NewsDay Friday November 27 2015 M1
MultiChoice Zimbabwe
MultiChoice Zim help usher in the world of satellite TV to the mass market
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HE rapid growth and development of technology in the past half-century has created an amazing array of products and services for people all over the world. Among these is access to satellite broadcasting, which allows a person in his or her own home to link directly into every part of the world to gather information about every topic under the sun – as it happens. Now forgotten for many Zimbabweans, are the days when television meant black and white sets offering programming from about 5pm to 11pm. Today’s TV offering is so far removed from this scenario, that it is similar to comparing the technology of sea-going vessels from Roman times to the spacecraft that take astronauts into space and carry cameras to the furthest reaches of our solar system. Today’s television viewer expects instant access to news from across the world, as well as access to the widest possible amounts of information, education and entertainment possible. This is delivered 24/7 and is in full colour, high definition and of the best quality in terms of sound and photography. What happens in our ever-changing world is that, we quickly become accustomed to what is new and within a short space of time, we take it for granted and start to ponder on what is coming next, hoping for it to be even bigger and better. MultiChoice Zimbabwe helps bring access to this world of satellite technology to Zimbabweans, linking viewers in this country with the supplier of the DStv service, MultiChoice Africa. In doing this, MultiChoice Zimbabwe is the appointed and authorised representative of the MultiChoice organisation in the territory of Zimbabwe and it facilitates local viewers’ access to subscriptions and to the services and products that relate to the overall DStv service. Back in the early 1990s, a sister company of the current MultiChoice Zimbabwe had the exclusive M-Net /MultiChoice agency for Zimbabwe. At that time, the broadcast signal was on C Band and viewers needed a 4m to 6m dish to obtain the satellite signal. Subscriber numbers were limited because of the cost of the equipment. In the mid-1990s, Skynet (Pvt) Ltd trading as Multichoice Zimbabwe, was registered and appointed as the franchise holder for MultiChoice Africa in Zimbabwe – the first franchise holder appointed in Africa. In the same year, the Ku Band became available and this made it possible to view the satellite programming with a smaller dish, this was the 1,2m dish and it helped reduce the cost for equipment. The launch of the Pas 7 satellite in 1998 allowed the use of a 90cm dish, which is now the norm. Decoders also became cheaper, helping widen the subscriber base through affordability. Skynet is a Zimbabwean company and, as such, pays all the required taxes to the State, which benefits the country. Over the years, the staff complement has grown to 160, spreading across four branches in the country – at PaSangano building in Avondale and at Joina City, both in Harare, as well as branches in Mutare and Bulawayo. There are also a number of MultiChoice accredited installers and agents, who complement the branch network with related services. Anyone wishing to make use of these suppliers services can obtain them from MultiChoice, where a full list of authorised and acceptable suppliers is available, so that viewers do not go in the direction of unauthorised, self-appointed “service providers”, whose work and ethics cannot be guaranteed. As MultiChoice Zimbabwe celebrates its 20th anniversary, it acknowledges the support it has had from all stakeholders, especially from custom-
ers, regulatory authorities, payment partners and thanks them for their co-operation.
DStv Avondale Customer Care Centre