Subscriber frustration over missing DStv Stream discounts

[Luis]

Subscriber frustration over missing DStv Stream discounts

Several former Showmax subscribers have not received a special discount on DStv Stream Compact after MultiChoice shut down the on-demand video streaming service at the end of April.

Many more have vented their frustration that much of the content they could previously access on Showmax was not moved to DStv Stream.

 

[Joseph matane]

I totally agree with other Shomax migration frustrated customers. I was one of them.

The issue started because I didn’t receive the migration offer, even though my subscription was active until 20 May 2026. I lodged a complaint with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, which forced the Office of the CEO at MultiChoice to acknowledge my case instead of me having to go through the normal customer service channels.

This has been extremely frustrating. MultiChoice did not update me properly and kept giving unclear answers like “you will be migrated before the service closes,” but I never received a migration email or activation link for DStv Compact.

When I contacted both DStv and Shomax customer service, the agents knew nothing about my case. They kept telling me that if I didn’t receive the email, I wasn’t part of the selected customers. That’s frustrating because it’s not about whether you’re an active, paying subscriber. It feels like MultiChoice is trying to cut costs while still taking our money.

Even the refund process is difficult. It seems they deliberately make it hard to discourage refunds so they can keep the money. The Consumer Goods Ombud is already aware of this issue because of my complaint.

They were supposed to migrate all active Shomax subscribers to DStv Compact without hassle. Instead, they selected certain customers. If you’re selecting people, it’s clear you’re trying to cut costs.

I was lucky to eventually get a DStv Compact trial linked to one of my DStv accounts, and I accepted it because I wanted access to live football on my Smart TV. But the process is unfair.

MultiChoice needs to be held accountable. If you had active subscribers from 1 April until May 2026, they should have been prioritized for migration. It makes no sense to give a free trial to someone who only paid for April, while ignoring someone who had already paid up to 20 May 2026. Those customers already paid for those days. You should be switching them to DStv Compact to honor that service period.

Now they’re saying “if you didn’t get an email, you’re not part of the deal” and “the selection is closed.” I believe if more customers take this to the Consumer Goods Ombud, they would have a strong case.

MultiChoice needs to stop this selective approach and honor commitments to all active, paying subscribers.

 

[Captain Beer]

DStv apps are complete **** across the board, on every device and every platform. They're buggy, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. The fact that people probably get a decent salary only to develop such a steaming pile of **** truly bugs me.

 

[acrobat]

Same here - did not receive the email. Could not register for the product with the discount any other way. You can only get this sorted during office hours apparently as the help resources after hours are not equipped to deal with it. Also tried the Whatsapp help line but it just runs you in circles.
Terrible service and poor change management.

 

[Bad Ballie]

Bad enough when a company shoots itself in the foot, must be embarrassing when they do it twice with a shotgun.

 

[Goosfrabba]

I was fortunate to receive the link. The Showmax app was definitely less buggy.

Navigating the DSTV app isn't entirely intuitive, eventully found the Showmax stuff. It is slow as well. On my TV the sport channel title don't update after each game so have to guess which channel the game i want to watch is on. A lot more buffering that the Showmax app.

At R99 p/m for a year, I can't complain too much but at full price....a different story.

 

[The Gilded]

Dude bitches that he can't watch Die Kantoor so obviously all of DSTV is a failure as a result. These are the kind of people we deal with in this country who can never be satisfied.