DStv announces free upgrades for Starter and Movies & Series subscribers

MultiChoice has announced the next phase of its free DStv upgrade promotion. Two subscriber groups will get temporary access to higher-tier packages from October 26, 2026.

DStv Starter customers will move temporarily to Select. Movies & Series subscribers will gain access to DStv Premium at no extra cost. The upgrades cover South Africa and will last for seven consecutive days.

Who qualifies

MultiChoice said the upgrades will be applied automatically to eligible customers. Subscribers do not need to register or activate the offer.

To qualify, customers must have an active DStv or DStv Stream month-to-month subscription. They must have maintained the subscription for at least one full month. They must also pay their monthly bills in full and on time.

The broadcaster noted that eligibility is determined by the subscription due date rather than the date payment is made. Eligible customers should see the additional channels within 24 to 48 hours of their due date.

Both decoder users and DStv Stream customers are covered. However, customers on quarterly or annual plans are excluded. Business accounts and subscribers on price-lock or subscription price-lock contracts are also ineligible.

Free upgrade schedule

The promotion is already underway. DStv Select customers were the first to benefit. They received access to DStv Sport from September 29. DStv Sport subscribers followed on October 12, gaining access to Premium until October 19, 2026.

The next round starts on October 26, 2026. Starter customers will move to Select. Movies & Series subscribers will receive DStv Premium for seven days at no extra cost.

Package changes

The free upgrade promotion follows changes MultiChoice made to its subscription packages on September 17, 2026. The restructuring introduced new options for sports fans and entertainment viewers.

DStv Sport replaced the former Compact package. Existing Compact subscribers were automatically moved to the new offering. The package combines sports coverage, including football, cricket and rugby, with a selection of entertainment channels.

MultiChoice also introduced Movies & Series for customers who prefer entertainment content without a strong focus on sports. DStv Family was replaced by Select at the same monthly price. The updated package offers more than 100 channels, including 10 new additions for former Family subscribers.

The Access package was replaced by Starter. The entry-level EasyView package remained unchanged. DStv Premium continues to be the broadcaster's top-tier offering.

MultiChoice chief executive Willington Ngwepe said the company would continue looking for ways to deliver more value to subscribers. He said the seven-day upgrade programme forms part of that commitment.

Earlier, DStv overhauled its entire package structure, pricing and branding in South Africa, with the changes set to take effect on September 17, 2026. MultiChoice was acquired at the end of 2025 in a deal valued at more than N4.26 trillion. The revised offering introduces five packages: Starter, Select, Sports, Movies & Series and Premium.