adminJonathan Mbiriyamveka TV Column
Last week, yours truly was part of the first ever content extravaganza hosted by MultiChoice Africa. The star studded event held in Mauritius and what an awesome country it is.
I wouldn’t want to compare it with my motherland – Zimbabwe but on a scale of 1-10, I would give it a seven. Of course, the hospitality and entertainment which is a part of my specialty was top notch. I couldn’t think of anything better than that.
Travelling to Mauritius aboard South African Airways was a bit of a hassle judging from the way the staff do their things.
It’s like they were forced to go to work. Imagine, enduring long queues and you miss the flight and then asked to pay an extra charge.
One would think such scenes are only common at Beitbridge border but alas it’s everywhere.
Damn! I wish Air Zimbabwe would bounce back from wherever they are.
That said, Mauritius was the ideal place for the launch and I say this because it’s one of the serene places on earth maybe that is why they call it Paradise.
They have beautiful beaches, clear water and of course, proper massage spas (not the brothel-type that I’ve seen before).
We were treated like royal at the Trou Aux Biches Resort and Spa.
The event, themed “Only the best” featured over 50 television and music celebrities who appear on various DStv and GOtv channels including BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment, E! Entertainment, Style, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Telemundo, Comedy Central, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, History Channel, Crime and Investigation, Africa Magic, Ebony Life TV, Channel O and SuperSport.
We had the chief executive of MultiChoice, Nico Meyer, IK, who has become the host of Big Brother, Jara presenters, Uti Nwachwuku and Helen Paul, top Ghanian actor, Majid Mitcheles, Nollywood producer, Mildred Okwo, actress, Rita Dominique, Mi Casa’s J Something, Africa Rising artistes, an initiative to unite Africa through music the likes of Davido, Tiwa Savage, Lola Rae, Sarkodie and Lola Rae. SuperSport’s marketing director Nomsa Mazibuko and marathon sensation Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich were present.
The showcase was also graced by BBC Entertainment celebrity chef Ed Baines who thrilled guests with his culinary skills, Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya, “Strictly Come Dancing” stars – Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor among others.
There were two comedians who featured at the Comedy Central show – South African Kagiso Legadi and Ugandan Salvador.
In his keynote address Meyer, said he was happy that MultiChoice Africa pioneered Pay TV on the continent and re-emphasised his commitment to ensuring that subscribers receive world class news and entertainment on DStv and GOtv services.
Tracing back to the last 20 years and as one of the first subscription television services outside of the United States, Meyer said, “We faced many hurdles, as a new company and we needed to build and develop credibility not only with the market in which we were offering services, but also with international channel suppliers and satellite companies. 20 years ago many people called us crazy!”
In 2013, the company saw the launch of 13 fantastic new channels on the DStv platform which include three M-Net Series Channels, M-Net Movies Zone, Fox, Ebony Life, Telemundo, Hip TV, Spice TV, CBS Action, CBS Drama, JimJam and MGM.
Furthermore, its launch of GOtv in 2011, a low cost digital television service using the latest generation Digital Video Broadcast standard represents the most advanced digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast system and infrastructure established in Africa to date and leapfrogs the out-dated T1 systems used by first movers in the Digital Migration process, putting Africa at the forefront of technology in the digital migration process.
“MultiChoice Africa remains committed to the digital migration process in Africa and will continue to work closely with governments and all stakeholders to ensure that this is a seamless platform, ensuring great family entertainment at affordable prices,” he said.
Alluding to the company’s latest innovations, the Explora, Catch Up and Box Office which significantly change the way subscribers experience and control their viewing, the CEO promised subscribers additional future technology to ensure that they have access to the best information and entertainment anytime, anywhere, on any devise.
MultiChoice Africa Limited (“MultiChoice Africa”) is an African pioneer of pay TV services in sub-Sahara Africa, having launched the first digital satellite service in the 1980s. MultiChoice Africa provides multi-channel multi-platform digital pay television services containing channels from Africa, America, China, India, Asia and Europe.
The company has over twenty years’ experience as a Pay TV operator in Africa, offering cutting-edge digital technology and a selection of DStv and GOtv bouquets containing premium television channels for subscribers in 50 African countries and the adjacent Indian Ocean islands. MultiChoice Africa provides its digital satellite television service – DStv – to subscribers’ homes from two different satellites, namely: the Intelsat 20 (“IS 20”) Ku BAND and Eutelsat 36B Ku Band. The GOtv offering is on a DTT (DVB-T2) network which was established in 2011 and currently covers eight countries.
This low cost mass market offering provides great family entertainment at a price everyone can afford.
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