Don't bother with DStv Stream's free plan

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Don't bother with DStv Stream's free plan

DStv's free video streaming package has shrunk to just four channels and offers very little compelling content compared to other free ad-supported streaming services in South Africa in June 2026.

MultiChoice initially made 13 of its linear channels free to stream on DStv Now, the predecessor to DStv Stream, in March 2020.

 

[Brian_G]

Depends what you're into - if you've got kids then that 216 sports channel is maybe nice, but also on SABC+. If you like variety sport and don't mind some older content, that channel 243 is exclusive though I suspect repeats often. Then there's African flavoured music and a Christian channel.

Was interesting to see them putting some of the winter olympics highlights on 243, did they realise their mistake in dropping it later?

 

[Brian_G]

From the article:

​

Free streaming services in South Africa​

Platform	Live offerings	On-demand content
AfreeTV	TV channels: Homebase Millennium TV LN247 SportsCars Africa Radio stations: Akaboozi FM Hillbrow Radio Moshi FM Otji FM Radio One	±60 titles Primarily African and South African series and reality shows
AfriForumTV	None	Afrikaans actuality, news, kids’ programming, school channels, weather
DStv Stream	Channel O SuperSport Schools SuperSport Play TBN Africa	Under-19s South African club football Episodes of Rugby on 216.
eVOD	eTV eExtra Outflix Proud	100+ titles Primarily local series, reality TV, and movies
FreeVision Play	1KZN Afrokiddos Afroland Black Afroland Drama Afroland Experience Afroland Comedy Afroland Crime Afroland Nollywood Afroland Romance Afroland TV BRICS Africa Channel Cape Town TV Faith TV Soweto TV Mpuma Kapa TV Phuthuloha TV Platinum North West TV Sportscast Africa Ekhephini Community Radio Engcobo FM Oasis FM Vuma FM Moutse FM Waterberg Wave Radio	27+ programmes Mostly South African community and reality TV
RugbyPass TV	None	On-demand rugby-related content
SABC+	TV channels: SABC 1 SABC 2 S3 SABC Education SABC News SABC Sport SABC+ Podcasts Radio stations: 5FM Channel Africa Good Hope FM iKwekwezi FM Lesedi FM Ligwalagwala FM Lotus FM Metro FM Motsweding FM Munghana Lonene FM Phalaphala FM Radio 2000 RSG (Radio Sonder Grense) SAfm Thobela FM tru fm Ukhozi FM Umhlobo Wenene FM X-K FM	240+ titles, primarily local series and programming
Viu	None	15 series, including select SABC and international content
YouTube	Frequent, hosted by creators and companies	Billions of hours of creator-generated content

 

[Randomwasavailable]

Depends what you're into - if you've got kids then that 216 sports channel is maybe nice, but also on SABC+. If you like variety sport and don't mind some older content, that channel 243 is exclusive though I suspect repeats often. Then there's African flavoured music and a Christian channel.

Was interesting to see them putting some of the winter olympics highlights on 243, did they realise their mistake in dropping it later?

Exactly what I thought. SABC Plus has some of that, and the others are largely available for free on YouTube.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

From the article:

​

Free streaming services in South Africa​

Platform	Live offerings	On-demand content
AfreeTV	TV channels: Homebase Millennium TV LN247 SportsCars Africa Radio stations: Akaboozi FM Hillbrow Radio Moshi FM Otji FM Radio One	±60 titles Primarily African and South African series and reality shows
AfriForumTV	None	Afrikaans actuality, news, kids’ programming, school channels, weather
DStv Stream	Channel O SuperSport Schools SuperSport Play TBN Africa	Under-19s South African club football Episodes of Rugby on 216.
eVOD	eTV eExtra Outflix Proud	100+ titles Primarily local series, reality TV, and movies
FreeVision Play	1KZN Afrokiddos Afroland Black Afroland Drama Afroland Experience Afroland Comedy Afroland Crime Afroland Nollywood Afroland Romance Afroland TV BRICS Africa Channel Cape Town TV Faith TV Soweto TV Mpuma Kapa TV Phuthuloha TV Platinum North West TV Sportscast Africa Ekhephini Community Radio Engcobo FM Oasis FM Vuma FM Moutse FM Waterberg Wave Radio	27+ programmes Mostly South African community and reality TV
RugbyPass TV	None	On-demand rugby-related content
SABC+	TV channels: SABC 1 SABC 2 S3 SABC Education SABC News SABC Sport SABC+ Podcasts Radio stations: 5FM Channel Africa Good Hope FM iKwekwezi FM Lesedi FM Ligwalagwala FM Lotus FM Metro FM Motsweding FM Munghana Lonene FM Phalaphala FM Radio 2000 RSG (Radio Sonder Grense) SAfm Thobela FM tru fm Ukhozi FM Umhlobo Wenene FM X-K FM	240+ titles, primarily local series and programming
Viu	None	15 series, including select SABC and international content
YouTube	Frequent, hosted by creators and companies	Billions of hours of creator-generated content

Which of these services has Android TV, and Apple TV OS apps?

 

[Brian_G]

Which of these services has Android TV, and Apple TV OS apps?

AI Overview:


Among your list, YouTube and DStv Stream natively offer both Android TV and Apple TV OS apps. [1]
A platform-by-platform breakdown of the local services reveals the following device support:

• DStv Stream: Offers native apps for both Google Play and Apple App Store. [1, 2]
• YouTube: Supports both Android TV and Apple TV globally.
• SABC+: Has native support for Android TV/boxes and an iOS/iPadOS app that natively supports tvOS for Apple TV. [1, 2]
• Viu: Offers an Android TV application, but its Apple ecosystem support is currently limited to iPhone and iPad (no dedicated Apple TV app). [1]
• AfriForumTV & eVOD: Both are primarily mobile-and-web-focused with Android TV/Google TV support on select devices, but they do not have dedicated native Apple TV apps (though iOS casting is supported). [1]
• AfreeTV, FreeVision Play, & RugbyPass TV: These platforms are generally built for mobile devices and web browsers, without dedicated Android TV or Apple TV OS apps.

If you have a smart TV or media box, are you setting up a specific brand like a Samsung, LG, or an Android-based device (like a Mi Box or Chromecast)? I can provide the exact installation steps for those models.

 

[friedpiggy]

Watched something on DSTV stream last night for the first time and it still had frikken adverts at the start of the show.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Watched something on DSTV stream last night for the first time and it still had frikken adverts at the start of the show.

You surprised?

 

[friedpiggy]

You surprised?

Not really.

 

[cpu.]

AI Overview:


Among your list, YouTube and DStv Stream natively offer both Android TV and Apple TV OS apps. [1]
A platform-by-platform breakdown of the local services reveals the following device support:

• DStv Stream: Offers native apps for both Google Play and Apple App Store. [1, 2]
• YouTube: Supports both Android TV and Apple TV globally.
• SABC+: Has native support for Android TV/boxes and an iOS/iPadOS app that natively supports tvOS for Apple TV. [1, 2]
• Viu: Offers an Android TV application, but its Apple ecosystem support is currently limited to iPhone and iPad (no dedicated Apple TV app). [1]
• AfriForumTV & eVOD: Both are primarily mobile-and-web-focused with Android TV/Google TV support on select devices, but they do not have dedicated native Apple TV apps (though iOS casting is supported). [1]
• AfreeTV, FreeVision Play, & RugbyPass TV: These platforms are generally built for mobile devices and web browsers, without dedicated Android TV or Apple TV OS apps.

If you have a smart TV or media box, are you setting up a specific brand like a Samsung, LG, or an Android-based device (like a Mi Box or Chromecast)? I can provide the exact installation steps for those models.

Rugbypass have an AndroidTV app and also broadcast live Sevens (SVNS) rugby and some minor events.

Edit: in SA

 

[Binary_Bark]

Don't bother with monochoice, full stop

 

[RedViking]

Watched something on DSTV stream last night for the first time and it still had frikken adverts at the start of the show.

Problem is the adverts dont even play properly and are frozen or lagging. If I was an advertiser I would not be happy.