DStv cutting 5 channels
Pay-TV giant MultiChoice is removing five channels from its optional Add Indian package for DStv customers, effective 31 October 2026.
The broadcaster notified Add Indian package customers of the change in an email on 30 September 2026.
“We are refining the DStv channel lineup to better match how our customers watch and enjoy content,” the email said.
“Rather than spreading similar content across many channels, we’re focusing on fewer, stronger channels to create a simpler viewing experience.”
As a result of these changes, five channels in the R280 add-on would be removed by the end of this month, namely:
- SET Asia (Channel 450)
- Zee TV (Channel 452)
- SET Max (Channel 457)
- Zee Cinema (Channel 460)
- WION (Channel 461)
Following the shutdown at the end of October, the add-on will only have three channels: Star Plus (Channel 453), Star Vijay (Channel 455), and Colors TV (Channel 456).
“Your Add Indian add-on remains available in South Africa, and you’ll continue to enjoy Indian entertainment,” MultiChoice said.
“We appreciate your continued support as we evolve our offering. We’re committed to providing quality entertainment and even better value.”
DStv first introduced the “Indian Bouquet” in 2001 and has since restructured and rebranded the package several times to keep up with changing viewer dynamics and demands.
In 2015, the broadcaster combined its DStv North Indian and South Indian packages into a single R319-per-month Indian package, which could also be purchased as an add-on for an extra R205 per month.
At the time of its combination, then MultiChoice COO Mark Rayner said that South Africa’s Indian community was very important to the broadcaster.
This combined package contained eight channels, which have undergone changes and rebrandings since then.
In feedback on the change, MultiChoice told MyBroadband that it was concentrating on fewer, stronger channels, giving subscribers a cleaner, easier-to-navigate line-up.
It said this would lead to a better viewing experience for subscribers, and they could still access Indian-inspired entertainment through the three remaining channels.
“Movie-lovers who have the Add Movies subscription will still have access to Hollywood’s latest blockbusters on M-Movies+ and M-Movies Stars,” MultiChoice said.
Reduced price offer coming soon
While the email did not confirm whether the add-on price would change as the channels are reduced, MultiChoice said it would provide details about a reduced-price offer “soon.”
The cutting of five channels from the Add Indian add-on followed the biggest change to the DStv bouquet offering in over two decades.
DStv’s operating company in South Africa announced sweeping changes for subscribers on 7 September 2026 amid a product restructure almost a year after it was acquired by France’s Canal+.
The restructure saw DStv Compact customers migrated to DStv Sports, which remained priced at R399 per month for a streaming-only service.
It includes more sports content, alongside all the entertainment content that DStv Compact offered prior to the shift.
Subscribers to this package also received access to Wethu+, a new mega-channel which combines content from Mzansi Wethu, Mzansi Magic, Bioskop Movies, and select PSL fixtures.
DStv also introduced a new Movies & Series package designed for TV fans who want premium entertainment without the focus on sports.
The package gives subscribers access to channels such as M-Net, kykNET, M-Net Movies+, and BBC Earth, featuring top lifestyle shows and blockbuster movies. It costs R500 per month.
DStv also retained its entry-level EasyView package, which gives subscribers access to over 30 channels for R30 per month, including TNT Africa, E-tv Extra, SuperSport Blitz, and Moja 99.
The Premium package also remained untouched. The full breakdown of DStv’s new packages is shown in the table below.
| Old package | New package | Streaming price | Decoder price | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DStv Access | DStv Starter | R99 | R150 | Wethu+, kykNet & kie, SuperSport KICKOFF, SportyTV, M-Net Legends |
| DStv Family | DStv Select | R299 | R339 | Mzansi Magic, CNN, Nickelodeon, plus everything on Starter |
| DStv Compact | DStv Sports | R399 | R479 | SuperSport PSL, Premier League, Football, La Liga, and 12 more, Wethu+, M-Net Stars, BBC Brit |
| NEW | DStv Movies & Series | R500 | R500 | M-Net, M-Net Movies+, kykNET, BBC Brit, Wethu+, BBC Lifestyle, Disney Channel |
| DStv Compact+ | Grandfathered | R549 | R649 | Customers can no longer switch to or take up this package. |
| DStv Premium | DStv Premium | R799 | R979 | Full DStv channel catalogue |
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