South Africa FTA satellite operator OpenView has sold almost 1.5 million set-top boxes, according to their latest results.  The total is an increase of some 42 per cent in the past 12 months.

OpenView is backed by the broadcaster e.tv (itself owned 67.7 percent by eMedia Investments) and which also operates a 24-hour news channel (eNCA) and is a direct rival to public broadcaster SABC.

“With this ever-improving rollout, and when digital terrestrial television starts, the Group will be in a good position to increase its revenue base,” said eMedia.

However, the OpenView service is not yet into profit. A statement released on November 21^st by eMedia Holdings talks of losses of (Rand) 84.3 million (about $6m) for the 6 months to September 30^th. The statement to the Johannesburg stock exchange said that Advertising revenue has shown significant improvement, despite a challenging environment and increasing by 161 per cent, from R22.2-million in the previous year to R57.9-million.”

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