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Johannesburg - MultiChoice's new video-on-demand (VOD) service, DStv BoxOffice, becomes commercially available from July 22 to all DStv Premium subscribers.
The pay TV operator's satellite-based, digital rental service that will provide a constantly updated list of 15 movies available to watch at the touch of the remote control's green button for R25 per movie – although the list doesn't include episodes of TV shows or porn.
SouthTel, which is trialing a similar VOD only service from this month, plans to roll out a more extensive selection from September (when it plans to launch commercially) that will include more movies and TV shows but won't include any linear TV channels. It's called VOD.TV and will be using a similar satellite-to-decoder encrypted download system. Competition pay TV operator TopTV is yet to launch HD channels or a PVR decoder and has no plans for a VOD system.
VOD, or so called "pay-per-view" is the "window" or opportunity where people can pay a direct once-off fee to watch something before that content, for instance a movie, moves to the normal pay television window. DStv BoxOffice – similar to other pay TV operators' services worldwide like Foxtel's BoxOffice or Sky Movies BoxOffice – gives a subscriber the opportunity to watch something specific that is only out on DVD yet and in the video store and will only appear on pay TV channels such as M-Net within six to eight months.
Movie titles
DStv BoxOffice launches with a selection of movies like I am Number Four, Black Swan, 127 Hours and The King's Speech that can be directly downloaded to a section of the decoder hard drive and available to play immediately after payment authorisation.
MultiChoice tested the waters a few years ago with a limited VOD system that was discontinued. DStv BoxOffice however is South Africa's first fully-supported, immersively dynamic and commercial VOD system which will make a selection of 15 movies available to DStv Premium subscribers for R25 per movie in standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) for a period of 48 hours.
"DStv BoxOffice positions DStv as a front-runner in the VOD market in South Africa," says John Kotsaftis, CEO of DStv Online. "The service aligns South Africa with global developments in on-demand video," he says. "Offering a VOD service through satellite initially, allows us to make it widely and instantly available to our subscribers, regardless of constraints in broadband availability in South Africa."
150 blockbusters on the way
MultiChoice said at the launch event that DStv BoxOffice will be extended to an online component, similar in which its DStv on Demand service has a dual television-decoder and an internet streaming option currently. MultiChoice says it will make 150 blockbuster movies from Hollywood's major studios available on DStv BoxOffice over the course of the year.
To make use of DStv BoxOffice – of which the new software will start to automatically download to all subscribers' decoders within a few days – subscribers have to register for a DStv BoxOffice account. Subscribers can pay by credit card and easy SMS verification or through the BoxOffice account. VOD charges will be debited to the monthly account.
"DStv BoxOffice is a result of our continuous drive for innovation," says Imtiaz Patel, group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. "The future of DStv relies on us offering simplicity and convenience to our subscribers in a changing world. Last year we introduced DStv on Demand and DStv BoxOffice is the next step in the DStv product evolution."
The pay TV operator's satellite-based, digital rental service that will provide a constantly updated list of 15 movies available to watch at the touch of the remote control's green button for R25 per movie – although the list doesn't include episodes of TV shows or porn.
SouthTel, which is trialing a similar VOD only service from this month, plans to roll out a more extensive selection from September (when it plans to launch commercially) that will include more movies and TV shows but won't include any linear TV channels. It's called VOD.TV and will be using a similar satellite-to-decoder encrypted download system. Competition pay TV operator TopTV is yet to launch HD channels or a PVR decoder and has no plans for a VOD system.
VOD, or so called "pay-per-view" is the "window" or opportunity where people can pay a direct once-off fee to watch something before that content, for instance a movie, moves to the normal pay television window. DStv BoxOffice – similar to other pay TV operators' services worldwide like Foxtel's BoxOffice or Sky Movies BoxOffice – gives a subscriber the opportunity to watch something specific that is only out on DVD yet and in the video store and will only appear on pay TV channels such as M-Net within six to eight months.
Movie titles
DStv BoxOffice launches with a selection of movies like I am Number Four, Black Swan, 127 Hours and The King's Speech that can be directly downloaded to a section of the decoder hard drive and available to play immediately after payment authorisation.
MultiChoice tested the waters a few years ago with a limited VOD system that was discontinued. DStv BoxOffice however is South Africa's first fully-supported, immersively dynamic and commercial VOD system which will make a selection of 15 movies available to DStv Premium subscribers for R25 per movie in standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) for a period of 48 hours.
"DStv BoxOffice positions DStv as a front-runner in the VOD market in South Africa," says John Kotsaftis, CEO of DStv Online. "The service aligns South Africa with global developments in on-demand video," he says. "Offering a VOD service through satellite initially, allows us to make it widely and instantly available to our subscribers, regardless of constraints in broadband availability in South Africa."
150 blockbusters on the way
MultiChoice said at the launch event that DStv BoxOffice will be extended to an online component, similar in which its DStv on Demand service has a dual television-decoder and an internet streaming option currently. MultiChoice says it will make 150 blockbuster movies from Hollywood's major studios available on DStv BoxOffice over the course of the year.
To make use of DStv BoxOffice – of which the new software will start to automatically download to all subscribers' decoders within a few days – subscribers have to register for a DStv BoxOffice account. Subscribers can pay by credit card and easy SMS verification or through the BoxOffice account. VOD charges will be debited to the monthly account.
"DStv BoxOffice is a result of our continuous drive for innovation," says Imtiaz Patel, group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. "The future of DStv relies on us offering simplicity and convenience to our subscribers in a changing world. Last year we introduced DStv on Demand and DStv BoxOffice is the next step in the DStv product evolution."
