MultiChoice on Friday morning confirmed what TechCentral readers knew already: the DStv operator is launching a new bouquet, DStv Lite, aimed at heading off the threat from new pay-TV entrant, On Digital Media’s TopTV.

But will it be enough to keep the new rival at bay?

The DStv Lite package, which costs R99/month, offers 25 television channels, 32 radio channels and 10 DMX music channels.

The new bouquet brings to five the number of DStv packages available from MultiChoice — EasyView (R20/month), Lite (R99), Select (R148), Compact (R232) and Premium (R529). The introduction of the Lite bouquet comes 24 hours ahead of TopTV’s commercial launch on Saturday. TopTV’s basic bouquet also retails for R99/month and offers 24 channels.

MultiChoice is also adding channels to its two Select bouquets, which it sells through Vodacom’s channels. Select 1 gets eight new video channels and Select 2 gets six. DStv Compact gets four additional video channels, to have a total of 44.

The video channels available on DStv Lite are: TCM, MagicWorld, Africa Magic+, Zone Reality, Soweto TV, Fashion TV, the Home Channel, SuperSport Blitz, SuperSport Action, Mindset Learn, Channel O, TBN, Rhema, Islam Channel, BBC World, CNN, AlJazeera, Parliamentary Service, CNBC Africa, Summit TV, Weather24, SABC 1,2 and 3, and e.tv. — Staff reporter, TechCentral