New deal makes DStv Premium cheaper in South Africa

Johannesburg – South African DStv customers can access the broadcaster’s Premium decoder package for R799 a month on a 24-month contract, matching the price of its month-to-month streaming subscription and offering a cheaper alternative to the standard satellite rate.

According to MyBroadband, MultiChoice introduced the subscription-only offer as part of its strategy to simplify pricing across decoder-based and streaming services.

The deal reduces the monthly cost of the decoder-based Premium package from R979 to R799, a saving of R180 a month, or R4,320 over two years compared with the standard monthly rate, excluding any differences in fees and contract terms.

MultiChoice confirmed the offer to MyBroadband after the publication questioned the removal of its Price Lock contracts from the DStv website.

“While provisions were initially made to re-evaluate Price Lock contracts, our current strategic focus on product simplification makes their reintroduction unlikely,” the company said.

Package restructuring

The broadcaster added: “In alignment with this strategy, we have launched a 24-month subscription-only offer for Premium decoder customers at R799 per month.”

The offer follows DStv’s package restructuring, which took effect on September 17 and introduced dedicated Sports and Movies & Series packages alongside changes to existing channel line-ups.

According to DStv’s official package guide, existing Premium decoder subscribers can access the contract through the MyDStv app, the My Account section of its website or the call centre. New customers must contact the call centre on 011 289 2222.

The official guide confirms that the R799 contract price includes the Access Fee, while the standard R979 monthly decoder subscription excludes it.

Streaming and decoder-based subscriptions

The move also forms part of a broader effort to align the cost of streaming and decoder-based subscriptions. In an earlier report, Moneyweb quoted Canal+ Africa’s pay-TV chief executive in South Africa, Byron du Plessis, describing the offer as a way of rewarding customers willing to “commit for a longer period of time”.

DStv Premium includes the broadcaster’s full entertainment offering and major sporting events, including Springbok rugby, Formula 1, cricket, football and golf.

However, the two-year commitment means customers should weigh the lower monthly price against the reduced flexibility of a fixed-term contract.