On 11 July in Johannesburg, MultiChoice launched its newest decoder offering, XtraView, an enhanced version of Dual View which offers a more cost effective and flexible multiple viewing environment in the home.
MultiChoice’s Constant Fourie explained that XtraView comprised two separate decoders (each with their own smart card) linked by an RF cable, with only a single subscription fee payable. “The two decoders are then placed in different rooms in the home, to allow for more viewing options for the family. Each decoder has enhanced features, so you can have full interactive services in both TV rooms, something that was not possible with Dual View. With XtraView the user can also improve sound and video quality in the second TV room. By feeding the display into an amplifier, surround sound is possible. You can have totally independent viewing in both TV rooms or you can watch the same channel. You can even control the second TV with the primary decoder.’
XtraView will initially be implemented on the 1110 decoder models, to be available in early August.
Fourie talked about the benefits of XtraView from a “building blocks’ perspective. “You can buy the cheap decoder to start with and then later buy the more expensive one and connect them with XtraView. It is a more cost effective way of providing a multiple viewing environment as the cost of two decoders is considerably less than the MultiChoice PVR or the Dual Video decoder. It is also very difficult to add new features and functionality to Dual View. Therefore, XtraView allows you to keep things simple – you have two separate decoders connected to the DStv satellite and linked by the RF cable. A unique “heartbeat’ is sent by MultiChoice to the primary decoder which sends it to the secondary decoder via the cable. If the “heartbeat is interrupted then the second decoder stops working. Should one decoder malfunction at any time, you can still use the other one, but obviously with less functionality. Therefore you are guaranteed an uninterrupted service.’
The XtraView solution is available on the MultiChoice DStv Premium, Compact, Indian and Portuguese bouquets.
Announcements regarding new functionalities for the MultiChoice PVR will be made shortly.
Meanwhile, the industry is eagerly awaiting the launch of MultiChoice’s first ever high definition (HD) decoder on 24 July.
