Choice is finally here when it comes to Pay TV in South Africa. Today Top TV has been launched. For the first time in history South Africans will have a choice of 2 different Pay TV providers. Multichoice has been dominating the Satellite TV market in South Africa since the launch of the DSTV Pay TV service in 1995. 15 years later and we finally have the choice of another provider in South Africa. This is a good thing (choice always is). Top TV’s cheapest package is available for only R99 per month. Various packages with monthly subscription costs between R99 and R249 per month are available for Top TV. The decoder, dish and installation cost for Top TV is said to be R499 (significantly cheaper than DSTV).
The Top TV R99 package includes Top One, Top Gospel, God TV, Inspiration, Zee Cinema, Hi Nolly, MGM, BBC World, Fox News, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, France 24, Current TV, Setanta Africa, Eurosport News+, SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3, eTV, Mindset Learn, RTPi, Fashion TV, Fine Living Network and Music Choice (Audio).
The full R249 package includes all the channels listed for the R99 package, Top Junior, Jim Jam, Baby TV, KidsCo, Nigezie, Fuel, Kiss, Kerrang, Q, Magic, Smash Hits, C Music, Classica, Top Explore, Top History, Natura, Discovery Science, Discovery ID, Star, Fox Entertainment, Fox Retro, Top Crime, BET, Top Movies, Top Movies 2, Top Movies 24, Fox FX, Silver and Showtime. The packages priced between R159 and r220 per month include the channels in the R99 package and a combination of this channels listed in this paragraph.
The cool thing thing about Top TV is that their top package (which has 55 channels in total) is only R249 p/m (less than half the price Multichoice charges for DSTV Premium). The sad thing about Top TV is that they don’t have a deal with Multichoice to broadcast media from Supersport. I’d say that Top TV lacks a bit in the Sport department and most South African (like me) love their Rugby, Cricket and Football, so they might need to improve on that. South African Rock fans can look forward to having access to Kerrang (which plays modern rock and alternative videos 24 hours a day) and Q (which plays Indie music 24 hours a day).
Yesterday Multichoice launched the DSTV Lite service (for R99 per month). They’ve also increased the amount of channels for their Select 1, Select 2 and Compact DSTV packages to compete with Top TV. Both the Select 1 and Select 2 DSTV packages now have 8 more video channels and DSTV Compact has 4 more video channels. Unfortunately the monthly subscription for the DSTV Premium package (the only DSTV package which includes M-Net and Supersport 1) remains unchanged at R529 per month. It’s just too much to pay for the right to watch Supersport 1 and M-Net in my opinion. Multichoice should gives subscribers the option to choose which channels they want on DSTV.
Let’s hope that Top TV delivers what they are promising and that they don’t have to deal with a ton of dissatisfied subscribers. I for one might be trying this service out, although I wish that Multichoice decides to sever their Sport channels into a separate affordable DSTV package so it would be economical to combine both Top TV and DSTV at home. A boy can dream after all. Feel free to comment on this post if you have an opinion about this.
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The best kept secret in SA. How do you expect people to know about a new service if it’s not advertised.
Where are the outlets for the decoders and who is going to install the antennae?
Ray: I could not find any details of that. You might want to check out there website – http://www.toptv.co.za for contact details – there are e-mail addresses listed under the Contact Us tab there, but no phone numbers.
The nr is 086 008 6788 and all the units got sold out already, lines are so congested no one can get through, been trying since Saturday morning :/ Not my idea of fun
Lizna´s last blog ..FrontPage
Lizna: Thank you for the update
I think Top TV is a good offering. Judging from DStv’s reaction to Top TV’s launch (offering a Lite package [DStv] – i.e. R99 for a bouquet with virtually no real attractive content i.e. TCM, Zone Reality, Channel O and SS Action) compared to Top’s MGM, Top One, Setanta, Eurosport, and Music Choice, I think Top is ahead. As a sports fan I would go for the Setanta option as oppossed to SS Action since there is no guarantee what you would be getting on SS Action anyway. MGM movies (Top TV) over TCM movies (DStv). And I think Top One would be interesting. For R99, I would got for a more complete bouquet and right now it seems Top is on top in this bracket. As for the R249 (Top TV full bouquet) vs R232 (DStv Compact)? I think if you are not a sports fan, go for Top TV. If you are a sports fan (like me), stick with DStv. So, in effect, DStv looses the R99 war, while it wins in the sport element. Perhaps one would go with a combination of the two companies’ offers. Either way, Top TV is a welcome introduction to the SA market. Good luck guys. I’m in.
Zhanje: Thank you for your comment. It sounds very tempting if you ask me
Might try it out my self 
Have you got a Supersport channel?
Priscilla: No Supersport channels are on Top TV. Check their packages. They don’t have a deal with Multichoice about that. Hopefully they will have in the near future.
Well done TOP TV! More channels on DSTV most probably means more junk and more repeats of which I think we are all sick and tired. Bye DSTV!
Jake: Thank you for your comment
I am in Pretoria, where do i register or pay for my Top TV. Where are your offices in Pretoria?
Sonnyboy: This is not the Top TV official website. Unfortunately I do not have the answer to your question.
Hi I recently bought a toptv decoder. I was issued with this number 0860086788 to call for installation and to access services. Since the day tried to call, I have not got assistance and every time the consultants are not available to attend my query. Is there any other alternative as we are using cellular phones to call and very much expensive?
urgently in need for assistance.
Regards,
Gloria
Gloria: Unfortunately I’m not an employee of the company, but you might find alternate contact details on the Top TV website.
Please advise: For the past 6 weeks we’ve been trying to get assistance, but we didn’t get any. We’ve bought a decoder for Top TV and got a person to install it but it didn’t work. We just get this lock that we’ve not opened as yet. What is the problem? Customer No: 036179. Please help!!
Mbali: Contact them. Try posting a complaint on Hello Peter: http://www.hellopeter.com. I’m not an employee of the company.
Hi All
I bought my toptv last Saturday. Phoned the install guy on Monday, got an installation appointment for Thursday.
Sms toptv Wednesday. Installer arrived 10h30 Thursday, left 12h00 (installation completed). Toptv called around 12h45 (due to sms I send the Wednesday). Ask my details, 10 min later my toptv were on.
Got DSTV premium as well as TopTV now. Will still have to see if one must go.
Presently, I’m a very happy customer.
pls can give the no of the sms and on line to talk to the operator
Where can I get Top TV in Pietermaritzburg in KZN?
Bongiwe: I’m not an employee of this company. Contact them and ask them. Thank you.
Got my Top TV installed, but it plays some days and at times there is only sound coming out of a black screen. Now its silent with no picture.
Can I watch the Ellen De Generes show on Top TV?
kk: Unfortunately I’m unsure of this. I’m not sure if they’ve finally updated their program guide on the website. Maybe check with Top TV
Th!s Toptv sounds tempting i’m th!nking of getting one but after reading the peoples’ comments damn it’s now tricky. lets give it a benefit of a doubt. despite the comments saying Toptv doesn’t offer assistance on installation let me just go for it.
hello everyone my name is Aron i have a toptv for 3 months now but still not installed pls if u know anyone who might help to install for me i might give 50 rand just to say thanks for ure jenorosity im really trying to call but they keep me holding i dont know for how long do they want me to spend my airtime on them coz this is really boring so i will be glad if u can sms me the reall numbers or a person u know working there or who installed it for u on this no 0765691793 anytime pls my phone is always on pls i beg u guys peace
Aron: Check on the Top TV website for contact details.
Hi Aron: For Durban installations you can contact Rocky on 084 3895524.
Most of these channels repeat most of the programs. They have played for a whole month. Please guys its boring to watch one and the same thing. Its our money that we are paying here or they must add a Black American Movie Channel if they don’t know what to play.
Top TV sounds okay but also risky.. If they had the sport channels I’d definitely take it but sadly the fat cats at Multichoice dont seem to budge.
I think it’s silly that one HAS to get m-net to get DSTV. I hardly watch m-net and it makes up for more than half of the entire DSTV package!!
Why must we all be inconvenienced because of a lousy deal made by Multichoice? I mean, we are the ones who are paying for what we are watching, we should have a more flexible choice of what we’d like. I think after all these years of ripping us off they owe it to us at the very least.
Is Top TV better than DSTV?
Ntokozo: Unfortunately I’m not sure
To whom it may concern
How do we get hold of you regarding the proposals/commissioning of the contents?
OneJohn5FourMedia: Contact the Top TV company via their website
I agree that its tempting. Since I dont have a DSTV i might as well buy Top TV. I am not a sports fan and is affordable for people who are not earning much, like us
Where can we find a provider nearest to hermanus?
Petro: Check with Top TV.
Do you have Nigerian movies channel on Top TV? What do you call that channel? It sounds interesting.
Marcia K: I’m not sure about that. Please check with Top TV. I’m not an employee of them
I want someone to challenge DSTV, or DSTV to have more individualised choices. Top TV? – Top TV I was excited, but sorry I enjoy watching my rugby!
I would like to see a system in which one is charged for individual channels. The customer could then
select which channels they want in their personal bouquet. It should surely be possible to weight the cost of the programmes, so that eg news and sport may be more expensive than cartoons and movies. I think most of us watch only a select number of channels and I certainly cannot find a bouquet that includes what I watch yet I probably only watch a maximum of 20 channels, and most often less than 10 channels, and I dont believe I am unique.
We are being forced to pay the higher rates to be able to watch world news, sport and a few other select programmes.
For years I have been warning Thabo Moabi, the General Manager – Operations of Multichoice, that his dis-organisation would someday come up against better-priced Television providers. With the advent of TopTV it was thought that Thabo’s come-uppance had arrived, but sadly the initial offering will not appeal to the majority of the viewing public, as there is a serious lack of Sport, which this country thrives on. However, should this be addressed, and with alacrity, the new TopTV could pose a threat to the arrogant and much over-priced DSTV/Multichoice monopoly. Once the absence of Sport is filled and TopTV maintains its cheaper prices, DSTV could come a cropper!!!! And it would then not have happened to a better provider!!!!
Roll on that glorious day!!!!
Hi there, just wanted to know if theres any bussines opportiunies within the Top TV group. Thank you Kindly. Keevin Peters
0824403276
Keevin: You should try contact them directly, however hard it may seem
Ref: 292647
I received a phone call Friday re installation of monitor from Martin Botha. Phoned again this morning to say that it would cost me R400 on top of what you pay him for installation. When I first contacted you I was told that it would not cost me any extra as you had someone who installed between Malmsbury and Citrusdal which included Piketberg. I live on Piketberg Mountain which is 17kms from Piketberg. Understand the circumstances I shall be returning my monitor to PEP Stores in Piketberg.
Mrs Watson: I’m not an employee of Top TV. Please contact them for assistance.
hey guys…as we all know there will always be a few things to iron out when it comes to a new service or product for that matter…i say let time heal the problems with top tv be patient and i think well soon see top tv kicking into gear…
im def backing top tv seeing that i worked as an tech for many years for multichoice agents and i have first hand experience when it comes to customers and their frustrations..i can see top tv will do just fine once the little things have been dealt with.
I have experienced the worst service on toptv , i have acncelled my subscription on the 19th july 2010 but they have still not cancelled it and they debited my account , the programmes are so old and not worth watching , we used to watch all these films years ago for free on the other channels.Please upgrade your service.