THE MARKET Multichoice Began Life As the Subscriber Management Arm
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THE MARKET platforms providing television and Internet in 1986, when M-Net was founded as one of the MultiChoice began life as the subscriber services to over two million paying subscribers first two subscription television services outside management arm of the analogue pay TV in Africa, the Mediterranean and Asia. of the USA. MultiChoice was incorporated to channel M-Net, and has grown to be the pioneer A large percent of the subscriber base consists provide subscriber management services for pay of multichannel digital satellite television on the of digital subscribers. Across its platforms, MIH television bouquets. From there, little time has African continent. has secured long term rights to premium movies, gone by without innovation. MultiChoice provides premier television major sporting events and popular children’s entertainment via its DStv bouquets to more than programming, all of which are tailored for each THE PRODUCT one million customers in South Africa. There local market. MultiChoice’s flagship satellite broadcasting are two distinct areas in the MultiChoice brand: service, DStv, leverages dynamic technology to Corporate and Product. ACHIEVEMENTS deliver a continually expanding platform of world The corporate brand differs from the product 1986: Africa’s first pay-television station, M-Net, class channels. brand in that it encompasses a much wider range is founded. The subscriber management division The Company’s Broadcast Service Centre in of associations. It provides a trusted platform (later to become MultiChoice) plays a crucial role Randburg, near Johannesburg, is one of the largest from which a range of purchase brands can be in its early success. production and transmission infrastructures in launched and built to make the most of the various 1992: MultiChoice launches an analogue service Africa and ranks among the most sophisticated opportunities in a client’s specific market. It also via satellite to over 20 African countries. in the world. allows brand management teams to focus on 1995: DStv services launched across Africa This leading-edge technological backbone their segments without the need to re-establish with enhanced channel offerings. Start of Greek supports a growing array of digital media services. trust or social legitimacy or obtain a new license TV platform (MultiChoice Hellas). M-Net and More than one million customers tune into DStv to operate. MultiChoice de-link. premium for high-quality 24-hour programming The product side of the brand includes Digital 1998: M-Web Business was founded, along local and international channels. DStv offers the Satellite Television (DStv) Premium, DStv with CommerceZone, a business-to-business e- following: Compact, DStv Select and Easy View. commerce product. DStv Premium with over 70 video, more than The company provides superior customer 2001: DStv Indian and DStv Portuguesa 40 audio channels and 28 radio as well as six service through its customer call centre, which launched. interactive channels. is equipped with state of the art technology and 2003: MultiChoice introduces dual view DStv9Compact offers a selection of 23 highly trained staff. decoders. popular channels and the newest offering, DStv As a flagship brand under the MIH Holdings 2005: DStv personal video recorder (PVR) Select provides 16 video and four audio channels. banner, MultiChoice makes the most of skills in launched. MultiChoice also has niche bouquets in its DStv technology that provide it with a key strategic 2005: DStv compact, a middle tier bouquet, brings Portuguesa and DStv Indian bouquets, offering advantage and give the Group great support high-quality programming to a wider audience. 24/7 programming to both North and South and insight into the latest developments 2005: DStv reaches 1 million subscribers across Indian communities. and enhancements of paymedia South Africa. The DStv personal video recorder (PVR) is technologies. MIH was one of 2006: DStv Mobile brings live coverage of the an addition to MultiChoice’s current range of the first pay TV companies FIFA World Cup to South Africans via their decoders and includes a number of sophisticated in the world to provide a mobile features such as the ability to record programmes digital satellite service phones, through a digital broadcast via Digital directly on its hard drive, pause live television and it has remained Video Broadband-Handheld (DVB-H) trial. and watch instant replays on demand. at the forefront of 2006: MultiChoice sells 15 percent of its shares MultiChoice also holds interests in M-Web t e c h n o l o g i c a l to certain eligible people and groups through M-Net, SuperSport and DStv-Mobile. developments ever Phuthuma Nathi 1, a broad based black economic The company’s core skill in technology since. empowerment (BBBEE) initiative. Share offer is is matched by its business acumen, which is The group’s almost three times subscribed. required to manage the challenges and business activities are 2007: Second Phuthuma Nathi scheme makes cycles of digital satellite broadcasting. One of focused on an additional 7.5 percent of MultiChoice shares the most exciting spin-offs of the M-Net and subscriber available to eligible persons and groups. MultiChoice journeys has been the building of new technical skills in a field where there were HISTORY none before: MultiChoice now assists technikons The MultiChoice legend began in South Africa and universities in designing their technical curriculum. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS New technology developments in the pay TV industry will give MultiChoice customers unprecedented control over their viewing, as well as an enhanced experience. Each laboratory also has The convergence of broadcast media and a computer network of telecommunications is happening on a global 20 PCs with a server and scale. New developments include: dialup Internet connectivity, • DStv-Mobile as well as multi-function Enter digital video Broadcasting Handheld printers with scanners. (DVB-H), which lets you watch live television MultiChoice9Vuka! channels over a specially equipped mobile 2006 saw many NGO’s and phone. DVB-H offers exceptional video and social issues benefiting audio quality, regardless of bandwidth, and from free publicity MultiChoice-owned DStv mobile is putting support, over 150 Public South Africa in the lead in the international Service Announcements race to deploy this exciting technology. In (PSAs) were produced 2006, MultiChoice erected DVB-H masts by entrants for the annual Vuka! Awards. MultiChoice role involves creating a richer across South Africa, enabling trial DStv Representing MultiChoice’s flagship corporate life through digital media. Real vision comes mobile users to watch the soccer World Cup social investment programme, these awards from seeing beyond current possibilities and on their mobile phones. In three years, sports encourage established and aspirant filmmakers Multichoice’s digital TV is a pinnacle of creative fans will be able to watch every minute of the - and other creative people - to make a TV visions brought to life. But the company is not 2010 FIFA World Cup wherever they may be commercial for a charity or cause that is close stopping there; it is looking ahead to the great • Broadband to their hearts. The 20 winning commercials - 10 potential of a technological future where nothing MultiChoice has launched a trial website made by professionals and 10 made by industry is impossible. offering programming from selected newcomers - are then screened on DStv channels, The future is there for shaping by those DStv channels. This value-added service, giving various NGOs much needed publicity and with will and imagination, and MultiChoice is a available to DStv Premium customers will creating immense public awareness of key socio- company that lives by this quest. The company allow them the opportunity to catch-up on economic issues. pursues its mission of “Enriching Lives” through missed programming and view at their own MultiChoice is also committed to trans- partnering with innovative projects that offer new leisure. MultiChoice believes three or four formation in South Africa. The Company opportunities to develop and distribute content. developments will dominate the immediate completed two successful empowerment future of the industry: transactions, Phuthuma Nathi 1 and 2. These BRAND VALUES • As digital networks evolve and speed up, transaction were structured to be truly broadbased. The MultiChoice mission statement is “Enriching bandwidth costs will also drop considerably The response to the schemes was overwhelming. Lives through innovative delivery of compelling • Interactive services and accompanying Phuthuma Nathi (PN1) offered an indirect digital media content”. Its vision is to be “Number applications are set to enhance the value of interest of 15 percent in MultiChoice South One in all chosen market segments” as the most the services offered to customers Africa (Pty) Ltd to eligible Black Persons and trusted and best-value provider of gripping digital • The ability to store content on their decoders Black Groups. The offer was oversubscribed by media content, with the most innovative delivery with a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) will almost three times. 120,000 applications were and the best customer care. Core values include: fundamentally change the way customers received for the 45,000 000 Phuthuma Nathi • Innovation interact with their television ordinary shares. 98 percent of the applicants • Customer focused • The company is currently