StarSat explained

On Digital Media
Trade Name:StarSat
TopTV (previously)
Type:Public
Hq Location:Block C, Riverview Office Park, Halfway Gardens x, 100 Bekker Road
Hq Location City:Midrand, Gauteng
Hq Location Country:South Africa
Industry:Satellite television
Parent:StarTimes
Products:Direct broadcast satellite, Pay-TV

StarSat (formerly TopTV until 31 October 2013[1]) is a South African direct broadcast satellite television service that began broadcasting on 1 May 2010.[2] StarSat is operated by On Digital Media,[3] who were granted a pay-TV license by ICASA in September 2007.[4] On Digital Media is currently 20% owned by Luxembourgish satellite operator SES and 20% owned by Chinese company StarTimes.[5] StarSat's service is aimed at the LSM 6-9 demographic, targeting middle class viewers.

History

On Digital Media (Pty) Ltd launched TopTV on 1 May 2010.

On 30 April 2013, shareholders of On Digital Media voted to approve China-based company StarTimes taking over a 20% share of ODM. By doing so, StarTimes effectively acquired a 65% economic interest in ODM. The vote also included adoption of a business rescue plan.

TopTV was officially rebranded as StarSat on 31 October 2013. The new packages and channels associated with the new brand were made available on 1 December 2013.[6]

Broadcast and reception

StarSat services are broadcast via satellite, using the SES-5 satellite at the 5° east 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 and with the Combo3 PVR decoder launched in 2011.

Conax is used as conditional access system.

See also

External links

Notes and References

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