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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka TV Column
It is just a day to go before Christmas and I don’t want to spoil the day for you by playing bad Santa. More often than not people get to watch television during the holidays and looking on the TV guide there is so much to look forward to. Just last week, MultiChoice Zimbabwe launched the BoxOffice which has not been functional. Apparently there is a catch to it, they launched Box Office but they are not telling us that we need to upgrade to Xplora decoders.

So for you to be able to fully enjoy watching your set you got to have a DStv Xplora. Yours truly will today discuss what the BoxOffice is all about and how it works.

According to MultiChoice Zimbabwe, the BoxOffice is yet another move to provide DStv subscribers with the ultimate in home television entertainment.

BoxOffice is a service that allows subscribers to conveniently rent and watch the latest blockbuster movies in the comfort of their homes, right on their HD PVR decoders.

With BoxOffice, DStv subscribers can now rent and keep movies for up to 48 hours, for a minimal fee per movie. Movie categories vary from comedy, drama and family movies, to horror, fantasy and a whole lot more.

Lovemore Mangwende, the chief executive for MultiChoice Zimbabwe said with BoxOffice, DStv Premium and Compact subscribers with an active HD PVR subscription and a compatible HD PVR or Explora decoder can easily sign up and enjoy Hollywood’s best movies.

“DStv services like BoxOffice form part of a bigger MultiChoice strategy to use cutting-edge technological innovation to helping people enjoy some of the best entertainment available at a time that’s convenient to them.

“And with the all-new Explora decoder, we’re taking on demand video to a whole new level, by offering subscribers an experience that mimics the Internet, but on a decoder, and without the high data bills.

“With this innovative service,” adds Mangwende, “booking movies beforehand, returning movies the next day and paying those irritating late fees will be a thing of the past.”

BoxOffice on HD PVR

BoxOffice on HD PVR offers a selection of up to 15 movies to rent at any one time. Customers can expect the service to stay fresh as new movies are added each week. Movies are available to watch almost immediately — so there’s no waiting and no need to “book” movies beforehand.

With BoxOffice you can also watch movie trailers before renting. BoxOffice is always open for business, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Simply press the GREEN button on your HD PVR remote to access the BoxOffice Screen and to find out how to sign up.

BoxOffice on Explora

With up to 20 movies at any one time, the DStv Explora is packaged with a brand new, stylish HD user interface, which makes finding favourite movies on BoxOffice so much easier.

Content is displayed using HD poster-art – just like an Internet video service. In addition, the Explora has powerful search features that help subscribers find movies quicker and easier as it searches across the Electronic Entire Programme Guide.

Explora’s remote control further enhances the experience with dedicated shortcut buttons to BoxOffice and other viewing options. You can also watch a trailer of the movie before renting.

Zimbabwean subscribers can access the service through online registration and payment of fees per view – $2.50 per movie for a 48-hour usage period, during which time the movies can be enjoyed as many times as the viewers wish. Payment can be made through banks that facilitate DStv subscription payments, as well as through the Econet EcoCash and Telecel Telecash services. Subscribers who have Econet mobile numbers can also access the movies through SMS messaging to short code number 32288.

MultiChoice unlocks a new world of entertainment on-the-go with the DStv Now app

Sport, movies, series and so much more is now available anytime, anywhere, thanks to DStv Now, a new App across Africa that allows subscribers to watch Live TV, enjoy DStv Catch Up and view the TV Guide from their mobile phones and tablets.

The mobile app is currently on offer to DStv Premium subscribers with a PVR or Explora decoder, on both iOS and Android tablets and mobile phones through 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi internet connections.

Simply visit your mobile App store to download the free App. After logging in with your DStv Connect ID, link your Premium Smartcard to your DStv Connect Account by going to www.dstv.com iOS users, while Android users will be given the option to register and link smartcards on the App. Thereafter, you will be able to stream or download your favourite Catch Up titles and view a host of other live TV channels, including SuperSport, plus M-Net movie channels including Comedy, Actions Plus, Drama & Romance and Premiere. The relevant data costs will apply when streaming content.

There are also selected Live TV channels to watch on your mobile device and tablet plus an eight-day TV Guide showing Live programming on all DStv channels is available to DStv Subscribers.

Until next week remember this is television and it is real.

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