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.

On Digital Media
StarSat
TopTV (previously)
Company typePublic
IndustrySatellite television
Founded1 May 2010; 14 years ago (2010-05-01)
HeadquartersBlock C, Riverview Office Park, Halfway Gardens x, 100 Bekker Road, ,
ProductsDirect broadcast satellite, Pay-TV
ParentStarTimes
Websitewww.starsat.co.za

History

edit
 
Previous logo as TopTV

On Digital Media (Pty) Ltd launched TopTV on 1 May 2010.[2]

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.[5] The vote also included adoption of a business rescue plan.[1]

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

On 2 October 2024, The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has been raid on premises on StarSat to unplug it stations, ICASA and law enforcement, who confiscated essential broadcasting equipment of StarSat was unlawful. Due to the expired license agreement in July 2023. The broadcaster promised to challenge the action in court, but ICASA spokesperson Zanele Ntuli clarified that the regulator was unaware of official filings.[7]

Broadcast and reception

edit

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.[8] 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.

Channels

edit

Channels from the Satellite DTH consists of seven packages Nova and Smart and Super and Special and French and Chinese some country have Global

ST GUIDE FRENCH - Channel Number: 002

ST GUIDE ENGLISH - Channel Number: 99

ST MOVIES PLUS - Channel Number: 100

ST MOVIES - Channel Number: 101

ST NOLLYWOOD PLUS - Channel Number: 102

ST RISE - Channel Number: 120

ST NOVELA E W - Channel Number: 127

ST NOVELA E - Channel Number: 127

ST NOVELA E PLUS - Channel Number: 128

ST ZONE - Channel Number: 129

ST SINO DRAMA - Channel Number: 130

ST KUNGFU - Channel Number: 155

ST REMBO PLUS - Channel Number: 166

ST NOLLYWOOD - Channel Number: 131

ST SPORTS FOCUS - Channel Number: 240

ST SPORTS ARENA - Channel Number: 241

ST SPORTS LIFE - Channel Number: 243

ST BETA SPORTS - Channel Number: 244

ST WORLD FOOTBALL - Channel Number: 245

ST SPORTS PREMIUM - Channel Number: 246

ST ADEPA - Channel Number: 247

ST KIDS - Channel Number: 300

ST TOONS - Channel Number: 310

ST KIDS PLUS - Channel Number: 311

ST RnB - Channel Number: 321

ST KASI MUSIC - Channel Number: 322

ST NAIJA - Channel Number: 324

ST GOSPEL - Channel Number: 360

ST SWAHILI - Channel Number: 400

ST BONGO - Channel Number: 401

ST SWAHILI PLUS - Channel Number: 402

ST DADIN KOWA - Channel Number: 404

ST YORÙBÁ - Channel Number: 412

ST GANZA - Channel Number: 460

ST REMBO - Channel Number: 484

ST MAKULA - Channel Number: 492

ST MAKULA KIKA - Channel Number: 493

ST AM'MOBI - Channel Number: 527

ST AFRIK - Channel Number: 612

ST NOVELA F PLUS - Channel Number: 615

ST NOLLYWOOD F - Channel Number: 616

ST NOVELA F - Channel Number: 617

ST CHINESE HOMELAND - Channel Number: 800

ST NOVELA P - Channel Number: 881

ST MANIA - Channel Number: 957

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Goodbye TopTV, Hello StarSat" (Press release). TVSA. October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "TopTV Launch - Rise Up South Africa!" (Press release). On Digital Media. 29 April 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "On Digital Media website". Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  4. ^ de Lanerolle, Indra (2011). "Convergence and regulation in South Africa: in search of a new public interest paradigm". info. 13 (3): 47–63.
  5. ^ a b "More delays in store for TopTV as shareholders head to court". City Press. 22 October 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  6. ^ "About Us". StarSat. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  7. ^ "ICASA denies knowledge of StarSat's legal action following forced shutdown". Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Astra 4A". SES. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
edit