For those of you that are interested in giving the digital terrestrial pilot a go you might be wondering what digital TV channels are available for the test phase in South Africa. Currently the following channels are available leading up to the digital switchover in South Africa. This list includes the DVB-T and DAB digital radio channels and is obviously subject to a lot of change since it is a pilot.
The following digital channels are available via DVB-T and are currently not encrypted but that may change closer to the launch. DSTV also has an encrypted DVB-T bouquet live and testing but I won’t list those channels here but you can expect the regular mix and this stage MNET & Supersport from the premium selections.
To replace the existing analogue television;
SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, eTV
New channels available on Digital TV;
eClassics, SABC Sport, SABC Movies (I have picked up another SABC channel as well but signal is poor)
If anything at least there will be a little more variety for people without PayTV assuming all these channels will remain FTA at launch.
Looking at Digital Radio (DAB) it seems that most of the existing stations will be available via the digital terrestrial transmission and I suspect that the rest will follow in the next few months.
DAB – South Africa;
Radio 2000, Metro FM, RSG, Channel Africa, Good Hope, Lotus FM, Lesedi FM, SAFM, Ukhozi FM, 5FM, Umhlob Wenene FM, Phalaphala FM, Thobela FM
It seems that if anything we will see a few extra channels available in South Africa which is long overdue.