DStv preparing to launch raft of channels

South African pay TV service DStv is to launch a raft of new channels and reorder its existing services at the beginning of October. The MultiChoice-owned pay TV service will also migrate its services to the recently launched Intelsat-20 satellite, replacing Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 10 at 68.5° East, to give it more capacity to launch the new channels.

DStv will change the location on the EPG of its general entertainment channels, with international and local channels in occupying consecutive ranges of channel numbers, followed by documentary and lifestyle channels, South African free-to-air channels and its SuperSport offering.

The broadcaster is also giving SD and HD versions of the same channel the same channel number, with HD customers getting access to the HD version by default. Premium service M-Net will replace its MM1 and MM2 movie channels with six new channels comprising one premiere and five themed channels: M-Net Movies Premiere, M-Net Movies Action Plus, M-Net Movies Family, M-Net Movies Comedy, M-Net Movies Drama and Romance, and M-Net Movies Showcase. These channels will all be available in HD. DSTv will also add Africa Magic Entertainment and Africa Magic Movies 1 at the beginning of October. DStv customers with HD DVRs will also get Studio Universal and Universal channels in HD from 1 October, in addition to the M-Net Movies channels which they will also get in HD.

“Whilst it may take some getting used to, we trust that the new channel numbering will make for an overall better navigation and viewing experience on DStv. We want to assure our customers that we have taken every care to ensure there is as little disruption and change to their viewing routine as possible,” said Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.