Whoa... we're reeling from the deluge of information and hype surrounding DStv's new packages - you'd swear MultiChoice has just invented the wheel and is on the brink of a Nobel prize!
But no, they've re-invented it.
This is what the packages will look like from 17 September 2026:
| Package |
Streaming Price |
Decoder (Satellite) Price |
| EasyView |
R30 |
R30 |
| Starter |
R99 |
R150 |
| Select |
R299 |
R339 |
| Sports |
R399 |
R479 |
| Movies & Series |
R500 |
R500 |
| Premium |
R799 |
R979
(R799 if you take a 24-month contract.) |
The logistics:
Premium, Compact Plus and EasyView subscribers will remain on their current packages.
Compact Plus stays the same but won't be available to new subscribers anymore.
Compact subscribers will move to Sports.
Family subscribers move to Select.
Access subscribers move to Starter.
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We've been casting our beady eyes over what's available on each - which you'll find on DStv's website
here - and these are our conclusions:
The Pros
The current packages stay the same price when the migration happens.
Entry-level subscribers are getting a lot more bang for their bucks on
Starter.
kykNET & Kie will be added so there's more for Afrikaans speakers.
Starter's also getting these added channels: VIA, Star Life, Discovery Family, Curiosity, Sporty TV and WWE.
Mzansi Wethu remains on Starter but it's changing name to Wethu+ which will be a combo of Mzansi Wethu, Bioskop Movies and Mzansi Music - all of which were rando on their own.
This should make the channel more dynamic and fresh.
Starter's also getting two PSL Matches of the Week, and two Premier League Matches of the Week on Wethu+.
The SuperSport PSL channel will be added to
Select.
All cricket will be available on the
Sports package instead of Premium only.
It's also going to have local rugby and select club rugby, including one URC fixture a week.
And finally, a significant development: the
R500 Movies & Series channel caters to all South Africans for a price that's significantly cheaper than Premium.
No segregation according to demographic or language.
Channels on this include signature Premium properties, specifically M-Net, kykNET, BBC Earth and Discovery Channel, alongside Mzansi Magic and Wethu+.
Viva unity, viva!
Now let's start doing the same with more of our local TV shows.
The Cons
The set-up's still too complicated. Unless you have Premium, "you get this but you don't get that", and then "you get something else" - but you don't
want that.
Ultimately it means that everyone will still feel they're missing out on something important if they don't have Premium.
It's the same old negative feeling that's been associated with DStv in the past.
We've always believed that the packages should be simpler and more inclusive, e.g.
Starter
Movies & Series
Sport (ALL Sport)
Three packages which you can combine if you want both Series and Sport.
Dividing viewers into six groups feels dated and counter-intuitive, especially in our hyper connected world where everyone experiences things together through the internet and the socialz.
No other broadcaster or streamer has a million packages. If you get Apple TV or Netflix etc., you get it
all.
The Sports package is confusing and misleading because it implies you'll be getting all sport when you sign up for it.
Everyone knows that DStv is the home of sport and there's been so much fuss about who gets to see our national teams play so you'd assume you'd get to see all of it if you sign up for a package called Sports.
But you don't even get to see the Springboks earning national glory.
International rugby, F1, tennis, golf and MotoGP are reserved for Premium only.
The Sports package should be called
Sports-
Compact subscribers who aren't into sport might find it difficult to feel at home with the new package they're on.
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That's our take. Let us know your thoughts by sounding off below or
e-mailing us or sending us telepathic messages.