ONTAPtv OTT VOD service launches in South Africa

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015
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The First Á La Carte VOD Service Launches in SA!

  • Enabling customers to stream world class content, and download it for offline viewing, across a range of different platforms

HONG KONG and JOHANNESBURG — Hong Kong’s leading integrated telecommunications operator HKT (SEHK: 6823), via its international operating division PCCW Global, today announced the launch of ONTAPtv.com, a new Internet-based Video on Demand (VoD) entertainment service for South Africa. With a selection of à la carte content packages to suit every South African’s entertainment needs, ONTAPtv.com is available now via www.ontaptv.com as well as Android and iOS apps.

Customers can subscribe to monthly packages of great local and international TV series, movies, and lifestyle programmes, and also rent Hollywood blockbusters. They can stream this content to PCs and Macs, and stream or download to their smartphones and tablets.

“We are excited about the growth in demand for anytime, anywhere VoD services. We first invested in South Africa in 2012 through the acquisition of Gateway, and this has been extremely successful for us. We are today delighted to demonstrate our further commitment to South Africa through the launch of ONTAPtv.com,” said Mr. Marc Halbfinger, Chief Executive Officer of PCCW Global.

Mr. Lindsay Servian, Head of ONTAPtv.com, said, “There is something for everyone in ONTAPtv.com. Our comprehensive content lineup includes local SABC series, as well as leading international content from studios such as Warner Bros, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and BBC Worldwide, and we are also delighted to announce our sponsorship of projects of the Maxum Media Accelerator (the MMA) to produce local dramas which will be available later this year. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to the development of exciting local content, whilst helping to grow the South African film and entertainment industry. ONTAPtv.com also offers Chinese content from PCCW’s now TV, Hong Kong’s leading IPTV service.”

With around 2,500 movies and episodes, and more being added all the time, customers are able to choose to stream, using our advanced Adaptive Bit Rate technology, or download content using public Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile data. They can even use routers at home linked to ADSL or fiber-based Internet connections. Once downloaded, the content is available for viewing on smartphones and tablets for 48 hours and customers can even link their devices to TVs for a great viewing experience. Mr. Servian said, “This is a major VoD innovation in South Africa, and will, we believe, greatly expand the number of customers who will now be able to enjoy the service, and at a highly affordable price.”

ONTAPtv.com’s flexible packages start from just R39* per month, or customers can subscribe to blockbuster hits from R15 for a 48-hour rental. In order to ensure that customers only pay for the content they want to watch, ONTAPtv.com has introduced a revolutionary à la carte approach to watching video on demand. ONTAPtv.com customers can choose from a range of packages specifically tailored to their viewing needs, with only a small incremental payment required for additional packages within the flagship mega-pack offering. ONTAPtv.com understands that consumers may want to try the service before committing to a package and has a free trial that includes great content with no obligations to subscribe later.

Mr. Servian added, “Customers are able to access ONTAPtv.com through any data provider. However we are pleased to announce that we have negotiated highly cost effective data bundles for exclusive ONTAPtv.com use in AlwaysOn Super Wi-Fi locations nationwide including shopping malls, hotels, hospitals and transport locations.”

The ONTAPtv.com app is free to download through the Google Play and iOS App stores, and includes preview trailers, where available, whilst registration and subscriptions are made through www.ontaptv.com. Content navigation is highly innovative, simple and dynamic giving customers the option to search using a unique carousel of ”genres”, “moods”, “time-period”, and “plot”, among other selections.

*1. Hong Kong Dollar equals to 1.746 South African Rand.