Through its new division, Telkom Media, fixed-line operator Telkom is gearing up for the launch of it planned television services - set to be broadcast over the Internet Protocol.
This would be a first for SA, but remains contingent upon Telkom Media being awarded a broadcast licence from the regulator - which seems likely to happen sometime later this year.
In a recent press statement, Telkom Media says it will hold an exclusive media demonstration (closed to the public) of its Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and other service offerings, at its offices on 20 April.
"The consortium - comprising Telkom, Anant Singh's Videovision, Women's Development Bank and MSG Afrika Media - is investing R7 billion in setting up a subscription TV service aimed at the mass market, as well as several multi-platform technologies such as IPTV and video on-demand," reads the statement.
Telkom Media says its planned subscription TV bouquet will bring pay-TV "within the realistic price range of nearly 40% of South African audiences".
The television offerings will include a 24-hour news station, headed up by Jimi Matthews (formerly of etv and the SABC), as well as channels devoted to sports, movies, music, education and home shopping.
Telkom, in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent and Microsoft, has been testing IPTV for over a year at its head office in Pretoria.
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