Is a Sports-Only DStv Package Finally on the Horizon? Here’s What We Know

As South Africans tighten their belts, MultiChoice is considering giving sports fans exactly what they’ve been asking for: flexibility.

For years, South Africans have had one burning question for DStv: Why can’t I just subscribe to sports? Now, it seems like the broadcasting giant is finally listening or at least, thinking seriously about it again.

MultiChoice has confirmed it’s re-evaluating its channel composition, with a specific focus on whether SuperSport, its most prized content asset, can be unbundled from general entertainment packages. It’s a move that could reshape how South Africans especially sports lovers consume content in a market that’s rapidly evolving.

Flexibility in the Age of Streaming

In a statement to MyBroadband, MultiChoice said it’s still early days, but that it’s speeding up its investigation into more modular offerings. While the company hasn’t committed to a definite plan or price model yet, it did suggest the possibility of giving customers more control over what they pay for.

“We remain committed to delivering flexibility and value to our customers,” the company said, cautiously.

That’s music to the ears of South Africans feeling the pinch of rising costs and shrinking household budgets. At nearly R900 per month, DStv Premium remains one of the most expensive entertainment options on the market, with many subscribers complaining they only use it for live sport.

Throwback to DStv Flex: The Great ‘Almost’

This isn’t the first time MultiChoice has tested this idea.

In 2021, industry insider Thinus Ferreira reported on a concept called DStv Flex, where subscribers would get a base Entertainment Pack and choose from several optional “Sport Packs” with varying combinations of SuperSport and ESPN. The kicker? You could switch those sport packs on and off as your favourite season came and went.

While Flex offered a glimmer of hope, MultiChoice later admitted it was simply market research and quietly shelved the idea by mid-2022. Fast forward to today, and it appears that either customer demand or potential business pressure has put the concept or something like it, back on the table.

Could Canal+ Change the Game?

There’s another reason MultiChoice might be rethinking its model: French media powerhouse Canal+.

Canal+ is in the process of acquiring a majority stake in MultiChoice, and if the deal goes through, it could bring a fresh European-style strategy to South Africa’s outdated pay-TV model.

Interestingly, Canal+ already offers a sports-only bouquet in France — nine dedicated channels and an Apple TV+ subscription bundled in for €34.99 (roughly R720). That kind of offering would seriously undercut DStv Premium and could attract a younger, sport-obsessed market.

But Ferreira isn’t convinced. The veteran broadcaster argues that Canal+ would likely keep SuperSport locked inside a full-package model in South Africa because of its anchoring role in the current bundle.

Whether Canal+ decides to replicate its home model or double down on traditional bundling, one thing is certain: South African viewing habits have changed.

Social Media Reacts: “Give Us Sports and Leave the Rest!”

On platforms like Twitter and Reddit, the reaction to MultiChoice’s latest comments has been instant and passionate.

“If I could get SuperSport and nothing else, I’d be a happy man,” one user tweeted.
“R900 a month and I only watch rugby and F1? Come on, MultiChoice,” said another.

Some are hopeful, others sceptical, particularly after the ghost of DStv Flex. Still, many agree: unbundling sport might be the only way to keep customers in a market with more streaming options than ever.

What Happens Next?

MultiChoice says it’s still assessing both customer value and commercial viability. And while it won’t commit to details just yet, it has confirmed that this isn’t just hypothetical. This is a serious internal review.

The company also still needs regulatory clarity on its potential merger with Canal+, with the Competition Commission giving a conditional thumbs up, but final decisions from the Competition Tribunal and Icasa still pending. If everything goes to plan, the acquisition could be finalized by October 2025.

Why This Moment Matters

This could be a pivotal moment in South Africa’s broadcasting future.

A move to offer SuperSport as a standalone or bolt-on product would not only shift consumer power back into viewers’ hands, but also force the rest of the industry from Netflix to Showmax to StarSat to rethink their own value propositions.

Until then, South Africans wait with cautious optimism. Because in a country where rugby, cricket and soccer are practically religion, access to affordable sports content isn’t a luxury, it’s a rig

{Source: My Broad Band}

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