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
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]

Broadcast and Reception

StarSat services are broadcast via satellite, using the SES5 satellite at the 5°E orbital position, and 3 of the six 36 MHz transponders in the 'Sub Saharan Africa Ku-band' beam providing coverage of the whole sub-Saharan Africa region.[7] 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. "Astra 4A". SES. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
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