Sentech has announced the launch of Freevision Play, an over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platform designed to provide South African residents free access to various local TV and radio channels.
The state-owned signal distributor first announced its plans for South Africans to stream television content online over ten years ago, in April 2013.
The Freevision Play platform is available to all South African residents with an active Internet connection and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
Those wanting to access the service can download the Freevision Play app from their respective app store or visit the Freevision Play website.
Sentech notes that many of the country’s residents still face barriers to accessing quality content and accurate information.
“Freevision Play addresses this challenge by leveraging broadband infrastructure to deliver free, high-quality content to all communities,” says Sentech.
“This platform empowers users with access to educational, informational, and entertainment content, thereby fostering learning and engagement across the nation.”
It will also benefit local broadcasters by allowing them to reach a broader audience without paying the high costs associated with developing and operating their own OTT platforms.
This can help them to expand viewership and generate additional advertising revenue.
“Freevision Play takes care of the upfront investment costs,” says Sentech.
“It creates a multi tenant platform, giving viewers and listeners a diverse range of choices while providing broadcasters with new audiences and viewers.”
Currently, it offers channels like KZN TV, Cape Town TV, Soweto TV, Tshwane TV, Faith.tv, and a dedicated stream for the Presidential Inauguration.
The maximum viewing resolution varies per channel, with the Presidential Inauguration stream maxing out at 1080p.
Channels like Cape Town TV and Tshwane TV offer a maximum resolution of 576p.
It features free ad-supported streaming TV channels, which it says offers viewers a flexible and accessible experience.
Sentech also offers Freevision, a direct-to-home satellite television service that requires a satellite and decoder to access.
“While Freevision focuses on delivering content via satellite, Freevision Play leverages internet connectivity to offer a more flexible and accessible viewing experience,” says Sentech.