Cell phone giant enters broadcasting and multimedia

Johannesburg - “With cell phone penetration in South Africa at over 80%, Vodacom is constantly looking for opportunities to expand its growth horizontally in the market,” said Alan Knott-Craig, chief executive officer of the Vodacom Group.

“With 23 million customers in South Africa, we have the distribution and marketing know-how that could lead to more significant growth in the satellite pay-TV market,” says Knott-Craig.

He went on to add that with fewer than 10 million TV sets and fewer than 2 million satellite pay-TV subscribers in South Africa, the company can expect strong growth as it is said to offer the most affordable satellite pay-TV so far available.

“We already have 33 000 mobile TV users who can choose from 22 channels on Vodafone live! cell phones, in addition, we are currently piloting more than 17 channels across digital video broadcast to handset technology together with MultiChoice.“

With DStv Select only from Vodacom, Vodacom and non-Vodacom customers have a choice between two exciting DStv Select bouquets, each offering a variety of the latest entertainment, news, sports, movies, documentaries and music channels.

“For the first time, South Africans will be able to subscribe to satellite pay-TV for as little as R139 per month and choose one of the two DStv Select bouquets of channels they'd like to view. We expect to attract many customers who will enjoy the variety of more than four channels, but can now afford it for the first time,” Knott-Craig said.

In addition to being affordable, the DStv Select bouquets offer up to 16 channels including SABC 1,2,3 and e.TV – one technology (free-to-air), easy to use, ensuring convenient and hassle free access to TV entertainment.

Customers can visit any participating Vodacom outlet to view the latest DStv Select deals available from Vodacom. For more information, go to www.vodacom.co.za or call 1082, free from a Vodacom cell phone, or 082 1082 free from any other phone.

See also: (Source:http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2884&iArticleId=3498065)