Company History

MultiChoice Africa was one of the first pay-TV operations to launch outside the United States of America. It all began in South Africa in 1986 when M-Net was founded as one of the first two subscription television services outside of the United States. At this stage, MultiChoice was incorporated to provide subscriber management services for M-Net.

Slightly more than ten years ago - pre-1993 - MultiChoice was the subscriptions management department of M-Net, the company which introduced pay-television to South Africa in 1986.

In the early 90s, while conventional wisdom was that one could make a good business from analogue technology, MultiChoice literally bet the bank on the idea that digital technology was the future of broadcasting in Africa. In 1995, MultiChoice launched its premium DStv bouquet on a newly-constructed digital platform, which has grown to cover nearly 50 countries in Africa and adjacent Indian Ocean islands, offering a range of pay-television services with a variety of language options as well as enhanced television.

• 1986: Africa’s first pay-television station, M-Net, is founded. The subscriber management division (to later become MultiChoice Africa) plays a crucial role in its early success.
  
• 1990: M-Net lists on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
  
• 1992: MultiChoice Africa’s involvement in the African continent begins with the launch of an analogue service, which is launched via satellite to more than 20 African countries.
  
• 1993: MultiChoice is formed when the customer service division splits from M-Net. The two companies continue to trade as a linked unit of the JSE for the next two years as M-Net and MultiChoice Ltd.
  MultiChoice Africa establishes its first joint venture in Namibia.
  
• 1995: Digital Satellite TV services are launched across Africa with an enhanced channel offering.
  Start of Greek TV platform (MultiChoice Hellas)
  M-Net and MultiChoice de-link.
  
• 1996: MultiChoice changes its name to MIH Holdings
  
• 1997: MIH expands into Thailand and invests in OpenTV – a worldwide supplier of operating systems for interactive television.
  
• 1999: MIH global expansion continues with the launch of a Direct-to Home (DTH) trial system in China through Mindport technology.
  Increased ownership of OpenTV to 80%.
  IPO of OpenTV on the NASDAQ and Amsterdam Stock Exchange
  Greek digital launch
  Migration of the entire subscriber base from PAS4 to PAS7 satellite
  
• 2000: Launch of W4 Eutelsat satellite with Ku-band services to sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
  
• 2001: Acquire 46,5% of QQ (China).
  Launch of Indian bouquet.
  Launch of Portuguese bouquet
  
• 2002: Launch of return-path interactive television
  
• 2003: Commissioning and launch of the Nigerian uplink station in 2003 to provide Nigerian satellite channels to the W4 Spotbeam.
  
• 2004: Launch of SESAT
  
• 2005: Launch of DStv PVR decoder
  
• 2008: Commercial launch of DStv Mobile in Africa
  
• 2008: Launch of DStv HD PVR and first High Definition Channel