MultiChoice and Pace Bring New Digital TV Options to Africa

SALTAIRE, England, September 7, 2011 -

- First DVB-T2 digital terrestrial set-top box for Sub-Saharan Africa brings new digital TV services to the mass-market

Pace plc today announced that it has been selected by MultiChoice Africa to support MultiChoice’s launch of its GOtv offering, which is bringing digital TV services to terrestrial subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The GOtv service is being delivered to customers via Pace’s next generation set-top boxes, capable of receiving DVB-T2 standard transmissions. The new set-top box is the first to deliver the latest digital terrestrial television into Sub-Saharan African homes, increasing consumers’ service reliability and content choice, and making digital TV a mass-market reality for the first time.

The DVB-T2 set-top box gives terrestrial television viewers the ability to receive more channels, will provide reliable and better quality television service to viewers across Sub-Saharan Africa, and will ensure a better service reception level. The device will also enable new services including Electronic Programme Guides (EPGs) and multi-language features.

The launch of the DVB-T2 set-top box supports the migration of analogue to digital terrestrial transmission and will enable the attainment of analogue switch off scheduled for 2015. The DVB-T2 infrastructure will also provide a platform for operators to further develop their services in the future. The new generation of Pace set-top boxes has supported the launch of GOtv in Lusaka, Zambia in June and Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda in August, with further market launches planned by MultiChoice over the coming months.

Pace, a leading developer of technologies, products and services for global broadband and broadcast markets, has a strong heritage in the creation and supply of DVB-T2 technology. In 2008, Pace developed the first set-top box prototype capable of receiving and displaying T2 content, and in May 2010 introduced the first DVB-T2 PVR set-top boxes to the UK market with Freeview HD. Pace also played a central role in drafting the DVB-T2 global standard, and helped to update the UK’s D-book technical specification to include the T2 standard.

Shane McCarthy, General Manager at Pace, comments: “As a pioneer in DVB-T2 technology and a long-time partner to MultiChoice, Pace has both the technical knowledge and the local market understanding to deliver the most effective next generation service to MultiChoice and its subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This launch is a critical step in bringing digital TV services into thousands more homes in this region and we’re delighted to help drive this change.”

Collins Khumalo, President of MultiChoice Africa added: “We’re really excited about the launch of DVB-T2 transmissions and the opportunity it offers us to provide a greater variety of programming to our subscribers through a more reliable broadcasting system. Pace’s history in DVB-T2 technology makes it the perfect partner to deliver this.”

About Pace

Pace (LSE: PIC) creates technologies, software, hardware and services for the broadcast and broadband industries.  Pace solutions empower cable, telco and satellite operators to simply and cost-effectively innovate at the speed they want, in the way they want for their subscribers.  Pace has built up its experience and expertise over 25 years and this is recognized by a customer base of over 160 operators around the globe.

Headquartered in the UK, Pace operates in markets across the world, and employs around 2300 people in locations that also include the USA, France, India and China.  For more information on Pace, please visit www.pace.com.

About MultiChoice Africa

MultiChoice Africa Limited (”MultiChoice Africa”) is an African pioneer of pay TV services in sub-Sahara Africa, having launched the first digital satellite service in the 1980s.  The company is registered in Mauritius, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Naspers Group. MultiChoice Africa provides multi-channel digital pay television services containing channels from Africa, America, China, India, Asia and Europe. The company has over twenty years experience as a Pay TV operator in Africa, offering cutting-edge digital technology and a selection of DStv and GOtv bouquets containing premium television channels for subscribers in 47 African countries and the adjacent Indian Ocean islands.

MultiChoice Africa provides its digital satellite television service - DStv - to subscribers’ homes from two different satellites, namely: the Intelsat 7 (”IS 7″) Ku BAND and Eutelsat W7 (”W7″) Ku Band. MultiChoice also provides DTT services under the brand name GOtv in Zambia and Uganda, and is rolling this infrastructure out to other countries.

MultiChoice Africa provides dynamic technology platforms and assembles a range of bouquets built around compelling news, as well as premium movies, documentaries and sports channels for subscribers. Our mission is to constantly be at the cutting edge of new technology that enables subscribers to enjoy the very best home television experience.  

For Pace: Lucy Houghton, Lucy.houghton at chameleonpr.com, +44-(0)-207-680-5500; or For MultiChoice: Head: Corporate Affairs, Caroline Creasy, caroline.creasy at multichoice.co.za, +27-11-289-3081