The launch of 4K content on DStv has been a glaring omission for some time now and the company will showcase it in time for the 2022 World Cup. The tournament kicks off on November 21st 2022, so it may still mean we have to wait another year for 4K to come to DStv and Showmax Pro.
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Chief Operating Officer at MultiChoice Connected Video, Barry Dubovsky, answered a media question at the MultiChoice Group’s annual showcase event when, once again, 4K was omitted from its tech demos. He said that the group is working hard to get 4K broadcasts and streams ready in time for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, he was very careful with his phrasing and didn’t give a firm commitment about the date.
The company is excited about moving to 4K content, but Dubovsky said that the company’s biggest priority is to minimise data costs to customers, “to make sure the content is accessible to everyone”. These two goals are obviously in opposite sides of the coin for the company, as 4K content is extremely data hungry. MultiChoice’s streaming DStv product currently tops out at 1080p resolution, while Showmax tops out at 720p. Its satellite product broadcasts at up to 1080p resolution as well.
“We want to make sure the quality of the streaming is sufficient, so that people don’t have a terrible experience and start complaining and move away. You have to get the basics right – that’s the ticket to play,” Dubovsky said.
“Going forward, though, absolutely, we are seeing more and more content being accessed via smart TVs and on bigger screens, so we need to be where our customers are. With that in mind, 4K and 1080p, everything is absolutely on the agenda. 4K, heading into the World Cup… It’s not a promise, but we want to ensure we can get the experience as good as it possibly can be ahead of that flagship event.”
