DStv Black Friday plans

Black Friday 2024 is around the corner, and while DStv owner MultiChoice plans to offer Black Friday promotions this year, it has yet to share details about its plans.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, which this year is 29 November. During the sales event, stores generally offer highly discounted products and often open as early as midnight for customers to begin shopping.

MyBroadband asked MultiChoice about its Black Friday plans for DStv this year, but the company said it is too early to share details and would confirm them at a later stage.

In the past, the pay-TV broadcaster has offered discounts on DStv Internet packages, deals on decoders and DStv packages, and various giveaways.

In 2023, the company dubbed its campaign “All Black Friday”, as it ran a promotion to give away a free DStv Premium subscription until the next Rugby World Cup, to be held in Australia in 2027.

The giveaway included a 65-inch Smart TV, TV stand, sound bar, an Explora Ultra Decoder with installation, DStv Insurance, DStv Internet, and a complete DStv Premium package including Showmax, Extra Stream, Namola, and a choice of the winner’s choice.

It noted that customers must buy one of its Black Friday deals to enter the giveaway, with qualifying deals including:

• A DStv Compact package at R299 per month for six months
• Various DStv Internet deals
• Various decoder deals
• A range of DStv package deals, including Premium, Compact, and Access, bundled with decoders and retail vouchers

In 2022, the pay-TV broadcaster’s Black Friday deals included an offer on one of its Internet packages: customers could get an additional 150GB of data over three months at no extra cost.

It also offered a 50GB DStv Internet Compact bundle at R499 per month with double data for the first three months. For reference, it included a DStv Compact subscription, which was priced at R429 per month at the time.

The Black Friday offer included a DStv-branded router with free delivery. In years prior, DStv offered significant discounts on decoders and installations on the day of the sales event.

Spending shift on Black Friday 2023

Data from the online payment platform Payfast revealed that shoppers were far more strategic regarding their purchases in 2023 than in previous years.

Payfast director Brendon Williamson said Black Friday enthusiasts approached the event by pre-selecting desired products and leveraging price reductions in the weeks leading up to it.

“With access to platforms that monitor item products over time, shoppers can gain valuable insights into price fluctuations throughout the year, and gauge whether their wish-listed products really are at a good price,” Williamson explained.

“It’s no longer just about shopping — it’s a strategic approach.”

According to Payfast’s data, retailers selling general merchandise or convenience food stores, family clothing stores, discount stores, and clothing stores saw the most sales on Black Friday 2023.

This was as South African residents stocked up on essentials and small treats after a challenging financial year.

“As the cost-of-living climbs, and inflation remains high, the choices around when and where to spend money have gained greater significance – particularly when considering significant purchases like appliances or electronics,” said Williamson.

Payfast’s findings about the most popular types of retailers on Black Friday 2023 correlate with what South Africa’s largest online retailer, Takealot, observed.

It found that groceries and essentials were the most popular products, and saw a 65% jump in sales in its bulk shopping proposition “ALOT for Less”.