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Multichoice extends 'DSTV Mobile` trials

By Dave Glazier, ITWeb journalist
Johannesburg, 09 Jun 2006

Multichoice and M-Net have extended their digital video broadcasting via handheld (DVB-H) trials to coincide with the World Cup, which kicks off later today in Germany.

Closed trials have been held over the past few months, with several hundred participants in Gauteng. This week, members of the media were invited to preview the technology for the duration of the World Cup.

"Now over 1 500 people in the DVB-H coverage area will be able to watch all the soccer matches live on their Sagem myMobileTV cellphones," says Multichoice CEO Nolo Letele.

The Sagem handset features a 45mm by 33mm viewing screen.

The coverage area for DVB-H includes specific suburbs in Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, adds Letele.

CEO of Naspers (Multichoice`s holding company) Koos Becker indicated that R200 million would be invested to bring DVB-H to SA in time for the 2010 world cup. He was speaking at Multichoice`s official unveiling of its DVB-H plans at a conference in Cape Town last month.

The trial mobile bouquet features nine DSTV channels, including the dedicated World Cup channel Supersport 3, Channel O, CNN, BBC World, Cartoon Network and Fashion TV.

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