About Us
We entertain, inform and empower the communities that inspire and build us in return
Since 1995, MultiChoice has been quietly getting on with the business of bringing you world-class entertainment. But more importantly, we’ve taken to heart the responsibility of uplifting our communities and our country. Take a scroll down memory lane and see how far our business has come.
South African media company Naspers (along with several other South African media businesses) forms a pay television company called M-Net.
SuperSport starts as a small offering on M-Net.
M-Net, the home of magic, sees its popularity soar after 1988 when multi-award-winning actuality show Carte Blanche grace our screens.
In the late Eighties, M-Net embarks on an expansion drive beyond South Africa.
M-Net launches their analogue service to more than 20 countries throughout the African continent. Due to highly diverse operating environments within each country, M-Net forms joint partnerships with local businesses to ensure customer needs are met appropriately.
SuperSport experiences a growth in popularity. They become the “Channel of Champions”.
SuperSport becomes a 12-hour-a-day channel, and is beamed throughout Africa.
M-Net divides its operations and MultiChoice is formed to oversee subscriber management, signal distribution and cellphone operations – M-Net continues to deal with the delivery of entertainment channels.
MultiChoice Africa establish offices in Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe with franchises in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique. By this stage, SuperSport becomes a 24-hour-a-day channel.
MultiChoice introduces digital technology to the continent with the launch of DStv. This satellite service is one of the first to exist outside of the United States and allows MultiChoice to reach even remote regions while delivering exceptional quality.
As MultiChoice is operating in a digital realm (and increasingly so as the years go on), security becomes paramount. This task falls to Irdeto, a company focused on protecting digital platforms and applications for media and entertainment, games, connected transport and IoT connected industries.
MIH purchases 49% in Irdeto in early 1997, and the rest is acquired later that year.
MultiChoice launches its first PVR (Personal Video Recorder) decoder. Not only is it the first PVR device to come out of Africa, it’s also the first dual-view PVR in the world.
DStv Catch Up – a video-on-demand service that lets subscribers watch anything from series to kids’ shows, documentaries, sports highlights and movies – is launched. The app also lets users watch what they want, when they want; even while away from home.
Digital becomes the playing field of modern entertainment which leads to MultiChoice launching GOtv in 2011. This digital terrestrial television platform brings affordable entertainment to customers across 11 countries throughout the continent.
BoxOffice is introduced, which lets DStv and non-DStv customers rent the hottest movies – either at home or on the move. Content can be viewed on a PVR, streamed directly from the dedicated website or via the DStv Desktop Player.
The DStv Explora – a flagship PVR, and winner of the Most Innovative Product of the Year award in 2015 – gets launched.
The DStv Now app is released. It lets customers enjoy their favourite TV channels on the go – on a tablet or smartphone; anywhere, any time.
Showmax, an internet-TV service, is introduced to the market and soon expands to 70 countries. Showmax allows customers to stream content through their decoder, via web browsers, or by using apps for smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, media players as well as gaming consoles – all for a single monthly fee.
Announced the launch of the new DStv Explora, an updated version of the Explora decoder.
To ensure customers do not miss any of their favourite shows, enhanced the DStv Catch Up offering.
We boosted the connected experience by launching our 1 000 movie catalogue on DStv Catch Up Plus, giving connected subscribers access to 1 000 movies and integrating Showmax on the Explora.
Subscriber growth: More than 500,000 new customers were added which saw us approach the 7 million mark 2018.
Our online properties are gaining traction, and to increase access to DStv Now we have opened it to all bouquet tiers including offering Showmax to our Premium tier at no extra charge.
Launched a new model of the DStv HD Decoder 6-series.
The new model has the same user-friendly functionalities as the HD Decoder 5-series. While DStv’s new decoder retained most of the features of its predecessor, there are a few differences.
MultiChoice Group Limited (MCG) today listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The listed MCG includes MultiChoice South Africa (MCSA),
MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH), Showmax, as well as the global digital platform security provider Irdeto, and all their subsidiaries and affiliates (MultiChoice Group).
Dr. Irvin Khoza and MultiChoice announced on live television that the new sponsor would be DStv, effectively rebranding the league as the DStv Premiership.
We acquired a 20% stake in Nigerian online sports betting company KingMakers as part of the expansion of our entertainment ecosystem.
We launched the new DStv Explora Ultra decoder, which offers DStv subscribers access to video streaming services Netflix and Showmax.
Enhanced our digital customer service through an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, called The Ultimate Master of Information, or T.U.M.I, this innovative service is available 24/7 to answer customer queries about products and services.
We increased our share in Kingmakers to 49% in line with launching the BetKing platform to our South African customers.
In a bid to get more South African homes connected, we launched DStv Internet to provide internet access to those who do not have access to fibre services.
Officially announced that we are a member of the Global Alliance Membership of The Earthshot Prize, which includes non-profit and international organizations committed to the environment and sustainable development.
Announced that we will bring Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, Disney+, to DStv subscribers in South Africa.
Launched The DStv Streama, a compact streaming box that supports 4K video with HDR 10 and Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound.
MultiChoice Group, Rapyd and General Catalyst announced a joint venture aimed at developing an integrated payment platform for Africa. The joint venture now operates under a new company, called Moment.
A Partnership that offers growth opportunities in Africa, building on MultiChoice’s footprint across 50 markets, its excellent execution track record on the continent, and the successful Showmax brand.
Announced the launch of DStv Stream: Our new improved home of entertainment. The all-inclusive entertainment platform will continue to bring customers the best sport, local and international content, anywhere.
