DStv select your individual channels — The place we stand

MultiChoice may but give DStv subscribers the power to decide on their very own channels by restructuring its present pay-TV providers or launching a customisable package deal.

The myriad of video streaming providers launching in South Africa has put elevated strain on MultiChoice to supply DStv subscribers compelling causes to proceed paying for its providers.

As the variety of households subscribed to premium DStv packages declines, MultiChoice should think about the way it will stay engaging to extra prosperous subscribers.

Additionally, the corporate’s controversial determination to restrict streaming to 1 system on DStv’s apps with out adjusting the worth of its streaming-only packages has prompted an uproar.

MultiChoice beforehand instructed MyBroadband that bandwidth constraints and the difficulties of producing content material encryption keys for every subscriber are primarily why subscribers can’t select their very own DStv channels.

However, final yr TV journalist Thinus Ferreira reported that MultiChoice contacted present and former Premium subscribers about their curiosity in a customisable package deal — DStv Flex.

DStv Flex would provide subscribers low-cost entry to a primary set of leisure channels with extra customisability by way of non-obligatory sports activities and film packages.

MultiChoice was experimenting with charging subscribers R299 monthly for a DStv Flex base package deal — the Entertainment Pack — after which giving them a selection so as to add bundles of sports activities and film channels for a further price.

Ferreira included a slide from DStv Flex promotional materials in his report, which confirmed the construction of the essential and non-obligatory packages.

The base package deal would have 67 channels, together with 19 leisure channels, 4 film channels, 7 children channels, 7 way of life and documentary channels, 7 information and climate channels, 8 music and spiritual channels, and 11 free-to-air channels.

Sports Pack 1 would come with soccer and all different sports activities, excluding rugby and cricket. The second pack would include rugby and all different sports activities besides soccer.

For Sports Pack 1 and a pair of, MultiChoice was kicking round a worth of R349 monthly on high of the bottom package deal.

For R499 monthly additional, Sports Pack 3 would give clients entry to all of the sports activities channels.

The Movies pack would come with channels like M-Net Movies 1, M-Net Movies 2, and fliekNET for a further R99 monthly.

International direct-to-home TV suppliers like Sky TV and Tata Play have supplied customisable packages or a la carte providers for years.

Therefore, MultiChoice wouldn’t should reinvent the wheel.

The UK’s Sky TV has a primary leisure package deal to which subscribers can add non-obligatory extras like sports activities and cinema, whereas India’s Tata Play consists of varied extra bundles like Tata Play Fitness and Tata Play Theatre.

MultiChoice acknowledged on the slide that DStv Flex wouldn’t require any contracts, so subscribers may add additional packages primarily based on their month-to-month leisure wants.

It would even be accessible as a decoder-based or streaming service, it mentioned.

MyBroadband requested MultiChoice if there have been any updates to their plans relating to DStv Flex. The pay-TV big gave the identical response as in 2021:

“MultiChoice is constantly striving to provide its customers with the best possible content offering. As such, we continually assess our offering and conduct regular research to test different products and services for our customers.”

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