MultiChoice has introduced a new incentive for DStv subscribers in South Africa, offering DStv Select customers seven days of free access to the newly launched DStv Sports package. This move follows a major restructuring of DStv packages and is part of the company's broader strategy to retain customers in key African markets.
Free Sports Access for Select Subscribers
The seven-day free access to DStv Sports will be available from September 29, 2026, to qualifying DStv Select subscribers who pay their monthly subscriptions in full and on time. The access will automatically be granted at the beginning of their new subscription period, with no registration required. After the seven days expire, subscribers will automatically return to their regular Select package.
MultiChoice said the trial follows the launch of its new package line-up on September 17, 2026. If the trial proves successful, similar benefits could be extended to other packages before the end of 2026.
MultiChoice CEO Willington Ngwepe described the recent restructuring as only the beginning of broader changes aimed at providing subscribers with more value. "We'll continue to find ways to give customers more value from their DStv subscriptions," Ngwepe said.
New Sports Package Targets Football Fans
The DStv Sports bouquet is the broadcaster's first dedicated sports package, featuring 17 channels. Subscribers can watch selected Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and Betway Premiership matches, alongside cricket, UFC, WWE, and local rugby.
The sports package is part of MultiChoice's biggest restructuring of DStv products in about 15 years. The company also introduced a standalone Movies & Series package. Under the South African restructuring, DStv Access customers were migrated to Starter, Family subscribers moved to Select, and Compact customers transitioned to Sports. The low-cost EasyView package remained unchanged.
Compact Plus Customers Receive Premium Upgrade
One of the biggest changes involves existing Compact Plus customers. Although MultiChoice has effectively retired, or "grandfathered," Compact Plus for new customers, existing subscribers have been automatically upgraded to DStv Premium without immediately paying the standard Premium price.
Streaming customers continue to pay R549 monthly, while decoder subscribers pay R649, but receive access to the full Premium bouquet. By comparison, the standard Premium package costs R799 for streaming-only subscribers and R979 for decoder customers in South Africa.
MultiChoice said affected subscribers may continue seeing "Compact Plus" on their bills for now, with the arrangement operating on a month-to-month basis.
Implications for Nigerian Subscribers
The latest move signals that DStv's September package overhaul may be part of a wider strategy to rethink pricing, content bundles, and subscriber rewards as pay-TV faces growing competition from streaming platforms. However, for Nigerian subscribers, these specific packages, prices, and free-upgrade offers are currently South African initiatives, and MultiChoice has not announced an equivalent rollout for Nigeria.
Legit.ng earlier reported that DStv implemented one of its biggest package shake-ups in more than two decades, introducing dedicated sports and entertainment options while reorganising several existing bouquets and channels. The changes, announced by DStv's operating company in South Africa on September 7, 2026, took effect on Thursday, September 17.
