She added: “We are looking into incorporating one or two channels into the platform, but we cannot reveal details about these channels at this point.” R
align=justifyAlberts addressed the press at a Multichoice presentation on DStv’s content on October 7, 2008.
align=justifyIn the past year the platform aggressively purchased a number of channels after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) awarded new pay-TV operators, On Digital Media, Walking on Water and Telkom Media, licences last year. New channels that were flighted on the DStv platform in the past year included Africa Magic Plus, National Geographic Wild, ESPN Classic, Nickelodeon, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge and BBC Cbeebies. Big Brother Africa 3 also returned to the platform.
align=justifyThe December Holiday Channel will make a come-back on December 8 on channel 198, and will consist of series and movies. DStv will also launch a pre-school channel in the second quarter of next year which will service two languages, with the majority of content produced locally.
align=justifyAlberts would not elaborate on other channels that the platform is planning to acquire.
align=justifyIt seems no progress has been made on the SABC in getting its 24-hour news channel flighted on DStv. When asked about SABC News International, Alberts said negotiations about incorporating the channel into the DStv bouquet are still underway. “DStv is still conducting research as to whether the channel will be viable on our platform”.
align=justifyThe channel is broadcast on Sentech’s Vivid platform, which is available to few subscribers and is also available in certain African countries, as well as the USA.
align=justifyMultiChoice announced the termination of its contract with the public broadcaster for SABC Africa in July.
