StarSat, South Africa

StarSat
Public
Industry Telecommunication
Predecessor TopTV
Founded May 1, 2010 (2010-05-01)
Headquarters Woodmead, Gauteng,
South Africa
Products Direct broadcast satellite
Slogan Rise Up South Africa
Website www.starsat.co.za
Footnotes / references
On Digital Media

StarSat, South Africa is a subsidiary of the Chinese satellite television provider, StarTimes, operating in South Africa that began broadcasting on 1 May 2010.[1] StarSat is owned by On Digital Media,[2] who were granted a pay-TV license by ICASA in September 2007.[3] On Digital Media is 20% owned by TV satellite operator SES and 20% owned by China’s StarTimes.[4] StarSat's service is aimed at the LSM 6-9 demographic, targeting middle class viewers. Until 31 October 2013, the service was known as TopTV.[5]

History

TopTV logo

On Digital Media (Pty) Ltd began broadcasting on 1 May 2010 as TopTV.[1]

On 30 April 2013, shareholders of On Digital Media (ODM), StarSat's parent company, voted to approve StarTimes taking over a 20% share of ODM. By doing so, StarTimes effectively acquired a 65% economic interest in ODM.[4] The vote also included adoption of a business rescue plan.[5]

The StarSat brand replaced TopTV and was officially launched on 31 October 2013.[5] The new packages and channels associated with the new brand were made available on 1 December 2013,[5][6] with an apparent focus on Chinese TV channels and Chinese-sourced content.[7]

Broadcast and Reception

StarSat services are broadcast via satellite, using the SES' 4A craft at the 5°E orbital position, and three of the six 36 MHz transponders in the 'Sub Saharan Africa Ku-band' beam providing coverage of the whole sub-Saharan Africa region.[8] Transmissions are in the DVB-S2 MPEG-4 digital TV format with reception using a simple set-top box, with a PVR receiver slated for later in 2011.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "TopTV Launch - Rise Up South Africa!" (Press release). On Digital Media. 29 April 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "On Digital Media website". Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. ↑ de Lanerolle, Indra (2011). "Convergence and regulation in South Africa: in search of a new public interest paradigm". info 13 (3): 47–63.
  4. 1 2 "More delays in store for TopTV as shareholders head to court". City Press. 22 October 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Goodbye TopTV, Hello StarSat" (Press release). TVSA. October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ "About Us". StarSat. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ "TopTV changes name to StarSat". City Press. 19 November 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Astra 4A". SES. Retrieved January 26, 2012.

External links

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