The year is 1995 and MultiChoice is launching DSTV in South Africa. For citizens used to four state-broadcast stations, this is like science fiction. You might look at the great clunking DSTV decoder box sitting atop a television now and laugh. But 30 years ago, the technology therein represented a whole new world for post-Apartheid South Africa. DSTV was one of the first satellite services outside of the United States.
A satellite broadcast beaming dozens of channels directly into homes across South Africa. And this was international, never-before-seen content. Live sports through the newly formed SuperSport, cutting-edge movies and entertainment. Lest not forget that those early DSTV decoders were substantial pieces of hardware that required satellite dishes. Professional installers ensured careful alignment to Intelsat satellites in orbit above the equator. All for the princely sum of R200 per month for the ‘premium bouquet.’
HOW MUCH DSTV USED TO COST
The figure might sound inexpensive today but, adjusted for inflation, R200 in 1995 is the equivalent of R1 023 today. So, yes, DSTV was expensive even back then, but it represented something totally new. Of course, the single-view Digital Satellite Decoders (DSDs) of the time were entirely one-way communication. They simply received and unscrambled the satellite signal.
However, in its first decade to 2005, the technology evolved quickly. DSTV shifted to more powerful satellites with more channels and improved picture quality. It introduced dual-view decoders to watch two channels at once, transforming how families consumed television.
Next up on the evolutionary timeline was Personal Video Recording (PVR). These could pause live television and store recordings. Pricing had climbed steadily, too. Premium subscriptions cost approximately R400 per month in 2005. Once again, adjusted for inflation, thats the equivalent of R1 158 today.
DSTV GOES HIGH DEFINITION
The introduction of high-definition broadcasting around 2010 marked another technological leap. In turn, this required another generation of decoders capable of processing higher-resolution signals. Enter the DSTV Explora, with more sophisticated recording capabilities and improved user experience (UX) interface. By this point, 2015, the top-tier Premium package had climbed to R600 per month. Interestingly, that’s only equivalent to R959 in 2025 money. So, actually fair value for most South Africans residents.
Nevertheless, it’s the past decade that’s proven most challenging for the satellite broadcaster. International streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and others have all stolen away market share. Critically, it’s young viewers who prefer the on-demand flexibility of streaming over traditional channels.
Furthermore, French media giant Canal+ acquired MultiChoice for R30 billion back in 2024. Since then, it’s lowered Premium package prices to R800 per month. This would be the same as R155 back in 1995, so the cheapest it’s ever been. Plus, the company is expanding its DSTV Stream service and exploring more flexible month-to-month options. It’s also announced the return of Open Time to all existing subscribers for a limited period in November.
But what do you think? Can the satellite broadcaster survive and thrive into a fourth decade under new ownership? Let us know in the comments section below …
