Hong Kong-based telecommunications operator HKT, via its international operating division PCCW Global, has 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 delighted to demonstrate our further commitment to South Africa through the launch of ONTAPtv.com,” says Marc Halbfinger, CEO of PCCW Global.
Lindsay Servian, head of ONTAPtv.com, adds: “There is something for everyone in ONTAPtv.com. Our 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, while 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 about 2 500 movies and episodes, and more being added all the time, customers are able to choose to stream, using advanced Adaptive Bit Rate technology, or download content using public WiFi hotspots and mobile data. They can also use routers at home linked to ADSL or fibre-based Internet connections.
Once downloaded, the content is available for viewing on smartphones and tablets for 48 hours and customers can link their devices to TVs, Servian says.
“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 R39 per month, or customers can subscribe to blockbuster hits from R15 for a 48-hour rental. To ensure that customers only pay for the content they want to watch, ONTAPtv.com has introduced an à la carte approach to watching video on demand. Users can choose from a range of packages tailored to their viewing needs, with only a small incremental payment required for additional packages within the flagship mega-pack offering.
“Customers are able to access ONTAPtv.com through any data provider,” Servian says. “However we are pleased to announce that we have negotiated 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.