DStv could launch sports-only packages

MultiChoice is investigating unbundling its popular SuperSport line-up from its other DStv channels as part of a broad channel composition review to address changing consumer preferences.

The broadcaster told MyBroadband it has accelerated its efforts into exploring potential changes to the composition of its DStv bouquets.

“This includes considering whether certain bundled elements, such as SuperSport and General Entertainment, could be offered differently in future,” the company said.

MultiChoice said the initiative was still in its early stages and that it was still assessing the offering’s commercial impact and customer value.

“It is also too early to comment on the specifics of any potential model — including whether changes would be optional or how pricing might be structured,” MultiChoice said.

“We remain committed to delivering flexibility and value to our customers and will share further updates as and when there is meaningful progress to report.”

This is not the first time MultiChoice has investigated splitting its DStv packages into bundles with sports channels available separately.

In September 2021, television broadcasting journalist Thinus Ferreira reported that the broadcaster was gauging interest in a DStv Flex product.

It would have consisted of an Entertainment Pack of 67 channels, consisting of popular general entertainment, kids, news, and free-to-air channels.

Subscribers would be given the option to add one of three Sport Packs with various combinations of SuperSport and ESPN channels as “bolt-on” packages.

Only the main Entertainment Pack would be mandatory, while customers could switch the Sport Packs on and off on a month-to-month basis.

While users would not be able to subscribe only to the sports product, Flex would have given them the ability to save money during periods of the year when their favourite sports were in their off seasons.

However, MultiChoice went nearly completely quiet about DStv Flex in the following years. It would only confirm that Flex was part of regular research to test different products and services in 2022.

In July 2024, MultiChoice said that DStv Flex was one of many product ideas it had tested with customers, implying that it was no longer investigating the product.

MultiChoice’s potential new owner sells sports separately

DStv’s extensive sports offering is considered its biggest drawing card. The broadcaster provides live coverage of all major rugby, cricket, football, golf, tennis, and motorsport events.

Over the years, many people have expressed interest in a package with only its SuperSport channels at a more affordable price than its flagship Premium subscription.

It is unclear whether MultiChoice’s latest investigation is again considering offering SuperSport channels as bolt-on products — as it did with Flex — or as a dedicated, standalone product.

MultiChoice’s prospective new owner, Groupe Canal+, offers a dedicated sports bouquet separate from its main subscription.

The French broadcaster’s Canal+ Sport package boasts nine sports channels and an Apple TV+ subscription for €34.99 (R720) per month.

If Canal+ plans to use a similar strategy for DStv if its acquisition pans out, a separate SuperSport offering may become a reality.

However, Ferreira has argued that Canal+ would not spin off SuperSport into either a standalone or bolt-on product if its acquisition of DStv were successful.

“Canal+ won’t strip out sport from the existing package setup since it forms an integral part of the traditional pay-TV bundle,” Ferreira said.

Canal+ and MultiChoice still need to get final approval for the transaction from the Competition Tribunal and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

The Competition Commission has already greenlit the transaction, recommending that the Tribunal conditionally approve the transaction.

If all goes according to plan, the two broadcasters expect the transaction to be completed by October 2025.