DStv package changes 2026 will bring one of the biggest shake-ups to the broadcaster’s subscription offering in almost 15 years, with a new Sports package, the removal of Compact Plus and major changes to how customers access entertainment and sport.
The changes take effect from 17 September 2026, as MultiChoice restructures DStv’s South African package line-up to give customers more flexibility over the content they pay for.
Under the new structure, Access, Family and Compact will be replaced by Starter, Select and Sports, while a new Movies & Series package will be introduced below Premium.
Compact Plus, meanwhile, will be discontinued as a standalone package.
What are the DStv package changes in 2026?
The DStv package changes 2026 introduce a new structure designed to give customers more choice over their entertainment and sports viewing.
The new line-up will consist of:
- Starter
- Select
- Sports
- Movies & Series
- Premium
The biggest change is the introduction of Sports, a mid-priced package aimed at customers who want access to major sporting competitions without subscribing to Premium.
The restructuring also changes the position of several major sports properties that were previously restricted to higher-priced packages.
DStv Sports brings major competitions to a lower tier
DStv Sports will cost R479 per month on satellite and R399 per month on DStv Stream.
The package will include 17 sports channels and, alongside the entertainment content included in Select, will offer access to a wide range of major sporting events.
These include:
- Premier Soccer League matches
- Premier League matches
- UEFA Champions League matches
- Cricket
- Currie Cup
- SA Cup
- Varsity Rugby
- One URC rugby match per week
- Cycling
- UFC
The move is particularly significant because cricket, the UEFA Champions League and certain local rugby competitions were previously associated with Premium-level access.
For sports fans who do not need every premium sporting property available on DStv, the new Sports tier could therefore provide a more affordable alternative.
What happens to DStv Premium?
Premium will remain at the top of the DStv package structure.
The satellite price will remain R979 per month, while customers who sign a 24-month contract can access Premium for R799 per month.
Premium will continue to carry some of DStv’s most premium sporting content, including:
- Springbok and international rugby
- The remainder of the URC
- Formula 1
- MotoGP
- SuperBike racing
- Dakar Rally
- Golf majors
- Tennis
This means Premium remains the package aimed at customers who want the broadest combination of entertainment and premium sports.
The new DStv package changes in 2026 therefore do not remove Premium from the top of the line-up. Instead, they create additional options below it.
Movies & Series package introduced
MultiChoice is also introducing a new Movies & Series package at R500 per month on both satellite and DStv Stream.
The package will move M-Net and kykNET outside of their previous Premium-exclusive position and add entertainment channels including:
- M-Net Movies+
- M-Net Stars
- M-Net Legends
- Discovery Channel
- BBC Earth
Movies & Series will also include 10 sports channels, with access to competitions including the PSL, LaLiga and Serie A, as well as ESPN.
However, the package will not include the UEFA Champions League or rugby.
This helps maintain a distinction between the entertainment-focused Movies & Series package and the more sports-heavy DStv Sports offering.
Compact Plus is disappearing
One of the most notable parts of the DStv package changes 2026 is the removal of Compact Plus.
The existing package currently costs R659 per month on satellite and R549 per month on DStv Stream.
Rather than being replaced by another similarly positioned package, Compact Plus subscribers will be moved to Premium at their existing price for 12 months.
After that 12-month period, customers will need to decide whether to remain on Premium at the applicable rate or select another package.
The decision effectively removes Compact Plus from DStv’s new package structure.
What happens to existing DStv customers?
Existing customers on Access, Family and Compact will be moved automatically to the corresponding new packages during September.
Importantly, MultiChoice says these customers will continue paying the prices they currently pay.
On satellite, the new package prices are:
For customers on DStv satellite, the new packages will be priced at R150 per month for Starter, R339 per month for Select and R479 per month for Sports.
For DStv Stream, Starter will cost R99 per month, Select will cost R299 per month, and Sports will cost R399 per month.
The changes therefore represent a restructuring of the package line-up rather than an immediate across-the-board price increase for existing subscribers.
Why is MultiChoice changing DStv packages?
The DStv package changes 2026 are designed to address a problem MultiChoice says customers have been raising for years: having to pay for a more expensive package simply to access a small selection of channels or sporting competitions.
Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice LicenceCo, said customers had repeatedly asked for more flexibility in how they access content.
The new structure responds to that demand by separating different viewing priorities more clearly.
A household with a strong interest in sport, for example, can now consider Sports without necessarily paying for Premium.
At the same time, households more interested in entertainment can consider Movies & Series.
How the new DSTV package changes 2026 could affect DStv subscribers
The new structure could change how South African households decide which DStv package represents the best value.
For sports fans, the introduction of Sports is likely to be one of the biggest changes.
The package gives customers access to major football competitions, cricket and selected rugby without requiring a Premium subscription.
For entertainment-focused households, Movies & Series creates another alternative, bringing M-Net and kykNET content into a package positioned below Premium.
Meanwhile, Premium retains a strong selection of major international sports and the broadest overall offering.
DStv package changes come as streaming competition grows
The restructuring comes as traditional pay-TV providers continue adapting to changing viewing habits and increased competition from streaming platforms.
Consumers increasingly have more ways to access entertainment, sport and international content, making flexibility and perceived value increasingly important.
By creating more clearly defined packages, MultiChoice is attempting to give customers greater control over the content they pay for while continuing to protect Premium as its flagship offering.
The success of the new structure will ultimately depend on how subscribers respond once the changes take effect.
The new DStv package changes 2026 will start on 17 September
The DStv package changes 2026 will begin rolling out from 17 September, marking a major change to the broadcaster’s South African subscription model.
Access, Family and Compact will make way for Starter, Select and Sports, while Movies & Series will add a new entertainment-focused option.
Compact Plus will disappear, with its subscribers temporarily moved to Premium at their current price.
For DStv customers, the biggest question will be which new package delivers the combination of sport and entertainment they actually watch at a price that makes sense for their household.
With the new structure, MultiChoice is betting that giving customers more targeted options will help DStv remain competitive in a rapidly changing entertainment market.
The latest restructuring follows a period of significant change for DStv and the wider South African television market. In December 2025, Pat on Brands reported on DStv’s removal of channels from its line-up, highlighting the ongoing changes affecting local entertainment brands and viewers. Now, as the broadcaster prepares to introduce its new package structure, TechCentral has provided a detailed breakdown of DStv’s package overhaul, including the new tiers, pricing and changes to sports and entertainment access.
