Chinese firm StarTimes has purchased a stake in troubled South African satellite television provider TopTV, expanding its reach and potential status as gatekeeper…
When it comes to making a name for itself, South African satellite TV provider TopTV, hasn’t managed to get much right.
The three year old company owned by On Digital Media has been plagued with everything from poor customer service ratings, to disappearing channels, to a set top box that appeared to be vaporware. In short, it hasn’t had much a chance against the dominant player, DSTV (aka MultiChoice).
The good news for TopTV is that it’s very early in the pay tv game in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a potential White Knight has arrived in the form of Chinese digital television (DTT) provider StarTimes.
StarTimes has purchased the 20% stake in TopTV previously owned by Luxembourg-based satellite owner/operator SES.
Pending regulatory approval in South Africa, TopTV will be re-branded as StarSat and will present a bouquet of as many as 90 channels plus forthcoming HD offerings.
The deal also puts StarTimes in the direct-to-home satellite game, with potential to add significantly to the reported 2.6 million subscribers it already has via DTT – half of those in Nigeria.
If StarSat fortunes can be turned around, the Chinese would be securing a solid footprint for their own content, and although the 20% stake is currently small, potentially wield gatekeeper influence over what is carried on the bouquet.
