Silence prevails from pay-TV newcomer Super5Media, as the date it was expected to bring a product to South African viewers slips by.
Super5Media planned to release a new pay-TV product yesterday; however, local shelves remain empty of a possible product from the company. Meanwhile, newly licensed competitor, On Digital Media (ODM), continues to capture market share.
ITWeb attempted to contact Super5Media several times to determine whether it would go ahead with its planned 1 June launch date, but the company has not yet responded.
The pay-TV licensee will want to get a product out as soon as possible, as ODM's product gains momentum in the market. ODM released Top TV, its satellite service targeting the middle-class TV viewer, last month, selling out its initial stock of decoders in the first weekend of sales.
Super5Media hoped to bring its own product to South Africans soon after the release of Top TV, with the aim of keeping the market equal. The idea to license the two new broadcasters was to maintain a competitive environment, and not end up with yet another dominant player, the regulator explained at the time of licensing.
ODM has managed to rope in 73 000 subscribers since it started its satellite service and the company is installing around 800 satellite dishes every day countrywide. The Top TV service runs 55 channels in various bouquets, priced between R99 and R249 a month.
The competitive offering by ODM has also forced incumbent pay-TV broadcaster, MultiChoice, to revisit its prices and offerings. MultiChoice introduced a countering product priced at R99, offered decoder and dish installation specials, and commissioned a new channel focused on local content.
regulatory and shareholder troubles holding back its initial plans to bring a new service to local TV viewers. It is also likely in the process of redrafting its submission to the regulator for a mobile TV licence, following the reissue of the invitation to apply.
Speculation of shareholder troubles between its majority shareholder, Shenzhen Media, and the minority stakeholders may also be keeping it from bringing a new service to market. The company has also been pushing to receive its own iECNS licence, so that it can provide services across its own network.
Broadcasting network services are currently only offered by Orbicom and Sentech, SA's state-owned signal distributor.
In line with its nascent business, Telkom Media's plans, Super5Media hopes to come to market with three discrete offerings, including Internet services, IPTV and a satellite service. The company has long maintained that its licence is the only one that allows for IP-based services.
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