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Some have become addicted to the extent that they shape their whole lives around TV programmes. The introduction of recording decoders means that they no longer need to rush home or wake up in the middle of the night to pay homage to the square god.

The creation of reality TV which is as fake as you can get, certainly confirms that the TV is making too many people lose their reasoning capacity. Just think of the popularity of the nauseating Kardashians’ shows and you will understand what I am on about.
“I only watch the news and sport.”
“I stick to doccies and an occasional movie.”
“I only do it for the kids really.”

The above are statements that you hear everyday from people. But whatever the case may be, the truth is except for internet addicts, very few people can do without the small screen in the home or office.
Monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually, everyone who can afford it dutifully makes the transfer that ensures that they have access to many TV channels.
The free-to-air decoders are only good for a few programmes as the SABC channels seem to be on a steady decline on a daily basis. And the constant threat that they will be going off air does not help the situation.
So it was only DStv for those with any choice as Multichoice was the only service provider on the scene. But a monopoly is never good news for the consumer and we have gotten used to paying up and shutting up

as complaints are politely listened to but not addressed.
A couple of days before your next subscription is due you find that you have been cut off. Getting in touch with the call centre will put you through to a recording which will have you holding on while the phone bill mounts inexorably for 10 minutes before an operator attends to you.

Then you are informed that your problem cannot be handled on the phone and you will have to physically come to the service centre. When you get there a long queue of irate customers is ahead of you and it takes more than 10 minutes for each one to be served and you thank your lucky stars if it only takes half an hour for you to get to the front of the queue.
Then you are informed that you were penalised for making your payment too early without informing the service provider so you have to pay up if you want service restored.

When My TV Africa hit the scene last year I was not very interested, having come to associate them with African movie channel on the free-to-air decoders. For anyone who is not a fan of Nollywood, the My TV Africa and the equally shoddy Africa Magic channels are not a good selling point.
But after being told to take it or leave it once too often by the other service provider I decided to leave it and try out the competition and compare the two.

The first outstanding difference is the monthly subscription rate. DStv requires US$70 for a premium subscription and although they have cheaper options anything below the US$28 compact is too limited in my opinion. My TV Africa’s asking price is US$18 for everything with no tier system in place.
There is no argument that the higher DStv bouquets have news channels but My TV Africa is not too shoddy in comparison with BBC World and Aljazeera.

The jury is still out on the sport side with football fans interviewed saying that My TV Africa is way better but fans of the other disciplines voted for DStv. On the documentaries side DStv wins again as My TV Africa has no answer on their channels.
If you watch TV for entertainment then who you choose really depends on your favourite shows. My TV Africa has Fox Entertainment mainly and it compares well to DStv’s Universal. They are currently showing series like 24, Criminal Minds, Arrested Development, Underbelly, The Simpsons, Angel, Boston Legal, The Listener and Falling Skies.

From my brief perusal Fox FX appears to be mostly dedicated to paranormal shows with varying degrees of horror. Music and Trace channels will satisfy the teens and the “‘tweens” (pre-teens) in the house.
For the Bollywood fans there is Zee Cinema on My TV Africa for which you have to pay extra on DStv.

Despite the best intentions and all the warnings on letting the TV bring up our kids, very few parents can really afford to spend time engaging the kids in stimulating activity. And it is a rare baby minder who can teach your child more than the basics of graduating from diapers to real pants.
If you have toddlers it is a plus for My TV Africa to know that you have the dedicated Baby TV channel with no commercial where your little one will learn a few skills. At least they will not be learning obscenities

and how to dismember the family pet.
My TV Africa also allows subscribers access to over 80 free channels which are not part of their bouquet and over which they have no control.

In conclusion I would say that DStv definitely has more options as they have more channels but My TV Africa offers a refreshing counter. Multichoice will have to up their game and stop taking the Zimbabwean audience for granted.

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