Pace strikes deal to make MultiChoice DVRs in South Africa

Set-top manufacturer Pace has struck a deal with South African pay TV broadcaster MultiChoice to work with local supplier Vektronix, based in East London in Eastern Cape provice, to assemble and build a new HD DVR for the broadcaster.

The new box, the DStv Explora, will be built in South Africa. Pace is already a technology partner with MultiChoice for its existing DVR product.

The 2TB, three-tuner DStv Explora will be available in retail outlets from August 15, priced at ZAR2,499 (€190). The box promises up to 220 hours of recording time as well as access to additional DStv catch-up services, advanced search and discovery across an eight-day TV guide, and pause live TV for up to two hours. The box is internet-connectable but no applications are currently available.

“We are pleased that Pace is manufacturing the DStv Explora in South Africa. This will contribute positively to skills development, local economic development and job creation in the manufacturing, logistics and sales sectors of our economy,” said Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

“We are proud to be selected by MultiChoice to deliver their latest generation decoder. It is testament to the advanced, user-friendly and robust Pace set top boxes that MultiChoice’s HD customers have been using since 2008. The deal extends our global HD leadership – Pace’s HD expertise, customer base and technological capability – that is unrivalled by our competitors,” said Shane McCarthy, president of Pace International.