Following last week's launch in South Africa of the new pay satellite network known as Top TV,  50,000 decoders were sold out in less than six hours which was a world first. The network will boast over 50 new channels and will bring to the industry a competitively priced business model.

TopTV will offer different pay TV packages which have been created to meet the needs of subscribers with quality programming at affordable rates, ranging from R99 to R249.

Former US vice-president Al Gore (who also brought us An Incovenient Truth) was at last week's launch in Westcliff Johannesburg. His global subscriber DIY channel Current TV is an integral part of Top TV's 'bouquet' of channels and has been said it might give Top TV an unusual edge over other pay channels. DStv's dominance in Africa is unquestioned, with its offerings having taken root in 48 African countries. But former US vice-president and environmentalist Gore believes his innovative approach to television production offers something different.

In five years, the founder and executive chairman of Current TV has seen his network grow to more than 70 million subscribers across the world. Current TV is based purely on content from the public, with a primary focus on citizen journalism and production. It is targeted at viewers in their 20s and 30s.

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Watch an interview with Al Gore on the future of journalism.