For years, DStv has resiliently stuck with the same ol’ packages — even in the face of cheaper on-demand streaming models. Many believed that the new owners of MultiChoice, Canal+, would bring about a much-needed overhaul. Thus far, that hasn’t happened. But it’s about to, according to DStv’s own website, which detailed the broadcaster’s intent to introduce all-new plans and rework many of the older ones later this month.
DStv has since removed the offending pages, which were published ahead of the intended reveal date. Fortunately, MyBroadband managed to get hold of the plans before they were taken down. DStv Media Sales reportedly unveiled its new plans to advertisers at an event last week. MultiChoice LicenceCo had planned to reveal the changes, which are extensive, to the media at an event in Johannesburg on Monday, 7 September.
Get hype, there’s a dedicated sports package
According to the leaked webpages, DStv is changing the names (and the content offered) on the DStv Access, Family, and Compact packages. DStv Premium has stuck around for R800/m and remains the only way to get hold of everything the broadcaster has to offer. Compact Plus, too, seems mostly unchanged content-wise.
A brand-new offering is also included in the mix, focusing solely on movies and series for R500/m.
Prices seen in the screenshot above all concern DStv’s streaming-only plans, all of which retain their current pricing under the ‘old’ names. The same goes for decoder subscribers, who will continue paying the same prices as they do now after the change. This should make for a smoother transition when they go live on 17 September.
The finer details will become clear once MultiChoice is ready to unveil the new packages to the public. Whether the company will alter its plans in any way after the leak remains to be seen. The company declined to comment on the leaks, stating that any potential announcement regarding new packages would be made in due time.
“There is no change to customers’ current subscriptions or the content they receive,” MultiChoice told MyBroadband. “Where changes to channels, products, or packages are made, affected customers will be informed directly and in good time.”
The new DStv packages:
- The cheapest of the lot, DStv Starter (formerly Access), will cost R100/m and comprises 85 TV channels to explore. Some sports are included, like the Premier League match of the week. It also includes the Wethu+, Moja Love, and kykNET channels.
- Next up is DStv Select (formerly Family), which offers 100 TV channels, including PSL soccer, the Nickelodeon channel, and M-Net’s Mzansi Magic. It retains its streaming-only price of R300/m.
- Then there’s DStv Sports (formerly DStv Compact), which the broadcaster reckons will have “the world’s best football, cricket, local rugby, UFC, and WWE action, all in one affordable sports package.” Those will form part of the 115 TV channels on offer, and include Premier League and UEFA football. Mzanzi Magic and the newly rebranded M Movies+ channel will deliver entertainment options, too.
- DStv Movies & Series is the only brand-new package added to the platform, containing 115 TV channels. One of those is M-Net, which has long been reserved for those customers willing to cough up for Premium. The channel will also include kykNET and M Movies+ as part of its entertainment options.
