ovy running test transmission on eutelsat 7b 10804h 30000
Ovy Network is gearing itself to becoming the
second TV channel to take on other operators
head-on in Botswana and the region. According
to George Kavwenje, the Group CEO for Ovy
Network, his organisation will soon be operating
pay TV in Zambia and Malawi, but would offer
free view for Botswana viewers. This new project
was mooted in 2014 and will be put to trial on
the 17th of August 2015.
We are starting trials in August and then we go
commercial services on the 17th of October. We
will be facing a satellite called E7B and with this,
you will be able to receive signals at 7 degrees
east, explained Kavwenje. He added that they
have so far acquired a full transponder from
EutelSat which will enable them to carry 40 SD
channels.
These will be available in Botswana and all the
other countries. He said in order to be able to
carry out the trials; they have to satisfy the
relevant regulatory requirements. We have
satisfied the local Botswana Communications
and Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) for the set-
top-box (decoders) for this country and our
decoder is very dynamic in that it is a PVR which
enables you to watch satellite, DDT all in one.
Recently, OVY Network and Filmbox International
which is a unit of SPI International Group have
entered into a distribution contract. As per the
deal, eight channels from FilmBox will be
distributed across Africa through OVYtv in Ghana,
Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South
Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The channels include two movie channels,
FilmBox Africa and FilmBox Arthouse; FightBox,
a martial arts channel; FastnFunBox, sports
channel; DocuBox, a documentary channel;
FashionBox, fashion channel; 360TuneBox, a
music channel; and MadscreenBox, a live,
interactive game channel with family-oriented
entertainment. We are excited to expand our
footprint in Africa, said Berk Uziyel, Executive
Director for Filmbox International.
So far our channels have been performing very
well throughout the region. This is why our
partner OVY Network decided to carry eight of
them on its OVYtv platform in multiple
territories, Uziyel added. OVY Network is a
world-class Telecoms and Media Broadcast
provider of comprehensive delivery, production,
content management and end-to-end
transmission services to TV, radio and data
channels using its extensive integrated worldwide
satellite, fiber and Internet communications
network.
OVY Network is the world-class leading
independent data, voice and IP provider in
Southern Africa with offices in South Africa and
headquartered in Botswana.
It supplies fibre optic, satellite and international
carrier services to Africas mobile network
operators, ISPs and businesses of all sizes.
Through it other subsidiaries, it also provides TV
channels services through satellite, Direct To
Home(DTH), Internet Services, Data and Voice,
and has a Content generation company, satellite
company as well as award winning data storage
and communication solutions to businesses in
Botswana, South Africa and across Africa and
beyond. Put simply, connecting Africa.