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MultiChoice will soon unveil a complete overhaul of its DStv packages following Canal+’s takeover less than a year ago. Reports suggest the revamp will include a standalone sports package, available from later this month.<\/p>\n
This will be the first time MultiChoice offers a sport-only package, aside from its ill-fated Showmax push, which included a Premier League plan (which includes the PSL) for R99 per month.<\/p>\n
It will seemingly offer this sports package alongside an entertainment-focused option, \u2018Movies & Series\u2019.<\/p>\n
These two options, according to various leaks, will be priced at R399 (sports) and R500 (general entertainment).<\/p>\n
If this is indeed correct, it will dramatically shake up DStv\u2019s package structure and simplify the positioning of its offerings in the market.<\/p>\n
Currently, this extends to six packages: EasyView, Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium. It has largely deemphasised the EasyView package (R30) completely, with no obvious purchase options currently available.<\/p>\n
Since Canal+ took over the group, it has effectively offered five subscription packages to the South African market: Access (R99), Family (R299 or R339 with a decoder), Compact (R399 or R479 with a decoder), Compact Plus (R549 or R659 with a decoder) and Premium (R799 or R979 with a decoder).<\/p>\n
Five new packages<\/p>\n
It will now change this to another five bouquets, comprising, according to various reports, a \u2018Starter\u2019 package, \u2018Select\u2019 (which replaces Compact), \u2018Sports\u2019 (the new standalone offering), \u2018Movies & Series\u2019 (everything else) and Premium (all-in).<\/p>\n
Pricing for the Sports package is \u201cfrom R399 per month\u201d.<\/p>\n
After believing M-Net was the most \u2018premium\u2019 channel across the offering, DStv will no longer offer it exclusively on that package.<\/p>\n
It will be available on the general entertainment package.<\/p>\n
What to expect from \u2018Sports\u2019?<\/p>\n
The sports-only package is heavily football-focused, with all Premier League matches, as well as Champions League and cricket.<\/p>\n
PSL coverage is included in the \u2018Select\u2019 package.<\/p>\n
Leaked screenshots reveal that the only home of \u2018Premium\u2019 content is, in fact, that package (\u2018Premium\u2019) \u2013 where F1, MotoGP, rugby, golf and tennis reside.<\/p>\n
This will be the home of all Springbok games, but it appears the Sports package will include one URC (rugby) match per week.<\/p>\n
It will also screen a single Premier League game per week on the entry-level package. This will be similar to the arrangement it used to have with sub-licensees eTV and SABC.<\/p>\n
These tend to be the best of the Saturday 4 pm or 5 pm matches.<\/p>\n
Costly split for subscribers<\/p>\n
By purportedly splitting its offering in half, DStv is effectively pitting its sports offering against its \u2018core\u2019 entertainment one.<\/p>\n
If one had to subscribe to both, you would be in for at least R899 a month, according to various marketing materials that Moneyweb has seen.<\/p>\n
Using DStv\u2019s methodology with satellite versus streaming-only options, this would likely translate to R999 (possibly over R1 000, although there are various indications that DStv\u2019s new owner will do everything in its power to avoid that).<\/p>\n
Premium still packs a punch<\/p>\n
On paper, then, a Premium offering at a minimum of R799 per month doesn\u2019t look too bad. It comprises 130 channels \u2013 all sport, obviously \u2013 as well as all general entertainment ones.<\/p>\n
Based on the leaks, the \u2018Sports\u2019 and \u2018Movies & Series\u2019 packages will each comprise \u201cover 115 channels\u201d. Obviously, the middle is the rump. An enormous number of movies, series, and lifestyle channels will be included to bulk up those numbers.<\/p>\n
Refactoring these packages is the most ambitious move DStv has made in over a decade.<\/p>\n