on their StarSat account.

Now as part of a hard-swap, StarSat says all old decoders must be replaced and that subscribers who don't switch by the end of this month will see their service start to go dark.

"The Big Switch-Off starts on 1 April," StarSat tells TVwithThinus. Three TV channels will go dark at a time, weekly, from 1 April for subscribers with the black TopTV boxes. "By 30 April all channels will be cut off and no longer be available on the old black decoder".

StarSat says that "from 30 April, the old standard definition (SD) black TopTV decoders will no longer be in use as the software will be outdated and subscribers have to swop to get a new HD decoder for free."

"Subscribers need to bring their TopTV smartcard to their nearest customer experience centre to receive their new free HD decoder," says StarSat.

"To make the process more accessible, subscribers can call our call centre on 0860 867 827, or SMS the word 'swop' to 40003 and we will arrange to have their new HD decoder couriered to them nationwide. If they swop before 30 April they get one month's subscription for free".

Since its introduction, StarSat subscribers however continue to complain about the new decoder. The design and functionality of the decoder's electronic programme guide (EPG) is worse compared to the black box.

StarSat subscribers also continue to say that they struggle with channel reset and channel signal issues, that the box has poor functionality, and that even though they want one, it's out of stock at some places.

StarSat subscribers continue to say that once they switch to and use the new decoder, it loses signal reception and that they constantly have to try and "reset" the box due to unexplained signal loss issues.

Broadcasting Complaints Commission to decide if StarSat will be fined up to R60 000 after it broadcast its porn channels for a month without authorisation.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) will have to decide what fine to level against On Digital Broadcasting (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa's StarSat satellite pay-TV platform after it broadcast it hardcore pornographic TV channels illegally for a month.

The BCCSA will decide whether StarSat, which kept broadcasting its porn channels, has been in breach of the BCCSA's Subscription Service Licencees' Code of Conduct, and what fine to level against ODM.

In a case before the BCCSA, the commission heard that StarSat kept broadcasting its set of sex channels in South Africa illegally and without being authorised to do so, from 10 December 2014 to 6 January 2015.

On 3 November 2014, Judge Lee Bozalek in a Western Cape High Court judgment, found against ODM and StarTimes Media SA's sex TV channels and that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) erred in the licensing and licensing process of granting a licence for the porn channels.

ODM filed an appeal which was dismissed on 10 December, and ODM then applied to the Supreme Court of Appeal on 7 January 215 for leave to appeal which was also dismissed with cost to ODM.

"StarSat was required by law to stop broadcasting from December 10. They refused to do so," said Greta Engelbrecht for the Justice Alliance of South Africa (Jasa) on Tuesday in the case before the BCCSA.

"For the period 10 December 2014 to 6 January 2015, StarSat illegally and with impunity, broadcast the unauthorised channels," said Gerda Engelbrecht.

"We need to give a message to broadcasters who broadcast without authorisation. It is not a question of content , but a question of broadcasting."

Jasa asked the BCCSA to level a fine of R60 000 against ODM and StarSat.

Steve Budlender representing ODM before the BCCSA told the commission that ODM did infringe on the broadcasting code but called it "a technical infringement".

ODM revealed that 284 StarSat subscribers accessed the pornographic TV channels during the period.

The sex channels cost subscribers R159 per month and StarSat continued to broadcast PlayboyTV and Private Spice which has since been changed to the Brazzers porn channel.

Opposition grows against StarSat's pornographic TV channels; court case to have porn TV license reversed, likely to be heard in August.

Opposition in South Africa has been growing against the pornographic television that is broadcast by On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat pay-TV platform, with a court case that will likely be heard in August in a now joint application to have ODM's license for a porn bouquet revoked.

ODM, with the help of its new Chinese financial backer StarTimes, started broadcasting two pornographic TV channels - Private Spice and Playboy TV - in a separate StarSat sex TV package of R159 per month in November 2013, shortly after receiving a license from the South African broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

On Digital Media, asked last week how many StarSat subscribers have since subscribed to the porn TV channels as a separate bouquet over the course of the last 6 months, declined to provide subscriber numbers, citing confidential company information.

Subscriber numbers for the four year old Woodmead based South African pay-TV operator, currently in business rescue, is down to between 100 000 and 120 000 from 150 000 a few years ago.

The non-govermental organisation Doctors for Life, representing 1 400 doctors, that submitted its separate court application at the High Court in Pretoria, has now seen its application being joined to the applications of the Justice Alliance of South Africa (Jasa) and the Cause for Justice organisations that submitted their applications in the Western Cape High Court.

Jasa and Cause for Justice argue that South Africa's broadcasting regulator - which first denied ODM's porn channels application and then approved it during a second application a year later - erred in law in failing to find that the constitutional rights of children should have trumped the rights of StarSat's freedom of expression.

Doctors for Life in court papers argues among other things about the addictive nature of pornography. Doctors for Life notes the addictive nature of pornography on the human brain, similar to that of drugs like heroin, cocaine and LSD.

Jasa's application requests the court to review the broadcasting regulator's decision in granting a license for porn television channels to StarSat, formerly the TopTV brand, and for Icasa to apply the law and broadcasting regulations correctly.

Eddie Mbalo, StarSat's interim CEO proud to bring porn to South African television; more sex channels coming in 2014.

Eddie Mbalo, the interim CEO of On Digital Media (ODM) is proud to bring porn to South African television, with the South African satellite pay-TV operator planning to bring more sex channels on its pornographic package in 2014, including pornography coming from Africa.

ODM and StarSat's porn plans are raising new concerns within South Africa about "a flood of filth" on South African television.

"We at StarSat are proud to deliver this offering for the first time to South African viewers," says Eddie Mbalo about StarSat's pornographic bouquet which South African viewers can now subscribe to at a cost of R159 per month.

ODM and StarTimes changed the TopTV brand into StarSat. ODM and its financial backer, China's StarTimes, are now planning more porn in 2014 for StarSat besides the Playboy TV and hardcore Private Spice channel which come with an R18 rating. ODM will include pornography coming from Africa.

ODM and StarTimes changed the TopTV brand into StarSat. The separate Playboy Plus bouquet with the porno channels is supplied by Playboy TV UK / Benelux Limited in England and runs from 20:00 to 05:00 daily.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) granted ODM a license earlier this year following a second application.

Eddie Mbalo says the erotic sex channels will "in the long run promote healthy relationships, positive images of sexuality, and of women in particular," for South Africa.

Errol Naidoo of the Family Policy Institute (FPI) has called for a renewed nationwide boycott in of On Digital Media and StarSat "with immediate effect", saying South Africans need to "take a bold and uncompromising stand against the flood of filth infiltrating our nation."

"Research consistently shows that regular porn consumption lead to addictions and often fuels sexual crimes against women & children." According to Errol Naidoo "our government is making it easier for children to be exposed to hardcore pornography on the internet and TV". He says people supporting ODM and StarSat are contributing to pornography on South African television.

The Justice Alliance of South Africa (Jasa) which is also opposed to ODM and StarSat's porn broadcast intends to have a court relook the pornography on South African television issue.

Jasa has brought a court application against ODM, Icasa, and the minister of communications. The case will be heard early in 2014. A group of teenagers also opposed to porn, has joined the case.

Jasa wants a court to review Icasa's decision regarding the broadcasting times. ODM initially wanted to broadcast the channels 24 hours per day but backed down and decreased it to starting only at 20:00 at night. Jasa says it is still too early if the sex television has to be shown at all.

"We don't think pornographic programmes should be broadcast at all, but after 23:00 would be a more reasonable time," says Jasa in a statement. We contend that fixing a watershed time of 20:00 flies in the face of common sense, bearing in mind that most teenage children finish their homework at about 20:00 and then watch TV for an hour or two until bedtime."

On Digital Media (ODM) dumping the British pop music TV channel, Smash Hits; says channel no longer fits with its StarSat line-up.

On Digital Media (ODM) and its Chinese backer StarTimes are dumping another channel from the TopTV (soon to be StarSat) channel line-up with the British pop music TV channel, Smash Hits, which will abruptly end today and be gone by 1 December.

ODM says Smash Hits as a music TV channel no longer fits in with its new StarSat branded channel line-up.

TopTV subscribers are not impressed by ODM's latest channel removal, one of several which went missing during 2013 from the struggling South African pay-TV platform's line-up.

ODM says Smash Hits, which is provided by Box Television, is being removed from TopTV/StarSat, given the new package structures, bouquets and channels' overhaul which ODM and StarTimes are making available under the rebranded StarSat name.

ODM says StarSat subscribers will have access to other music channels which are available on the various packages, such as Star Music, Kiss, Kerrang, Box, Magic, Nigezie, One Music.

ODM says StarSat also carries 25 audio music channels.

SHOW THAT VOLUME, GIRL. StarTimes, as the conditioner, adding new volume to ODM's StarSat offering, now at R2.45 per channel.

China's StarTimes is clearly the new conditioner, bringing brand-new volume - although not perhaps necessarily higher quality - to the content provided by On Digital Media's (ODM) new StarSat satellite pay-TV offering in South Africa.

With the support of StarTimes - the media and TV conglomerate which came to On Digital Media's (ODM) rescue with a capital injection for its struggling TopTV service - ODM plans to offer 81 TV channels on its StarSat Super package for R199 per month.

That gives a ratio of R2.45 per TV channel on StarSat per month. StarTimes and ODM is planning to increase the number of TV channels to "over 100" early in 2014 which will better the ratio of cost per channel for a StarSat subscriber even further to under R1.99 per channel.

No TV schedules or new TV channel descriptors or information have been released by ODM and StarTimes for the new StarSat packages yet.

That makes it difficult if not impossible to ascertain the amount of original new content, the repeat ratios on channels and the incidence of programming already seen.

On the face of it though (and yes, there is and will be new and newer content on StarSat channels) the more total hours of programming on StarSat per month means more TV for money for subscribers.

Whether a replacement channel like Star One will prove to be a same-for-same, better, or worse, channel content wise as Top One which it is replacing once the real schedule kicks in remains to be seen.

Top One was supposed to be TopTV's flagship general entertainment channel, but never managed to achieved that status and failed in local content promises, repeats, and by having too few premium international shows.

Star One is described by StarSat as containing "strong, international and local programming". If it does, subscribers won't complain.

The same example is and will be applicable for all of the other new StarSat channels. FOX Crime which replaces FOX Retro and Top Crime is for instance a much better channel although it's not even a premium channel.

FOX Crime carries first-run international drama series, so this one bird in the hand definitely makes up for the two gonners in the bush as far as TV content goes.

Nat Geo Gold is a good addition, the great Discovery Science channel remains; the solid BET, FOX, JimJam, FX and BabyTV all remain, and the credible Bloomberg Television is added with a few additional news channels.

The addition of 3 out of the 4 new e.tv's channels - eAfrica+, eKasi+ and eMovies+  - is a great development. The channels will grow as e.tv builds those content pipes and StarSat subscribers will benefit.

The amount of Nigerian content on StarSat seems problematic. South African culture is not just on a physical map just a tad too far removed from Nigeria. Kung Fu 1 as a channel seems a bit ... odd.

A pay-TV subscriber will sometimes settle for less channels if its better content-funneling channels. Perhaps two less Nigerian channels for one better other type of channel would make for a better proposition?

With not a lot of new sport besides basketball, pay-TV subscribers will gravitate towards StarSat for its general entertainment offering. How that selection of channels stack up in terms of what content they carry, remains to be seen.

There's definitely more general entertainment and movies channels - which means an increase in volume - but  the big question will be what the content on those channels are and whether South African subscribers will feel it appropriate, like it, and feel compelled to watch it.

The additional add-on StarSat Chinese package which contains 17 TV channels for R149 per month comes across as somewhat of a vanity project pushed by StarTimes.

How many Chinese interested subscribers or Chinese subscribers are available on South Africa who would sign up for this service is doubtful.

The Indian packages on both MultiChoice's DStv and the former TopTV are already niche offerings which don't attract large subscriber numbers. Yet the Indian community in South Africa is much larger than the total Chinese community. Will StarSat Chinese be able to turn profitable as an add-on package?

The StarTimes intervention has added some new shine to TopTV, or now StarSat.

What the true extent of this volumising effect is - both in terms of subscriber satisfaction reaction and content quality - can't yet be determined.

The next test will come when StarSat steps out of the salon after having worked through the new conditioner the past few months in the makeover chair.

BREAKING. TopTV's new StarSat pornographic TV channels are already available - but only 2 sex channels for R159 per month.

StarSat's porn channels - the pornographic TV channels which On Digital Media (ODM) were granted a licence to broadcast is South Africa is already running and accessible to pay-TV subscribers, but ODM and its Chinese backer StarTimes is only making 2 sex channels available, not yet the applied for 3, for a monthly additional subscription fee of R159 per month.

Although the impression has been created that StarSat's Playboy package would only become available from 1 December 2013, the TV sex offering is already available.

No mention has been made or is being made of it in any ODM and StarTimes media statements and its existence as an available StarSat package was kept quiet at the media briefing where ODM and StarTimes announced the new StarSat rebranding last month.

TopTV, soon to be StarSat subscribers, can get access to the pornographic channels already however which ODM confirming that the sex package is running and available.

The Playboy package is already available but subscribers have to call the ODM call centre and request the porno bouquet specifically.

ODM says "the Playboy package is being managed and marketed in a very targeted manner".

ODM applied for and wanted to launch the pornographic channels package with 3 channels - Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice. However only Playboy TV and Private Spice are available and cost R159 per month for the two channels. It's not yet clear why Desire TV is not available, and whether it would be added later.

The Justice Alliance of South Africa wants court to review the decision to allow On Digital Media (ODM) and StarSat to broadcast pornography.

The Justice Alliance of South Africa (JASA) on Friday filed court papers in the Western Cape High Court to get On Digital Media (ODM) running the TopTV, now rebranded to StarSat, South African satellite pay-TV operator to stop broadcasting its bouquet of pornographic sex channels in the country.

JASA is bringing the application against ODM, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), the minister of communications and ODM's business rescue practitioner, Peter van den Steen.

JASA wants the court to review Icasa's decision to grant ODM a license to broadcast sex channels in South Africa from 20:00 until 05:00. JASA says Icasa is required in terms of Section 192 of the Constitution to regulate broadcasting in the public interest and to ensure fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing South African society.

JASA says that the so-called "watershed period" during which Icasa allowed ODM to broadcast pornography on TopTV or now StarSat - from 20:00 to 05:00 - doesn't guarantee that children will not be exposed.

"JASA submits that pornographic channels, such as those which ODM applied to broadcast, are extremely unsuitable for children." According to JASA the average bedtime for children aged about 16 is 22:30.

"Significant percentages of children between the ages of 10and 19 watch television after 20:00. It would appear that in allowing the broadcasting of the pornographic channels from 20:00, Icasa did not have regard to the large percentages of children who watch television after 20:00, and who are awake until about 22:30."

BREAKING. StarSat launching with porn, available as a separate sex bouquet from 1 December, and a new HD capable decoder.

Although it hugely damaged the TopTV brand and the company's public reputation, On Digital Media is launching its new StarSat brand with the pornographic bouquet of sex channels from December in time for the consumer festive season.

The struggling South African satellite pay-TV operator got permission from the South African broadcasting regulator to broadcast pornographic TV channels at the end of April 2013 and will now start showing those from December when the TopTV brand is dumped for the new name StarSat.

The Playboy bouquet with an R18 rating supplied by Playboy TV UK / Benelux Limited in England will run from 20:00 to 05:00 daily with three channels, Playboy TV and the hardcore Desire TV and Private Spice.

The separate Playboy bouquet will form part of StarSat's new bouquet which China's StarTimes and On Digital Media (ODM) will launch together with a new high definition (HD) capable StarSat decoder.

StarSat won't be carrying any HD channels yet but will phase in HD channels and content over time. Meanwhile some free new TV channels will be made available on StarSat on the Variety package during the month of November without an additional charge.

ODM and StarTimes are looking for a new start with StarSat after TopTV was pummeled the past two years with bad press over customer service issues, billing system problems, a lack of sport content, a lack of HD channels and a lack of PVR roll-out despite initial promises, as well as the desire to introduce pornographic TV channels while ordinary TV channels kept disappearing which were never replaced despite promises.

ODM has been in business rescue since the end of 2012 and is waiting for regulatory approval regarding stakeholder shareholding changes following a bail-out by China's StarTimes which is getting a foreign effective 65% economic interest in ODM.

StarTimes, a Chinese conglomerate involved in digital television ventures across several African countries already, has already pumped more than R30 million rand into ODM.

ODM will add a number of new TV channels like the newly renamed Nat Geo Gold to the new StarSat overall bouquet. The TopTV bouquet saw serious deterioration and atrophy the past year and a half with the loss of numerous TV channels due to financial troubles, debt and the breakdown of relationships with content distributors.

BREAKING. TopTV came thisclose to shutting down in July; StarTimes has pumped R30 million into ODM already and now gets the content.

You're reading it here first. 

The struggling On Digital Media's (ODM) precarious TopTV service came thisclose to shutting down at the end of July 2013; China's StarTimes has already funneled more than R30 million into the South African satellite pay-TV operator's operations, StarTimes has taken on the role of assimilating TV content for TopTV and StarSat promises to provide better TV content at more competitive prices to South African viewers.

These and other startling "new" facts are now coming to light, buried in new court documents submitted to the South Gauteng High Court.

The new court documents submitted by ODM's business rescue practitioner Peter van den Steen, follows after unhappy and exasperated ODM shareholders launched an urgent court interdict to stop what it calls permanent and "dangerous" changes to the operations, distribution, structure and content of On Digital Media and its new StarSat pay-TV product the company is launching with StarTimes as its new financial and content backer.

In court documents Peter van den Steen calls the court application of First National Media Investment Holdings (FNMIH) and Atchuthandandan Moodley - the shareholders bringing the application for an urgent court interdict - "ill-conceived".

Peter van den Steen says any interdict granted to prevent him from proceeding with ODM's business rescue plan will "undermine the successful implementation of the plan" and warning that there is "no doubt that, if the business rescue plan is not implemented, I will be required to apply for the liquidation of ODM".

ODM shareholders are alarmed and upset by what it calls big irreversible changes to ODM and TopTV's content and signal distribution, the operations of which were largely turned over or has now been "outsourced" to StarTimes.

"If I had not taken the action that I took, the business would have failed and the rescue would have become unachievable," says Peter van den Steen.

ODM came this close to losing the ability to broadcast TopTV when SES, the company from which ODM leased space on a satellite, in July 2013 decided to terminate ODM's transponder lease and uplinking contract.

"SES communicated to me that ODM had until 31 July 2013 to pay the outstanding rentals due in terms of the lease, failing which SES would shut down their transponders. This would have led to a complete shutdown of ODM's services to its subscribers," says Peter van den Steen.

"StarTimes then entered into negotiations with SES for the continued use of the transponders. SES was prepared to conclude a comprehensive deal with StarTimes internationally, which would avert the shutdown of ODM's services."

The business rescue practitioner says transferring the lease from ODM to StarTimes was a practical measure needed to ensure the continued operation of ODM. "The transfer of the lease to StarTimes serves to protect the effective operation of ODM."

"If the uplinking contract had been terminated, this would have interrupted the broadcasting services provided by ODM to its subscribers."

About ODM's new billing system which has been introduced for StarSat the business rescue practitioner says "the new billing system allows for a customer to be reconnected or for a new customer to be connected within a matter of minutes as opposed to the hours it took under the old billing regime."

Regarding claims by ODM shareholders that "the control of all material broadcast into South Africa is now under foreign control", the business rescue practitioner says "ODM retains a fully staffed content department headed by Ian Woodrow."

Peter van den Steen reveals that "StarTimes has taken on the role of assimilating content for ODM" which means that ODM "now has access to StarTimes' wide bouquet of channels worldwide".

"As such ODM has been placed in a better position to compete with other pay-TV providers in South Africa. The arrangement between StarTimes and ODM will ultimately enable ODM to provide better content offerings at more competitive prices."

"StarTimes has invested substantial amounts towards the improvement of the business and getting the business ready to compete once the business rescue is implemented. StarTimes has, to this end, invested an amount in excess of R30 million."


ALSO READ: StarSat to start on 1 November with more TV channels and some free TV channels to sample for a month.

BREAKING. TopTV ends; StarSat to start on 1 November with more TV channels and some free channels to sample for a month.

You're reading it here first. 

On Digital Media (ODM) will terminate its TopTV brand today, 31 October, and I've also learned that StarSat will start as the new brand-name of the struggling South African pay-TV operator on 1 November.

Current subscribers to the TopTV service will get additional new TV channels which will be made available for free sampling for the month of November, with new StarSat bouquet changes and package restructuring which will be introduced from December.

The Woodmead based company with China's StarTimes as a new investor which came to ODM's rescue with a cash flush lifeline, wants to distance itself from the damaged TopTV name.

ODM and StarTimes are looking for a new start with StarSat after TopTV was pummeled the past two years with bad press over customer service issues, billing system problems, a lack of sport content, a lack of HD channels and a PVR roll-out despite initial promises, and the desire to introduce pornographic TV channels while ordinary TV channels kept disappearing which were never replaced despite promises to customers.

Neither ODM nor its PR agency has communicated anything to the South African press regarding the StarSat brand name change or that it will be happening from tomorrow, 1 November, or channel or bouquet changes, but ODM is set to have a press conference today to officially unveil the new StarSat name change of the terminally damaged TopTV name and to talk about the business rescue process.

ODM has been in business rescue since the end of 2012 and is waiting for regulatory approval regarding stakeholder shareholding changes following a bail-out by China's StarTimes which is getting a foreign effective 65% economic interest in ODM.

StarTimes, a Chinese conglomerate involved in digital television ventures across several African countries already, has already pumped more than R30 million rand into ODM.

ODM shareholders voted at the end of April 2013 for StarTimes to bail-out the beleaguered operator which would have shut down at the end of July 2013 without a massive cash injection to keep the operation and signal distribution of South Africa's second satellite pay-TV platform going.

StarTimes in its rescue bid proposal had some strong words for what it considered mismanagement at ODM as well as its poor content offering and badly priced packages and said that it plans to radically overhaul the TV channels offered, the packages and the customer experience for TopTV subscribers.

ODM today is set to reveal that it will finally embrace a roll-out of high definition (HD) TV channels in the future, something which ODM promised for TopTV when the service commenced commercially just over three years ago but which never got fulfilled. ODM will also introduce additional new TV channels for StarSat which will form part of a new bouquet grouping structure and packages.

ODM will add a number of TV channels to the new StarSat overall bouquet, after the TopTV bouquet saw serious deterioration and atrophy the past year and a half with the loss of numerous TV channels due to financial troubles, debt and the breakdown of relationships with content distributors.

ODM will add TV channels to StarSat's Variety package which current TopTV subscribers will be able to see for the month of November without an additional charge. ODM will introduce StarSat package changes in December.


ALSO READ: TopTV came thisclose to shutting down in July 2013; StarTimes has pumped R30 million into On Digital Media (ODM), StarTimes now helps with acquiring TV content.

BREAKING. On Digital Media (ODM) to unveil TopTV's change to StarSat and its new StarSat pay-TV offering on Thursday.

You're reading it here first. 

Tomorrow On Digital Media (ODM) intends to take the wrap off of it's "new" StarSat offering when the struggling South African satellite pay-TV operator, which is dumping and completely getting rid of the terminally damaged TopTV brand, plans to officially unveil its new StarSat name and TV channels offering.

ODM in business rescue since the end of 2012 and is waiting for regulatory approval regarding stakeholder shareholding changes following a bail-out by China's StarTimes which is getting a foreign effective 65% economic interest in ODM.

On Thursday ODM will unveil that its new StarSat brand will include StarSat branded TV channels, third party TV channels, ODM's first-ever offering of some high definition (HD) channels, as well as a new bouquet grouping restructure.

It's not clear whether ODM will also launch a pornographic TV bouquet of sex channels which it got permission to launch from South Africa's broadcasting regulator at the end of April this year after a second application but which dented the company's public image and reputation and the TopTV name.

Interestingly, as On Digital gets ready to reveal its new pay-TV offering to South Africa, competitor MultiChoice is making a raft of premium channels from its most expensive package available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers in November at no additional cost.

From Monday 11 November to Sunday 17 November MultiChoice will unblock dozens of TV channels for subscribers who are not on the DStv Premium bouquet.

On Thursday ODM plans to give an update on On Digital Media's progress regarding the business rescue.

The Woodmead based company has seen court action as shareholders fight behind the scenes and an ongoing diminishing channel line-up this year. StarTimes promised a major restructuring and shake-up of the business as well as a major upgrade of TopTV's on-air content offering.

On Thursday ODM's acting CEO Eddie Mbalo plans to launch StarSat as a new brand in the place of TopTV, promising a "new viewing experience" to subscribers.

ODM embroiled in yet another lawsuit; Industrial Development Corporation demands more than R750 million back from ODM shareholders.

The beleaguered On Digital Media (ODM) is embroiled in yet another lawsuit, this one the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) which invested in the struggling South African satellite pay-TV operator, seeking more than R750 million back from certain ODM shareholders.

Meanwhile other shareholders have decided to take ODM to courtin another court case involving the satellite pay-TV operator, demanding a stop to the further implementation of the StarTimes business rescue plan and seeking an urgent court interdict to prevent permanent changes to the floundering Woodmead based operation which launched its unsuccessful TopTV service just over three years ago in May 2010.

The Industrial Development Corporation, a stakeholder in ODM which has pumped hundreds of millions of rands into ODM, is sueing three of ODM other major stakeholders, Red Gold Investments, First AOne Trade & Invest and First National Media Investment Holdings (FNMIH) after ODM was placed in business rescue at the end of 2012.

Red Gold Investments, First AOne Trade & Invest and FNMIH had a combined 58,9% stake on ODM when the struggling pay-TV business filed for business rescue.

The IDC wants R293 million from FNMIH and certain of its investors, R161,8 million from First AOne Trade & Invest and R147,2 million from Red Gold Investments.

ODM planned to relaunch TopTV as StarSat last week with around 90 TV channels including a new StarTV set of channels. The plan had to be scuppered and was postponed to November, but embroiled in litigation, might be pushed even later in 2013 or to early 2014.

TopTV shareholders at the end of April voted for a StarTimes bail-out with the Chinese media conglomerate which would get a 20% stake or an effective economic interest of 65% in ODM.

South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) still has to approve the deal since it relates to a massive change in the direct foreign stake holding and composition of the company.

BREAKING. Shareholders to take On Digital Media (ODM) to court to prevent StarTimes business rescue plan of TopTV to go further.

Shareholders - which includes its former ODM CEO Vino Govender , extremely unhappy with the StarTimes bail-out and the business rescue plan of the struggling On Digital Media (ODM), now plan to take the Woodmead based South African satellite pay-TV operator to court to prevent the business rescue plan from the Chinese digital television conglomerate StarTimes from proceeding any further.

Unhappy and exasperated shareholders are now seeking an urgent court interdict to prevent what they see as wholesale changes to the TopTV service which are permanent and dangerous and which could be lethal to ODM should South Africa's broadcasting regulator not eventually approve the StarTimes bail-out application.

First National Media Investment Holdings and Atchuthandandan Moodley who together have a combined interest of 21,1% (20,4% and 0,7% respectively) are adamant to stop the business rescue plan being implemented by StarTimes from going any further.

The urgent court interdict will be brought on 29 October. If granted, it will further delay ODM's already delayed relaunch of its severely damaged TopTV brand into StarSat which was supposed to happen last week and which has been postponed to November.

With a court application and the interdict coming to the South Gauteng High Court, it now appears that a November launch of StarSat is also out of the question as conflict rages behind the scenes at TopTV.

The ODM shareholders voted on 30 April 2013 for China's StarTimes - already operational in several African countries - to take over a 20% share in the beleaguered company. What it means in reality is that StarTimes acquires an effective 65% economic interest in ODM.

A fifth of the shareholders have however been extremely concerned that On Digital Media will be "irreparably damaged" if the StarTimes business rescue plan goes ahead but isn't successful. Meanwhile some flaws in the implementation behind the scenes have already become very visible to not just shareholders but also to ordinary commercial TopTV subscribers.

"Currently the business rescue plan is the best opportunity for ODM, which is in a vulnerable position, to be rescued," says the shareholders, unhappy with what they claims are "significant aspects of the business rescue plan which appears to be permanent".

Already massive drama has been playing out behind the scenes at the company, once again rocking the struggling ODM as StarTimes' presence started to be felt the past two months.

It's been playing out for TopTV subscribers on their TV screens with weird new unexplained content, as well as high frustration and a consumer backlash over a new billing system which was introduced and instantly malfunctioned.

The ODM shareholders say that StarTimes is under financial stress of its own and that if StarTimes' business rescue plan proceeds that it will increase the risk of the business possible failing.

The shareholders are extremely concerned over the fact that StarTimes has been given control over ODM's billing methods and programming and they are worried over how ODM's own content - which it used to control - were suddenly sidelined and "outsourced" to China.

Then there is also grave concern over the termination of ODM's termination of German uplink contracts which were switched to StarTimes in Beijing  as well, and ODM's cancellation of satellite space on the SES satellite platform service which was taken over by StarTimes.

"In this respect, all content being broadcast into South Africa is now under foreign control," says the shareholders.

"This act by the business rescue practitioner outsources the very core of ODM's top channels which are packaged and owned by ODM. The ability to reactivate these channels will be a very lengthy process and the loss of these channels on the ODM product bouquet will certainly result in a huge loss of the subscriber base," says the shareholders.

These big changes have been done with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) which has not even approved ODM's change of shareholding application with the broadcasting regulator.

Icasa is still considering and has to make a decision on ODM's request, submitted last month, requesting approval of the massive foreign shareholder change with StarTimes. In the application ODM asked for the unconditional transfer of the ENCS licence from ODM to Newco, which is in fact StarTimes Media SA.

If it's not approved, and with StarTimes already in control of crucial business aspects of ODM, ODM will be essentially cut off and lose its link to its TopTV subscribers without content and satellite distribution capability.

"The ownership and control of ODM is misrepresented in the Icasa application in order to circumvent the criteria for holding and transferring an individual Broadcasting Service Licence and an ENCS licence," the shareholders say.

"In my extensive experience as previous CEO of ODM, and from my long experience in the industry, it is clear that once a subscriber is lost, it is very costly and difficult to win that subscriber back," says Vino Govender.

"Unhappy subscribers who have cancelled their contracts and moved to ODM's competitors often do not return despite massive marketing attempts."

BREAKING. TopTV ending, becoming StarSat - hopefully in November - with new StarTV channels and its first high definition TV offering.

TopTV is ending, with the damaged South African pay-TV satellite brand changing to StarSat hopefully in November and with new StarTV or STV branded channels and including some high definition (HD) TV channels.

A relaunch of TopTV to StarSat was supposed to take place today but On Digital Media (ODM), waiting for South Africa's broadcasting regulator to hopefully approve its new shareholding structure after China's StarTimes came onboard, had to postpone it's relaunch to what insiders say will now hopefully happen in November.

It's not clear whether ODM's relaunch under the StarSat brand - which will include a redone TV channel line-up of around 90 TV channels and an updated StarSat bouquet - will include the launch of the separate pornography television bouquet of the Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice channels.

ODM, in business rescue since December 2012, got regulatory permission to start its sex bouquet in April from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) after its second application, but has so far failed to launch in the five months since it was granted approval and saw the StarTimes group helping to bail out the struggling Woodmead-based pay-TV operator.

ODM which wanted to launch StarSat today, is now hopeful to launch StarSat as soon as possible, ending the TopTV brand which suffered huge reputational damage since its commercial launch just over three years ago.

TopTV got hammered and the brand suffered severe public damage the past three years due to the two controversial porn television applications - the first of which the broadcasting regulator denied, as well as ongoing customer service complaints, several debit order and billing system problems, a lack of sport and premium TV channels despite several promises to add it, a diminishing channel-line-up with ongoing disappearing and abruptly discontinued channels, and promises of the roll-out of more and HD channels as well as a PVR decoder which never materialised.

The "TopTV" name has already been scrubbed from the on-air offering last month with the eradication of the "Top" channels on the bouquet which were quietly replaced with so-called STV test channels and the StarTimes logo.

ODM which wants to get away from the "TopTV" name, now plans to provide high definition television through a standard decoder for the first time under the StarSat name, but ODM and StarTimes can't and won't do it before StarTimes is not "approved" as a valid new foreign shareholder by the regulator.

ODM says the launch of StarSat "has been slightly delayed due to regulatory processes. ODM is committed to launching as soon as the necessary procedures are finalised".

Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka told TV with Thinus on Wednesday that the broadcasting regulator finally received ODM's documentation requesting approval of the change in foreign shareholding to include StarTimes. He said that Icasa "is still looking at the issue around StarTimes' foreign shareholding in ODM".

"As soon as, and if, we find that ODM and StarTimes meet the necessary requirements, Icasa will approve the application," he said. He said ODM already has pay-TV licensing conditions and that the application only pertains to the shareholding change. "ODM is [already] free to change its existing channels and product within those licensing conditions."

ODM says that Icasa is "well aware of what ODM is trying to achieve and that they are providing us with as much support within the contraints of their own internal processes."

ODM says StarTimes "remains committed to the turnaround plan for TopTV and On Digital Media retains full confidence in the selection of StarTimes as its preferred strategic equity partner, and its ability to implement the launch of StarSat".

On Digital Media (ODM) busy reconnecting TopTV subscribers after a major failure in new billing system saw subscribers being blocked.

 

On Digital Media (ODM) is busy reconnecting a lot of incensed TopTV subscribers who were paid up but saw their signals blocked and got disconnected on Tuesday 1 October, the result of a major technical problem which occured with the introduction of a yet another new billing system by the struggling Woodmead based satellite pay-TV operator.

Shocked and livid TopTV subscribers were unable to get through to the TopTV call centre on Tuesday as they clamoured to get answers and tried to get their pay-TV subscription restored. The company fell silent on Tuesday over what the problem was and didn't respond to hundreds of enquiries from exasperated TopTV subscribers wondering what's going on.

"This Service is blocked (4)" is what appeared on a lot of TopTV subscribers TV screens on Tuesday, launching an avalanche of complaints which stemmed from the introduction of a new "real-time" payment reconciliation system which disconnects subscribers if no payment is reflected on their accounts.

In the past ODM gave TopTV subscribers a few days grace into the start of a new month to settle their new month's payment upfront. However, the new billing system had a serious glitch and where payments didn't reflect or were only made on the 1st of October, TopTV subscribers were instantly cut.

ODM introduced the new billing system in order to be able to reconcile subscribers' payments quicker, with account transactions which will show immediately in future.

"TopTV apologises to subscribers for the recent disconnections. This was due to a technical glitch in the new billing system. We are currently in the process of reactivating subscribers whose payments have reflected in the system," the company said.

This is the third major billing system problem TopTV experienced in three years leading to widespread TopTV customer anger and denting the pay-TV provider's reputation. In February 2011 TopTV erroneously ran a double debit order run on thousands of TopTV subscribers' bank accounts when it upgraded to a new billing system.

In April 2012 TopTV again had a billing system problem when incorrect debit order instructions saw 17 000 TopTV subscribers affected when the company ran a debit order too early, incorrectly and in some cases double.

ODM hopes to have all affected disconnected subscribers reconnected soon as ODM and StarTimes South Africa work on rolling out new "StarTV" and other third-party TV channels later this month in new bouquets.

TopTV has already done away with the "Top" logo which can no longer be found on any channel and which suffered huge reputational damage with South African consumers and subscribers the past three years since its commercial launch in May 2010.

It has now quietly been replaced by the StarTimes logo for test channels such as Star One or STV One, Star Movies 1 and Star Movies +2.

With StarTimes taking over and bailing out ODM, the pay-TV operator is looking ahead to attempt to start over and "resetting" its entire channel bouquet offering later in October.

Last week TopTV launched a new set of "Star" branded test channels. TopTV added Nigerian channels such as WAPTV, E-Star and Oh Africa, an African news channel TVC News and two music channels, Nigezie and STV music. Subscribers are however already complaining about the increase in Chinese entertainment and Chinese movies.

StarTimes 'funding crisis' in Africa could impact Chinese TV operator's TopTV take-over and what it wants to do in South Africa.

StarTimes, the Chinese company set for a take-over of the struggling On Digital Media's (ODM) satellite pay-TV service TopTV in South Africa is experiencing a "funding crisis" in Africa - something would could, or is possibly already, impacting its operational take-over of TopTV and what it plans to do in South Africa where it will now get a foothold in the lucrative pay-TV sector.

StarTimes operates in more than 10 African countries ranging from Nigeria, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and now also South Africa where the StarTimes logo appeared for the first time on South African TV screens last week when StarTimes and TopTV launched several StarTimes test TV channels as it eradicates the "Top" branded channels on ODM's satellite pay-TV platform.

StarTimes president Pang Xinxing however told China Daily and Chinese Entrepreneur that StarTimes is experiencing a "paucity of funds" which is the reason for the company not yet being operational in some other countries, and for not having started to build TV platforms although it has been granted licenses to start services.

Pang Xinxing said the "funding gap is still too large" despite StarTimes making use of loans and direct investments. He said this poses a threat to StarTimes' dream of providing coverage for 70% of Africa's population over the next three years.

Last month StarTimes took over the satellite operator SES' 20% shareholding in TopTV, and also signed a 10-year contract for using the SES-5 satellite to expand its footprint and to offer direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast services across the African continent.

With this new contract StarTimes will use four transponders from this month and a fifth transponder from February 2014, with the Chinese operator which will continue to run the TopTV service on SES-5 by using three of the newly contracted SES transponders that were previously leased by On Digital Media.

"The recent success of StarTimes's strategic investment in ODM willallow us to reach new audiences in South Africa," says Pang Xinxing, promising "excellent service and picture quality for our viewers".