DStv named 2025's most admired African media brand, earning Brand Africa Hall of Fame recognition. (Image source: DStv)

DStv has been named the #1 Most Admired African Media Brand in the 2025 edition of the Brand Africa 100 – Africa’s Best Brands rankings

In recognition of its longstanding impact and influence, the platform has also been inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame – an honour reserved for brands that have significantly elevated Africa’s presence and reputation on the global stage.

The announcement was made during a prestigious ceremony at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, attended by leaders and influencers from the African branding and media sectors.

Since its launch in 1995, DStv has grown from a digital satellite TV service into a dominant force in African entertainment. Its focus on innovation, investment in original African content, and commitment to representing authentic African narratives has reshaped how audiences across the continent experience television.

Calvo Mawela, group CEO of MultiChoice, expressed, "This honour reflects the incredible journey we’ve taken with our audiences across Africa. Being named Africa’s most admired media brand and joining the Brand Africa Hall of Fame is not just a celebration of where we’ve come from – it’s a reaffirmation of where we’re going. Our commitment to local storytelling, cultural authenticity, and innovation remains stronger than ever. We are proud to be a brand that not only entertains but uplifts and connects Africans through stories that matter."

Brand Africa 100 is the only independent, pan-African brand study of its kind. Conducted across more than 30 African countries, the survey accounts for over 85% of Africa’s population and GDP. With input from research organisations like GeoPoll, Kantar, Integrate, and Analysis, the ranking is based on over 150,000 brand mentions and nearly 6,000 unique brands, ensuring rigorous and unbiased results.

DStv’s Hall of Fame induction underscores its role not just as a broadcaster but as a cultural influencer. Through its support for African storytellers, production of local content, and emphasis on quality entertainment, DStv has become an integral player in the continent’s creative economy.

The platform also received this top honour in 2024, highlighting its ongoing relevance and deep connection with viewers across Africa. From its modest beginnings 30 years ago with 16 channels, DStv has grown into a comprehensive content leader, offering a broad portfolio of local and international programming, as well as integrated streaming services. Today, it reaches millions of African households, delivering a vibrant mix of entertainment that reflects the continent’s diversity and ambition.

ICASA awards Platinum North West TV CTBS and RFS licences, marking a milestone for community broadcasting and fostering local empowerment in South Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has finalised the licensing process for Community Television Broadcasting Service (CTBS) and Radio Frequency Spectrum (RFS) licences to facilitate community television broadcasting

Platinum North West TV NPC emerged as the successful applicant, receiving both CTBS and RFS licences. ICASA commended their achievement, highlighting it as a significant milestone that reflects their dedication to serving their community.

Of the 20 applications initially admitted to Phase 1 of the licensing process, only one met the pre-registration criteria and advanced to Phase 2. This phase was conducted in accordance with section 17 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005).

Community television holds a crucial role in South Africa by offering information, education, and entertainment. It fosters community development, empowerment, social cohesion, and cultural preservation through storytelling.

ICASA calls on the successful applicant to utilise this platform to serve South Africans and strengthen the community broadcasting sector. As ICASA Councillor Ntombiza Sithole, chairperson of the Committee on Television Broadcasting Services, said, “ICASA implore the successful applicant to use this vehicle to serve the people of South Africa and contribute to the prosperity of the community broadcasting sector.”

Sabelo Mwali, chief technology officer at MultiChoice. (Image source: MultiChoice)

TV innovation and consumer tastes drive a convergence of linear and OTT technology. MultiChoice chief technology officer Sabelo Mwali, says, streaming must be as seamless as the DTH experience for the gold standard

Television is undergoing a major transformation, moving from traditional linear, direct-to-home (DTH) content distribution to the over-the-top (OTT) or streaming model.

Embracing the OTT revolution 

OTT allows users the flexibility to watch content on any device, from any location, without being tied to a specific platform. This shift puts control in the hands of viewers, enabling them to decide what, when, and how much to watch. For large content providers, this is a clear advantage. At MultiChoice Africa, for example, on-demand streaming is an ideal way to offer our vast library of 84,000 hours of local content.

Innovating for enhanced experiences

However, the rise of streaming and OTT presents new challenges. With vast amounts of content available, viewers can feel overwhelmed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning can help resolve this by suggesting personalised content recommendations based on viewing habits.

For this to work seamlessly, UX design must be informed by AI insights to create a tailored and trend-aware content experience. Real-time audience data also makes it crucial for UX, product, and tech teams to collaborate closely. This is the foundation of MultiChoice’s continuous UI design improvements.

AI is also helping to make content more accessible by enabling translation. MultiChoice has developed AI-based solutions for subtitling in several regional languages. This technology has already been applied for Swahili translations on Showmax in Kenya and two local languages in Nigeria. The next phase involves using AI to automate audio dubbing in African languages, enhancing our existing regional language content.

As a pan-African content provider, MultiChoice understands the real data challenges many customers face. To address this, we've had to innovate to offer technological solutions that deliver value and efficiency.

Data compression is one method we've used to ease the burden. We’ve also partnered with others to cache content closer to key user regions. By creating nodes near these areas, we copy content from South Africa-based sources and relay it more efficiently to end-users.

Adaptive bit rates provide another solution to data challenges. This technology adjusts picture quality dynamically based on internet speed, ensuring uninterrupted streaming. Users can also choose their preferred bit rates and streaming quality to optimize data usage. Additionally, we've teamed up with African telcos to package our content with their data plans, further improving access.

Latency is another challenge, particularly during live events. Buffering can disrupt the experience, especially during power outages. To combat this, we’ve introduced a low-latency solution in partnership with others, aiming to achieve the same latency quality as DTH or linear satellite TV.

Our target was to lower the buffering rate below the industry standard of 0.72%, common in developed countries. We’ve succeeded in reducing it to an impressive 0.31% and expect further improvements. We're also refining our setup to ensure OTT platforms receive streams faster than satellite broadcasts, providing an edge in response times.

For streaming to truly rival traditional TV, it must match satellite’s quality. In terms of content delivery, there’s often a lag between DTH and streaming. In global studies, we found that streaming is generally 20 to 25 seconds slower than satellite. However, we’ve managed to cut that delay to just five seconds and are on track to reduce it further, placing African streaming services among the best worldwide.

Freevision Play, Sentech’s new streaming platform, offers a variety of video and audio channels free of charge to viewers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Sentech, the state-owned signal distributor, has introduced its over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platform with the debut of the presidential inauguration 

Named Freevision Play, the platform is accessible to all with an internet connection, usable via smartphones, tablets, and smart televisions.

Sentech highlights that the platform grants users access to live TV and radio channels, along with on-demand catch-up content, all without requiring subscription fees. The aim of this OTT streaming service is to meet the evolving preferences of modern consumers who favor digital and mobile-friendly solutions.

Kopano Thage, Sentech's executive of media business, remarked, "The launch of Freevision Play signifies a significant achievement in Sentech's efforts to promote universal access, enhancing digital connectivity and content availability in South Africa."

"We eagerly anticipate observing how Freevision Play will revolutionize media engagement and support the expansion of local broadcasters."