At the recently held Radio And Digital Sound Broadcasting Summit hosted by this platform, Sentech unveiled Freevision Play, an over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platform designed to grant South African residents free access to a variety of local TV and radio channels.
The state-owned signal distributor first unveiled its intentions for South Africans to stream television content online in April 2013, over ten years ago.
Freevision Play is accessible to all South African residents with an active Internet connection and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
To access the service, individuals can download the Freevision Play app from their respective app store or visit the Freevision Play website.
Sentech highlights that many of the country’s residents still encounter obstacles in accessing quality content and accurate information.
“Freevision Play tackles this challenge by utilizing broadband infrastructure to deliver free, high-quality content to all communities,” says Sentech.
“This platform empowers users with access to educational, informational, and entertainment content, thereby fostering learning and engagement across the nation.”
Furthermore, it will benefit local broadcasters by enabling them to reach a wider audience without incurring the high costs of building and maintaining their OTT platforms.
This can help them expand viewership and generate additional advertising revenue.
“Freevision Play takes care of the upfront investment costs,” says Sentech.
“It establishes a multi-tenant platform, offering viewers and listeners diverse choices while providing broadcasters with new audiences and viewers.”
It currently offers channels such as KZN TV, Cape Town TV, Soweto TV, Tshwane TV, Faith.tv, and a dedicated stream for the Presidential Inauguration.
The maximum viewing resolution varies per channel, with the Presidential Inauguration stream reaching a maximum of 1080p.
Channels such as Cape Town TV and Tshwane TV offer a maximum resolution of 576p.
It incorporates free ad-supported streaming TV channels, providing viewers with a flexible and accessible experience.
Sentech also provides Freevision, a direct-to-home satellite television service that necessitates a satellite and decoder for access.
“While Freevision emphasizes content delivery via satellite, Freevision Play utilizes internet connectivity to provide a more flexible and accessible viewing experience,” explains Sentech.
In April 2013, former Sentech CEO Setumo Mohapi revealed the company’s plans to launch an online streaming service for local content.
He indicated that the decision was based on an analysis of global trends, which the company aimed to follow to keep South Africa up to speed with the rest of the world.
