DStv opens Supersport channels to non-premium subscribers

DSTV NEWS: has given access to Supersport channels to its non-premium subscribers until 30 April 2020.

Supersport 1, which is exclusively available only in DStv Premium package, will now be available also on DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact, they announced on Friday (20 March).

Supersport 7, which is only gotten on the DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact packages, will be available on the DStv Family and DStv Access packages.

If you can remember, DStv announced that it will also make a selection of channels available to its subscribers for free through its DStv Now streaming platform.

DStv Now comes with DStv’s satellite broadcasting service, and allows subscribers to watch TV and shows from mobile devices, smart TVs, laptops, and more.

The new free channel package is available to all subscribers, however, and not only DStv subscribers.

The company said that in response to the coronavirus outbreak in South Africa, a number of DStv Now channels are no longer locked behind a subscription and are available to anyone with an Internet connection.

DStv channels which are now available to stream for free are:

• 100 – DStv
• 180 – People’s Weather
• 238 – SuperSport Play
• 313 – PBS Kids
• 320 – Channel O
• 343 – TBN
• 400 – BBC World News
• 401 – CNN
• 402 – Sky News
• 403 – eNCA
• 404 – SABC News
• 406 – Newzroom Afrika
• 414 – Euronews Now

Staying informed about the latest news on the virus is the first step in stopping its spread, said the company. For this reason, it has made several 24-hour news channels available.

In addition to these channels, episodes of popular series are also available via the Catch Up portal on the free service, including Igazi, The River, Isibaya, Binnelanders, Suidooster, and Die Ware Naarheid.

Making DStv free

While the changes will be welcome to many South Africans, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has said that Multichoice should make DStv free to all South Africans during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Icasa said it is engaging with licensees to facilitate ease of access to information about the pandemic to all South Africans.

It added that all individual and class broadcasting services are required to make Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about the Covid-19 in the public interest, and as required by the relevant authorities.

“Over and above this, the subscription broadcasting services licensees have been requested to open both their audio and television bouquets to consumers that do not subscribe to their services,” it said.

“This will assist the public to have access to information that they can use to deal with the scourge of the virus that is facing the country.”