Openview cheaper than DStv after 3 years
DStv rival Openview’s subscription-free satellite broadcasting service becomes more affordable than DStv’s cheapest EasyView package within three years.
MultiChoice overhauled its DStv packages on 17 September 2026, introducing two new bouquets, grandfathering another, and making significant changes to its other subscription tiers.
DStv Compact Plus was shut down, and existing subscribers were upgraded to DStv Premium at their existing monthly fee.
Other changes to DStv’s catalogue included transitioning DStv Access subscribers to the new Starter package and DStv Family subscribers to the new Select package.
DStv Compact customers were automatically transitioned to DStv Sports on 17 September 2026. While it is a dedicated sports package, some content, like Springbok rugby, remains reserved for DStv Premium.
DStv Movies & Series is an entirely new package priced at R500 per month for both package types. It was designed for viewers who want premium entertainment without the sports.
The two packages that have remained as is are the top tier DStv Premium and entry-level plan DStv EasyView, which gives subscribers access to over 30 channels for R30 per month.
Noteworthy channels on the bouquet include TNT Africa, E-tv Extra, SuperSport Blitz, and Moja 99. The entry-level package is only available on satellite, with no DStv Stream option.
It is also sold exclusively through DStv’s WhatsApp and call centre support channels, with MultiChoice owner Canal+ recently confirming the package was delisted from the DStv website.
“The online packs available align with the DStv Stream packages, which don’t include EasyView,” Canal+ said.
MyBroadband compared DStv’s EasyView package to Openview’s offering in terms of pricing and channel numbers.
The DStv package came out on top in terms of channel count, with approximately 30 TV channels compared to Openview’s 22 TV channels.
Notable channels available to Openview subscribers include the full South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) suite, the full eTV suite, the Home Channel+, and StarLife.
It also provides customers with access to France 24 news and the SportTV channel, which covers a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, and mixed martial arts (MMA).
DStv Access vs Openview: price and channel showdown
While its channel offering is slightly less extensive than DStv’s EasyView package, it is significantly more affordable for long-time viewers.
Similar to DStv’s satellite packages, Openview customers require a decoder to access its content, priced at R799 without installation.
However, unlike DStv, the rival doesn’t charge a monthly fee. Once customers have paid for the decoder and installation, they can access Openview’s content free of charge.
While the decoder costs R799, installation can bring the upfront cost to between R1,500 and R2,500, depending on the household’s installation requirements.
In comparison, DStv EasyView subscribers can get a DStv HD Single View decoder, with installation, for R499. These customers also pay a subscription fee of R30 per month.
Our analysis found that the price of DStv EasyView would surpass the cost of a R1,500 Openview installation by the 34th month of paying the subscription fee, or after two years and 10 months.
The same DStv subscription would surpass the cost of an R2,500 Openview installation by month 67, or after five years and seven months.
The Openview option is more affordable from month 10 for households that don’t require installation and only need to pay for a decoder.
The chart below compares the cost of DStv’s EasyView package to the cost of getting Openview across 3 scenarios.
Scenario A represents a situation in which a household requires only the R799 decoder, while Scenario B assumes the household has a dish and existing cabling, bringing installation costs to around R1,500.
Scenario C represents a situation where the household has no satellite TV equipment and requires a fresh Openview installation, which costs around R2,500.
Openview versus EasyView costs over time
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