DStv is preparing to launch a new Sports package priced at R399 a month, in what could be one of the biggest changes to South Africa’s pay-TV market in years. The new package is expected to become available to streaming customers on 17 September 2026, giving sports viewers the option to pay specifically for a broader selection of live sport without subscribing to DStv Premium.
The reported overhaul would transform the existing DStv Compact package into DStv Sports, with 115 channels and a lineup heavily focused on football, cricket, rugby, UFC and WWE.
The change is particularly significant because DStv has historically bundled much of its most valuable sports content with entertainment channels and placed its most premium sporting rights behind the top-tier Premium subscription.
DStv Sports package will cost R399
According to information published on DStv’s website and subsequently removed, the new DStv Sports package will cost R399 per month for streaming customers.
It is expected to carry 115 channels, making it substantially broader than a conventional sports-only service.
The reported package lineup includes:
- Premier League football
- UEFA competitions
- T20 cricket
- International cricket
- Local rugby
- One United Rugby Championship match per week
- UFC
- WWE
- PSL content
- Selected entertainment channels
The package will therefore not be completely sports-only. It is better understood as a sports-focused package, with entertainment content still included.
For sports fans, however, the major attraction is the ability to access a significant amount of SuperSport’s sports offering without moving all the way to DStv Premium.
The biggest question is what sport will remain on Premium
While the R399 package represents a major change, it does not appear to give subscribers access to all of DStv’s premium sports rights.
Some of the most valuable sporting content is expected to remain exclusive to DStv Premium, which is reportedly priced at R799 per month.
This includes major rugby fixtures involving the Springboks, as well as Formula 1, MotoGP, golf and ATP tennis.
This distinction will be crucial for consumers deciding whether the new Sports package represents genuine savings.
A football supporter primarily interested in the Premier League and UEFA competitions could find the R399 package significantly more attractive.
A household that wants the Springboks, Formula 1, tennis and golf would still need the more expensive Premium package.
Premier League and UEFA are major attractions
The inclusion of Premier League and UEFA content makes the new Sports package particularly important for football fans.
These competitions are among the most valuable sporting properties carried by SuperSport and have traditionally helped DStv maintain the appeal of its higher-priced packages.
Under the reported new structure, sports-focused households would no longer necessarily have to purchase the full Premium package to access major international football.
This could fundamentally change the way DStv packages its most valuable content.
Instead of asking customers to pay for entertainment they may not watch in order to access sport, the company would allow them to choose a more specialised package.
Cricket fans also get more options
The reported DStv Sports package will also include significant cricket coverage.
The offering is expected to include T20 cricket, including competitions such as the SA20 and Indian Premier League, alongside other international cricket content.
For cricket fans, this could make the R399 package one of the most important changes to DStv’s subscription structure.
However, consumers should pay attention to the precise rights included when DStv formally announces the package. The leaked information does not necessarily represent the final product.
Rugby offering will be more complicated
Rugby fans face a more complicated choice.
The Sports package is expected to include local rugby and one URC match per week, but major Springbok fixtures and other premium rugby content are reportedly being retained for Premium subscribers.
That means a customer who subscribes to DStv Sports primarily to follow South African rugby may still need to upgrade.
This is potentially the biggest weakness of the R399 package.
The Springboks are among the country’s most watched sporting teams, and their matches are a major reason many South African households maintain higher-tier DStv subscriptions.
If those matches remain exclusive to Premium, rugby-focused households will need to weigh the R400 monthly difference between Sports and Premium.
UFC and WWE will also be available
The reported Sports package extends beyond traditional South African favourites.
It is expected to include UFC and WWE, giving combat sports and wrestling fans another reason to consider the new tier.
This broadens the package’s appeal beyond football and cricket and positions DStv Sports as a multi-sport offering rather than a football-specific product.
The strategy could also help DStv compete for younger consumers who increasingly choose individual sports and entertainment services instead of traditional television bundles.
New DStv packages will start from R99
The Sports package forms part of a much wider DStv restructuring.
The reported new streaming lineup is:
| Package | Monthly price | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| DStv Starter | R99 | 85 |
| DStv Select | R299 | 100 |
| DStv Sports | R399 | 115 |
| DStv Movies & Series | R500 | 115 |
| DStv Premium | R799 | 130 |
The new structure would give customers more choice between sports and entertainment rather than forcing both categories into the same expensive package.
DStv Starter would be positioned as the entry-level package, while Select would provide more entertainment and PSL content.
Movies & Series would provide an alternative for customers who want premium entertainment without paying for the full sports offering.
DStv is trying to respond to changing customer behaviour
The restructuring comes after years of pressure on DStv’s subscriber base.
Consumers have increasingly questioned whether traditional pay-TV bundles provide enough value when compared with streaming services that allow customers to pay for more specific types of content.
The reported introduction of separate Sports and Movies & Series packages suggests that DStv is responding directly to this shift.
It also represents a significant change in strategy for a business that has historically relied heavily on large bundled packages.
The move comes after Canal+ took control of MultiChoice, with the new ownership pursuing changes intended to simplify the DStv offering and improve the economics of the business.
Will DStv Sports really be cheaper for sports fans?
For some households, the answer could be yes.
A football fan interested primarily in the Premier League and UEFA competitions could potentially move from Premium to Sports and reduce their monthly subscription by R400.
That would amount to R4,800 over a year.
But the saving disappears if the customer also wants Formula 1, Springbok rugby, MotoGP, golf or ATP tennis, which are reportedly retained on Premium.
The real value of DStv Sports will therefore depend on the sports each household follows.
Who could benefit most from DStv Sports?
Premier League fans: Strong potential value because Premier League content is expected to be included.
UEFA football fans: The package is expected to include UEFA competitions.
Cricket fans: The reported package includes T20 and other cricket content.
UFC and WWE fans: Both are expected to be included.
Springbok fans: Less attractive if major Springbok fixtures remain Premium-only.
Formula 1 fans: Premium remains necessary based on the reported package structure.
Golf and tennis fans: Premium appears to remain the relevant package.
DStv’s biggest package change in years
The proposed Sports package is more than a new subscription option. It represents a significant shift in how DStv is attempting to sell its most valuable content.
For years, sports fans who wanted Premier League football, rugby or cricket were generally required to accept a large entertainment bundle as part of the deal.
The reported R399 Sports package breaks with that model.
It gives DStv a way to target consumers who value live sport but are unwilling to pay R799 for Premium.
At the same time, retaining the biggest sporting properties on Premium protects the value of the company’s top tier.
That creates a two-level strategy. DStv Sports becomes the more accessible option for mainstream sports fans, while Premium remains the package for viewers who want the full sporting offering.
What consumers should watch before 17 September
The reported changes are expected to take effect on 17 September 2026, but consumers should wait for DStv’s official announcement before making a subscription decision.
MultiChoice has previously declined to confirm the leaked package details, saying it continually reviews its products and that customers would be informed directly about any changes.
The most important details to confirm will be the final sports channel lineup, exactly which competitions are included, whether any rights change before launch and how the new packages will affect existing subscribers.
For sports fans, however, one thing is already clear from the reported restructuring. DStv is moving towards a model where customers can pay more directly for the content they actually watch.
If the R399 Sports package launches as reported, it could put significant pressure on the traditional DStv Premium model and force consumers to reconsider how much they are willing to pay for live sport.
