MultiChoice is undertaking its most significant operational overhaul in nearly 15 years, unbundling flagship content and restructuring its DStv package tiers effective 17 September. Under the revamped model, long-standing channels M-Net and KykNet lose their exclusive ties to DStv Premium, while major broadcast properties, including domestic rugby, all international cricket, and the UEFA Champions League, will shift into a new mid-priced Sports bouquet.
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The restructuring eliminates the traditional Access, Family, and Compact tiers, replacing them with Starter, Select, and Sports packages. A dedicated entertainment option, Movies & Series, slots directly beneath Premium, which remains at the top of the range. Existing Access, Family, and Compact subscribers will automatically transition to Starter, Select, and Sports at their current monthly subscription rates: R150, R339, and R479 on satellite, or R99, R299, and R399 via DStv Stream. Meanwhile, the legacy Compact Plus tier is being retired without a direct successor, with current subscribers migrated to Premium while maintaining their existing price point for a 12-month grace period.
Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice LicenceCo, acknowledged that the broadcaster had long recognized consumer frustration regarding forced upgrades to Premium for specific sports or entertainment channels. While unbundling introduces inherent financial risk through potential tier downgrades, Ngwepe emphasized that the revamped structure aligns with comprehensive household viewing needs rather than selling isolated sports bolt-on options.
The centrepiece of the new structure is the Sports package, priced at R479 per month on satellite and R399 on DStv Stream. In addition to carrying all Select entertainment programming such as Mzansi Magic, the tier provides 17 dedicated sports channels featuring every Premier Soccer League (PSL), Premier League, and Champions League match, complete cricket coverage, Currie Cup and SA Cup rugby, and one featured United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture per weekend.
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DStv Premium retains exclusive rights to high-profile international sports, including Springbok test matches, the remainder of the URC season, Formula 1, MotoGP, golf majors, and tennis grand slams. To incentivize high-tier retention, MultiChoice is offering satellite Premium subscribers a 24-month contract option that reduces the monthly rate from R979 to R799 including the access fee, matching the standalone DStv Stream price point. Future updates are expected to enrich the Premium tier further with technical enhancements, including potential 4K broadcast capability.
Complementing the lineup, the new Movies & Series bouquet costs R500 per month across satellite and streaming platforms. It houses M-Net, KykNet, M-Net Movies+, M-Net Stars, M-Net Legends, Discovery Channel, and BBC Earth, alongside 10 sports channels covering La Liga, Serie A, and ESPN. By establishing Select as the new baseline tier for complete PSL coverage, MultiChoice aims to encourage upward migration from Starter while offering a balanced, mid-tier matrix designed to stabilize average revenue per user and arrest the long-term decline in its Premium subscriber base.
