As DSTV continues to bring out new technologies to disguise the fact that the actual content on Multichoice is a ball of shit, it is with the greatest sense of irony that their very own reality show is playing out and giving the true entertainment value we long for. Yes, it’s true. With all the money and expert help in the world available to them, DSTV’s new ‘On-Demand” service failed to work, as it launched on Friday.

This, from channel24:

MultiChoice’s brand new DStv BoxOffice video on demand service (VOD) launched commercially on Friday has suffered what appears to be major technical failure with heavily irate subscribers fruitlessly trying to access the service to watch movies.

The technical failure of DStv BoxOffice on the launch day has left a red-faced MultiChoice not just reeling, but engineers scrambling to get the system back up and to get additional resources assigned to the new service.

[more here]

I can’t wait to watch episode 2 of this excellent series!

Will someone at DSTV get the chop?

Will they realise that they should rather get the product right, before making it convenient to access?

You have to look after your opinion leaders, Koos. They know what quality content looks like and they have the power to choose. Given the choice, they’re opting for Wi-Fi at home, over a DSTV subscription (most people only have it for the sport anyway – and that you can find online – I watched most of the French Open on my iPad). With a US iTunes account (get one here) and uncapped broadband (cheaper than DSTV), they’re getting all the movies and TV shows they want on the internet. They’re getting 2oceansvibe Internet Radio at home and work as well (and even in their car!). When last did anyone listen to radio at home and work? I’m talking about the opinion leaders – the upwardly mobile. When last did THEY listen to radio at home or work? A long time ago. But they do listen in their car…

What I’m trying to say is: Given the choice, people choose not to listen to local radio. That is now a proven fact. And yet they are choosing to listen to 2oceansvibe Radio – whose USP is content that isn’t ‘dumbed down’ (excuse the phrase) to suit the lowest common denominator. They’re calling it a ‘revelation.’ That’s a revelation? My God – how sad are we?

And the same goes for TV. These are the guys who can use your new niche service. But why would they want to access “on demand” content aimed at the lowest common denominator (that’s if and when the service actually works), when they can get the world and awesome content through the internet? There are only so many times a human can watch Lethal Weapon 4.

2oceansvibe TV is launching in two weeks time and we aim to give South Africa original quality programming. Regular shows with weekly episodes between 3 and 5 minutes each. Shows which are made with the basic assumption that the viewers prefer not to be patronised. Just like good chat and cool tunes on 2oceansvibe Radio, it is terribly sad that such a basic concept is deemed a revelation…