South Africa’s TopTV launches pre-paid offering

South African pay TV operator TopTV this week launched the country’s first pre-paid pay TV service. TopTV plans to use the service to appeal to subscribers outside the country’s main urban centres and lower income groups.

The service officially launched in Soweto’s Maponya Mall on Wednesday. Subscribers can acquire vouchers valid for 30 days, choosing one of two options – a Variety pack at ZAR109 (€10.72) and an Ultimate pack at ZAR279, with the latter giving access to 62 channels.

TopTV launched in April 2010, undercutting rival DStv’s premium offering and prompting the latter to launch a lower-cost service, DStv Lite.