After MultiChoice’s announcement of a vastly improved Showmax hitting the small screens sometime in February 2024, we believed that the company’s next big announcement would have to detriment customers somehow. Nope. This morning, the broadcaster owner announced that it would be adding ESPN 1 – a major sports channel in the US – to DStv Access.
Enter ESPN
That might not sound like big news, but it is. Before, the ESPN 1 channel was limited to DStv Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium, with a minimum price requirement of R450/m. DStv Access is the company’s significantly cheaper entry-level package, with prices as low as R130/m.
“This announcement is our way of rewarding our loyal customers with a wider catalogue of entertaining content to choose from,” says Marc Jury, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. “We are also excited that this move will also give sports fans out there looking to get more, for less, an opportunity to stay in the game and take our offering to be front row of the best sports entertainment in the world,” he concludes.
The channel will officially become available for Access subscribers come Friday, 1 December 2023.
Read More: Multichoice’s plans to fix itself: Solar, Showmax, and pirate fights
As part of an “extra bonus”, ESPN 1 will be broadcasting a “thrilling festive feast of NBA and NFL fixtures on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.”
ESPN 1 is a channel usually reserved for major American sports, specifically featuring basketball (NBA), American Football (NFL), and baseball (MLB). It’s a change that’ll see more of South Africa’s fans of the sports become involved, without the need to spend big bucks.
We look forward to celebrating the achievements and triumphs of both international and local athletes, our quality storytelling and innovative content with a brand new audience of sports fans across the continent,” says Kyle de Klerk, director of sport for the Walt Disney Company Africa.