StarSat, On Digital Media's (ODM's) pay-TV offering - formerly known as TopTV - has announced the addition of 10 new channels to its line-up.
Current subscribers will be able to watch the new channels until the end of December 2013, when ODM will introduce new packages. Customers will then have the option of upgrading to a new package to continue watching.
Included in the line-up are Nat Geo Gold, Star Novela E1 and Star Novela E2, Star Bollywood and martial arts channel Star Kung-fu 1.
ODM says it hopes to have over 100 channels on StarSat by January next year, as new channels are phased in and added to subscriber packages.
TopTV relaunched as StarSat about a month ago, after ODM had undergone a year-long business rescue process that was concluded with the acquirement of a strategic equity partner, China-based StarTimes Communication Network.
The StarTimes group has an extensive African footprint, with over 2.5 million digital terrestrial TV subscribers across the continent. The company's main interest and activity is within the ambit of emerging television markets.
South African shareholders will retain the majority stake in the pay-TV platform, while StarTimes will have a 20% stake. The Chinese company recently signed a 10-year contract with satellite company SES - a move that will see its media footprint across Africa increasing over coming months.
StarTimes president Pang Xinxing says the company believes diversity in the broadcasting space is the ultimate consumer benefit. "Now South African viewers will have a wider choice of TV services to subscribe to."
The revamped bouquets will be supplemented by a standalone adult entertainment package, Playboy TV, which consists of three pornographic channels that will be broadcast during the watershed period of 8pm to 5am and will require a security pin number to access.
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