South Africa’s Biggest Pay-TV Service Revamps Packages to Win Back Viewers
Business: South Africa
Key Facts
- The country South Africa is Africa’s largest economy: US$427 billion in 2025, roughly a tenth of Britain’s, with about 64 million people. Sport is a national passion; the Springboks are rugby world champions.
- Why it matters DStv, run by MultiChoice, is the country’s biggest pay-TV service and main home of live sport. MultiChoice lost 2.8 million subscribers across Africa in the two years to March 2025.
- Why now French media group Canal+ took control of MultiChoice in September 2025 and has earmarked about US$120 million for a 2026 turnaround. Simpler packages are a core part of the plan.
- What happened On 17 September DStv replaced its line-up with five packages, from R99 (US$6) to R799 (US$49) a month for streaming, including its first standalone Sports package.
- The numbers Sports costs R399 (US$24) a month and the new Movies & Series tier R500 (US$30). Premium on a 24-month decoder contract is R799 (US$49), versus R1,104 (US$67) without one.
- What it means for you Subscribers are moved automatically and pay no more. Football fans can skip Premium, but Springbok rugby, Formula 1, golf and tennis majors stay Premium-only.
- Still open No uptake figures have been published, and DStv has not said whether the new line-up will reach its other African markets.
DStv, South Africa’s biggest pay-TV service, rebuilt its line-up on 17 September in its largest product change in 15 years. The new DStv packages sell sport separately for the first time, a key test for its French owner, Canal+.
What Changed on 17 September
The familiar DStv ladder of Access, Family, Compact and Premium has been replaced for both decoder and streaming customers. In its place are five packages: Starter, Select, Sports, Movies & Series and Premium, with more channels at unchanged prices.
Customers did not need to act: MultiChoice, which runs DStv, moved Access, Family and Compact subscribers to Starter, Select and Sports. Premium keeps its name, and MultiChoice stressed that no one pays more after the switch.
The reshuffle leaked on DStv’s own website in late August, about ten days before its planned 7 September unveiling. Byron du Plessis, head of South African pay-TV at Canal+ Africa, says the group is “rewarding” customers willing to commit for longer.
The Five New Packages and Their Prices
Monthly prices are listed below, converted at R16.43 per US dollar (open.er-api.com, 25 September 2026).
| Package | Replaces | Satellite | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (~85 channels) | Access | R150 (US$9) | R99 (US$6) |
| Select (~100 channels) | Family | R339 (US$21) | R299 (US$18) |
| Sports (~115 channels) | Compact | R479 (US$29) | R399 (US$24) |
| Movies & Series (~115 channels) | New tier | R500 (US$30) | R500 (US$30) |
| Premium (~130 channels) | Premium | R979 (US$60), or R799 (US$49) on a 24-month contract | R799 (US$49) |
The headline number is Premium at R799 (US$49) for decoder customers, access fee included, roughly what it cost a decade ago. Without a contract, the same package costs R1,104 (US$67) including the access fee.
The catch is a 24-month commitment, the kind of “Price Lock” deal MultiChoice has long used to stop customers leaving. Compact Plus, the old in-between tier, is closed to new customers, while existing subscribers keep it at R659 (US$40) a month.
Why Canal+ Is Ripping Up the Model
MultiChoice lost 1.2 million subscribers across Africa in the year to March 2025, half of them in South Africa. That followed a loss of 1.6 million the year before, as squeezed households dropped costly packages.
Canal+, which took control in September 2025, has earmarked roughly R2 billion (about US$120 million) to restart subscriber growth in 2026. The strategy has been consistent all year: no April price increase in 2026, cheaper decoders and a bill-splitting feature in the MyDStv app.
Showmax, MultiChoice’s separate streaming app, shut on 30 April 2026, and its original series moved to DStv Stream. Moneyweb, a South African business news site, captured the market’s scepticism: the package changes are “at least five years too late”.
The question is no longer whether the model was broken, but whether a leaner DStv can win back households that have already left.
The Sport Question
For the first time, DStv is selling sport as a standalone proposition. The R399 (US$24) Sports package carries 17 sports channels with all Premier League and Champions League football, all cricket including the SA20 league, Currie Cup and varsity rugby, one United Rugby Championship match a week, cycling, WWE wrestling and UFC fights, plus general entertainment channels such as Mzansi Magic.
The premium crown jewels stay behind the R799 (US$49) wall: Springbok rugby, Formula 1, MotoGP, golf and the tennis majors. Du Plessis calls the Sports tier “amazing value” — “I’d be very surprised if you can find all of those sports anywhere else in the world for essentially $25.”
The gamble is obvious: the R399 (US$24) tier could finally capture football-only households that refused to pay for Premium — or it could cannibalise the very package that still pays the bills.
What Is Still Unclear
Early uptake figures for the new DStv packages have not been published. MultiChoice has also not said how long it will keep Compact Plus running for existing customers.
The overhaul applies to South Africa only; DStv says any changes in its other African markets will be announced once confirmed.
More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DStv?
DStv is South Africa’s biggest pay-TV service, available by satellite decoder or as a streaming app, and it also operates in other African countries. It is run by MultiChoice, which French media group Canal+ took over in September 2025.
What are the new DStv packages and prices in South Africa?
From 17 September 2026 there are five streaming packages: Starter at R99 (US$6), Select at R299 (US$18), Sports at R399 (US$24), Movies & Series at R500 (US$30) and Premium at R799 (US$49) a month. Decoder prices are higher, and no customer pays more after being moved to a new package.
What happens to DStv Compact Plus subscribers?
According to DStv’s published guide, Compact Plus subscribers stay on their package at the same price, R659 (US$40) a month. The package is closed to new subscribers. Early press reports had said they would be moved to Premium at that price for a year.
Does DStv’s new Sports package include Springbok rugby and Formula 1?
No. The R399 (US$24) Sports tier covers all Premier League and Champions League football, cricket, Currie Cup rugby and more. Springbok rugby, Formula 1, MotoGP, golf and the tennis majors remain exclusive to Premium at R799 (US$49).
Sources
Moneyweb · DStv (official) · MyBroadband · ITWeb · Business Day · TechCentral · World Bank
Connected Coverage
Canal+ has been rebuilding MultiChoice since its takeover — we covered the strategy behind it.
Canal+ Bets Content Remains King as MultiChoice Finds Growth · South Africa News on The Rio Times
Sources: Moneyweb; DStv; MyBroadband; ITWeb; Business Day; TechCentral; World Bank; IMF.
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