By 
By Ross Moyo
DStv has rolled out its biggest package shake-up in 15 years in South Africa, and if the same model comes to Zimbabwe, subscribers could see dedicated Sports and Movies & Series packages for the first time.
The new structure goes live in South Africa on 17 September 2026. MultiChoice says it was delayed by the 2025 Canal+ acquisition, but is a direct response to customer demand for cheaper, focused bundles.
Here’s how the new SA prices look, and what they would be in Zimbabwe in USD using R18.50 = US$1 as the current market rate:
DStv’s New SA Packages Converted To USD
Package SA Price Decoder/Streaming Approx USD Decoder/Streaming What You Get
EasyView R30 / R30 $1.62 / $1.62 Free-to-air channels
Starter R99 / R150 $5.35 / $8.11 85 channels + 1 PSL match. Replaces Access
Select R299 / R339 $16.16 / $18.32 100 channels + PSL soccer. Replaces Family
Sports R399 / R479 $21.57 / $25.89 115 channels + EPL, UCL, cricket, rugby, UFC. Replaces Compact
Movies & Series R500 / R500 $27.03 / $27.03 115 channels + M-Net, M Movies+. Brand new
Compact Plus R549 / R659 $29.68 / $35.62 Grandfathered package
Premium R799 / R979 $43.19 / $52.92 130 channels + F1, golf, tennis, premium rugby
Note: Exchange rate used R18.50 = US$1. Prices will vary with forex and EcoCash/ZiG rates in Zimbabwe.
Why This Matters For Zimbabwe
1. Unbundling: For the first time DStv is splitting Sport and Movies/Series. In Zimbabwe this would mean a subscriber who only wants football no longer has to pay for Premium to get EPL and UCL. The new “Sports” package at ~US$22-$26 would undercut Premium which currently costs over US$45 in Zim.
2. Cheaper Entry Point: “Starter” at US$5-$8 gives access to 85 channels. That’s closer to what many Zimbabweans pay for streaming services and could win back cord-cutters.
3. Movies & Series Standalone: At US$27, this is the first time M-Net and M-Net Movies+ are available without paying for full Premium. It targets Netflix/Showmax subscribers directly.
The Canal+ Factor
MultiChoice South Africa is now run by LicenceCo, carved out after French giant Canal+ bought MultiChoice in 2025 to comply with SA’s 30% BEE and 20% foreign ownership rules.
Canal+ Africa supplies the channels to LicenceCo.
Canal+ CEO Byron du Plessis said the goal is to eventually have streaming and decoder prices the same.
“We probably should have done it sooner… When the price is right, and the content available at the right value, customers will return to the platform,” he said.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe has not announced if/when the new packages will come here. But historically Zim pricing follows SA with a 2-4 month lag, plus forex and licensing adjustments.
What Experts Say
The move comes as DStv faces pressure from Netflix, Showmax, and piracy in Zimbabwe. During the June 2026 FIFA World Cup, DStv SA recorded its best month in 10 years, which MultiChoice says proves customers will return if value is right.
For Zimbabwe, the big questions are:
Will the “Sports” package include PSL and local football rights?
Will streaming and decoder prices be aligned here too given high data costs?
Will ZOL, Liquid and Starlink bundles include the new cheaper tiers?
MultiChoice has said more changes are coming after this “Phase 1” launch. A full reprice of all tiers is expected.
For now, Zimbabwean subscribers watching from the sidelines will be hoping the US$22 Sports and US$27 Movies packages land locally soon. It could be the first real alternative to paying US$45+ for Premium just to watch football.
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