To mark 30 years since the launch of DStv in 1995, MultiChoice is reviving one of South African television’s most celebrated nostalgic traditions: Open Time. This temporary promotion offers all DStv decoder customers full access to the Premium bouquet—including all sport, movies, and entertainment channels—for one weekend in November.
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Running from 7–9 November 2025, the event is a clear effort to entice existing customers to upgrade to higher tiers and attract new subscribers to the satellite platform. The timing is strategically advantageous, coinciding with a packed sports schedule that includes the highly anticipated Springboks clash with France, the Manchester City vs. Liverpool derby, and the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The revival is particularly notable as it comes just weeks after Groupe Canal+ concluded its acquisition of MultiChoice, prompting a management shake-up as the French broadcaster begins to implement its new strategy.
Byron du Plessis, CEO for South African pay TV at MultiChoice, positioned the campaign as a nod to the past and a move towards the future. “When DStv launched in 1995, Open Time gave South Africans their first taste of subscription television,” he said. “Bringing it back is a nod to that legacy—and part of our strategy to make entertainment more accessible.”
To further enhance the nostalgic theme, the campaign will feature familiar faces from DStv’s early days, including Ashley Hayden, Scot Scott, and Doreen Morris, who were prominent during M-Net’s original Open Time broadcasts.
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The “Open Time” weekend is only one part of MultiChoice’s 30th-anniversary promotional push. The company is also launching a broader effort to improve customer value:
- Decoder Price Cuts: Effective 1 November, decoder prices will be cut by 30% at retail outlets and by over 40% through the new online DStv Store.
- Expanded Premium Perks: Premium customers will receive additional benefits, including two extra all-device streams for November and December, a new concierge support service, and expanded rewards. These rewards include BoxOffice movie rentals, event access, and travel prizes tied to major sporting events.
It is important to note that the Open Time promotion is strictly limited to active DStv decoder subscribers; streaming-only users are not included. However, all DStv users can participate in the upgraded rewards promotions.
