ACHIEVEMENTS Multichoice Started in South Africa in 1986, When M-Net
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THE MARKET Across its platforms, MultiChoice offers ACHIEVEMENTS MultiChoice started as the subscriber management premium movies, major sporting events and MultiChoice started in South Africa in 1986, arm of M-Net, the analogue Pay-TV channel. popular children’s’ programming; all of which when M-Net was launched as one of the fi rst Today it is the pioneer of multi-channel digital are tailored for each local market. subscription television services outside of satellite television across the African continent. MultiChoice also provides customer service the United States. At the time, MultiChoice Its dynamic technology platform and varied through its call centre, backed by state-of-the-art provided subscriber management services. It has bouquet of channels, built on a foundation of technology. since become synonymous with digital satellite compelling premium entertainment, has seen MultiChoice makes the most of the television in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. MultiChoice grow a leading PayTv business technological skills of its specialists to gain In 1995 MultiChoice de-linked from M-Net. DStv across South Africa. insight into the latest developments within the was launched in South Africa and extended to the DStv, a product of MultiChoice, provides a Pay-TV market. In fact, MultiChoice was one continental market. broad spectrum of bouquets to suit customers’ of the first Pay-TV companies in the world to Major technological achievements since then tastes and pockets. Acknowledging the diversity provide a direct-to-home (DTH) digital satellite include the launch of interactive television, Dual- of the South African markets, the current bouquet service. It has remained at the forefront of View decoders, the Personal Video Recorder offerings include DStv Premium, DStv Compact, technological developments ever since. (PVR), DStv Mobile and the High-Definition DStv Select, DStv EasyView, DStv Indian and (HD) PVR. There is much more to come. DStv Portuguese. The company is equally proud of its contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least through its successful Phuthuma Nathi broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) share schemes. The scheme boasts approximately 120,000 black empowered investors in MultiChoice South Africa. The achievement for which MultiChoice is best known is the way in which it has transformed MULTICHOICE.indd 2 7/3/10 11:59:26 the way South Africans and a great many other Africans experience television. Choice, variety and interactivity have become synonymous with television across the continent. HISTORY • 1993 - MultiChoice is created as a subscriber management arm of M-Net • 1994 - MTN is created and sold • 1995 - DStv is launched, MultiChoice Hellas starts; M-Net and MultiChoice de-link • 1997 - M-Web Business is founded, along with CommerceZone • 2001 - DStv Indian and DStv Portuguesa are launched • 2002 - MultiChoice launches Interactive Television • 2003 - MultiChoice introduces Dual-View decoders • 2005 - DStv PVR launched; DStv Compact bouquet launch, one million customer mark • 2006 - Digital Video Broadband-Handheld (DVB-H) trial • 2006 - Phuthuma Nathi 1, BBBEE initiative is created • 2007 - Phuthuma Nathi 2 further empowers media services. spin-offs of the M-Net and MultiChoice journeys South African M-Net and SuperSport are part of the has been the building of new technical skills in a • 2008 - HD PVR is launched MultiChoice stable, which delivers premium field where there were none before: MultiChoice • 2009 - HD channels - SuperSport, Discovery channels and content to a growing number of now assists technikons and universities in and National Geographic are launched subscribers. Oracle, DStv Mobile, MWEB and designing their technical curriculum. DStv Online complete the group of companies. THE PRODUCT New technology developments in the Pay- BRAND VALUES MultiChoice’s flagship satellite broadcasting TV industry will give MultiChoice customers MultiChoice aims “To bring digital media service, DStv, leverages technology to deliver a unprecedented control over their viewing, as well entertainment, content and services to subscribers continually expanding platform of world-class as an enhanced viewing experience. through multiple devices.” Its vision is to be channels. “Number One in all chosen market segments” More than 2,639 million customers in South RECENT DEVELOPMENTS as the most trusted and best-value provider of Africa tune into the various bouquets. DStv MultiChoice-owned DStv Mobile, has been the most compelling digital media content; the Premium offers more than 80 video and 40 running trials on technologies aimed at playing most innovative delivery; the best customer care; audio channels, plus 28 radio, six data and three a significant role in the transmission of the 2010 nurturing the best talent.” interactive channels. DStv9Compact offers 36 World Cup; namely mobile television. This MultiChoice’s core values are: popular channels and DStv Select provides 26 mobile broadcast technology allows for the digital • Innovation channels. MultiChoice’s entry-level terrestrial broadcast of live television channels to a • Customer-Focused bouquet, DStv Easy View, is specially equipped mobile phone. • Performance-Driven its most accessible bouquet. • Development MultiChoice also has PROMOTION • Mutual Respect niche bouquets such as MultiChoice’s commitment to • Participation DStv Portuguesa and DStv enriching lives throughout South Indian bouquets, which Africa is manifest in its broad Real vision comes from seeing beyond offers 24/7 programming and far-reaching corporate social current possibilities, and the company is looking to the Portuguese as well investment (CSI) initiatives. The ahead to a technological future where nothing as the north and south Indian focus is on three key areas - education, is impossible. As the digital revolution shifts communities respectively. skills development and orphaned and expectations daily, MultiChoice pursues its The DStv HD PVR includes vulnerable children. All initiatives are run mission of “Enriching Lives”. several sophisticated features in partnership with government and the such as the ability to record communities involved. The company programmes directly on its hard also make funds and time available for drive, pause live television its employees and customers to make THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT and watch instant replays on a positive difference to charities of MULTICHOICE demand; giving MultiChoice their choice. MultiChoice CSI viewers access to the projects include ICT in Schools, m MultiChoice launched an analogue best home entertainment Orphaned and Vulnerable service via satellite to more than 20 experience available. Children (OVC), MultiChoice African countries in 1992 The company’s M-Net Film Talent Incubator (FTI), Broadcast Service Centre Reach Out, MultiChoice m M-Net was awarded newsmaker of the in Randburg, Johannesburg, is Make a Difference year in 2001 one of the largest production and (MMAD), Mindset Learn transmission infrastructures in Africa Network Television and the m MTN was born out of MCel, a and ranks among the most sophisticated in CNN MultiChoice African MultiChoice company, in 1995 the world. This leading-edge technological Journalist Awards. backbone supports a growing array of digital One of the most exciting MULTICHOICE.indd 3 7/3/10 11:59:28.