Subscribe
  • Home
  • /
  • Devices
  • /
  • Grace period for M-Net analogue subscribers

Grace period for M-Net analogue subscribers

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 03 Feb 2016
Existing M-Net analogue subscribers need not worry at this stage because there is a period for dual illumination, says M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle.
Existing M-Net analogue subscribers need not worry at this stage because there is a period for dual illumination, says M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle.

MultiChoice has given its M-Net analogue subscribers a grace period to continue enjoying services before SA eventually shuts down analogue signals.

Officially launching the first commercial digital terrestrial TV (DTT) service in the country, GOtv, this morning, M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle said subscribers should not worry that since the pay-TV operator has rolled out a new DTT offering, it means they will be cut off.

SA is currently in the digital migration process and there will come a time when analogue signals will be completely shut down, meaning they will not be protected.

MultiChoice today officially unveiled GOtv at its Randburg offices. GOtv is available for R99 per month for its "Value" bouquet. A GOtv decoder will cost the consumer a R699 once-off payment. The decoder works with an antenna and the recommended GOtenna is sold separately for R299, says GOtv on its Web site. The DTT offering comes with 12 channels and a cheaper package, GOtv Lite, costs R45 for three months and comes with two channels.

In a statement, the pay-TV operator says M-Net analogue customers will have to switch over to digital television at some stage. However, it adds, they don't have to do anything right now as both analogue and digital signals are running concurrently.

Before each province shuts off their analogue signals, M-Net will be in touch to guide its analogue customers through the migration process.

Speaking at the launch event this morning, Phahle said 30 years ago, MultiChoice launched its first pay-TV offering in SA.

"It was an analogue signal but over the years, technology has changed and today we are thrilled that the digital opportunity of digital terrestrial TV will ultimately provide more choice, better quality pictures and better quality sound for our subscribers."

She pointed out that as a broadcaster, like all the other broadcasters, MultiChoice is obliged to migrate subscribers from the analogue frequency to the new digital frequencies.

"However, the most important thing to stress is that our existing M-Net analogue subscribers will continue to enjoy the services. They need not worry at this stage about changing set-top boxes because there is a period for dual illumination, which means people will be able to receive both the digital and the analogue signal for quite a while.

"So what we want to assure people is that when the time comes, we will walk with them and we will help them so that they will continue to enjoy uninterrupted service," Phahle said.

"We're excited to launch our digital terrestrial television service - as initiated by the minister of communications [Faith Muthambi]. This is a major step forward for local television and our launch of GOtv is in line with the government's digital migration process in South Africa."

Also speaking at the launch event, Tsabiso Letsoela, GM for GOtv SA, said: "GOtv will give many South Africans, who are currently watching analogue television, the chance to experience digital-quality TV at an affordable price. The digital GOtv service offers compelling channels with clearer pictures and sharper sound quality."

This week marked the start of the dual illumination period in the country's digital migration process. Dual illumination, or simulcast, is the interim period in which both analogue and DTT signals are allowed to be transmitted at the same time before the analogue signal is switched-off.

Muthambi says this period seeks to ensure all citizens have ample time to install the digital set-top boxes required for DTT transmissions.

Share