This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv, is gearing up to launch a standalone streaming product by the end of its financial year in March 2020.
According to reports, the new service will allow users to access content without the need for a satellite dish or decoder, marking a significant shift from the company's traditional direct-to-home (DTH) pay-television model.
Currently, DStv users can access content on-the-go through the DStv Now service, but this requires a direct-to-home link to a satellite dish.
Connected Video CEO of MultiChoice Niclas Ekdahl has revealed that the company has made significant progress in developing the dishless offering, which will use customers' broadband connections rather than satellite for delivery.
The launch of the streaming-only offering will be a major milestone for the company, which was founded 24 years ago as a satellite DTH pay-television operator.
With the new service, users will enjoy a more streaming-friendly approach, with on-demand viewing capabilities that allow them to watch what they want, when they want.
MultiChoice plans to improve on its existing DStv Now service, making it a standalone offering that can compete with other streaming services like Netflix.
The company has already seen success with its Showmax service, which recorded a 19% year-on-year increase in average hours watched.
