Are you looking for DSTV alternatives in South Africa? It’s something that a lot of people have been asking for. DSTV is the number one provider of video entertainment in the country. In South Africa, the service currently boasts of over 5 million subscribers. DSTV is great, but you are here because you are no longer that enamored with the service. Perhaps it’s because of price. You could be looking for a cheaper option. Or maybe you are not satisfied with the service that’s provided. Whatever your reasons, we are going to share with you the most viable alternatives to DSTV.
Alternatives to DSTV
The following is a list of the DSTV alternatives in South Africa;
- Free-to-air channels via DTT
- OpenView
- Showmax
- Netflix
- GoTV
- YouTube
Free-to-air channels via DTT
This is the first of the many alternatives to DSTV that are open to South Africans. If you do not wish to pay for DSTV and if you wish to watch SABC, eTV and other publicly available channels, then this is the option that you should go for.
Channels from the public broadcaster and from eTV used to be available via analogue signals, meaning you needed one of those classic antennae to get reception. South Africa has since switched to what is referred to as Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
To get DTT, you need to have a set-top-box. That is similar to a normal decoder. You don’t need to have a satellite dish. DTT works with an antenna. The type that you use depends on We have previously talked about how to watch SABC without DSTV. DTT was one of the options that we discussed.
A while back, the South Africa government launched a program under which households with an income of less that R3500 per month could get free DTT set-top boxes for free. Meanwhile, if you income is above this, you will need to buy your own set-top-box or to look at the other options highlighted here.
But how much is a set-top-box?
OpenView
OpenView is another of the replacements for DSTV that can be found out there. This option is great for those looking for cheap alternatives to DSTV. OpenView has no monthly subscriptions. Once you have bought the decoder, you are good to go.
The OpenView setup is similar to that of DSTV. You need a decoder and a satellite dish and antennae. You also need an LNB. In fact, if you already have a DSTV installation in your home, getting OpenView is a simple matter of buying the decoder and switching it with that for DSTV.
OpenView broadcasts on the same satellite as DSTV. It means you don’t need to adjust your antennae (satellite dish). OpenView gets you all publicly available channels in South Africa. That includes SABC channels, eTV and other channels. You can get a full list of OpenView channels here.
Showmax
Showmax is best suited for those looking for streaming options. In fact, Showmax is a product from Multichoice, the same company that owns DSTV. With Showmax, you don’t need a decoder and satellite dish.
You do need to have a stable internet connection, however. The amount of data that you require depends on your streaming quality. Read our article on the amount of data that you need for Showmax. Showmax is great for those looking for a local streaming service as an alternative to DSTV.
Streaming happens on your phone, laptop, desktop computer or on your smart TV. The advantage of this type of service is that it is available from wherever you are. As long as you have internet connectivity, you will be able to sign into your account and watch your favorite shows.
Netflix
Similar to Showmax, Netflix is an online streaming service. The difference is that Netflix is international, making it ideal for those who enjoy shows from beyond South Africa. In fact, Netflix is one of the biggest online streaming services globally.
In South Africa, the service has been gaining subscribers over the past few years. Most of them are people who are disillusioned with DSTV for one reason or the other. If you fall into this bracket, you can sign up for Netflix. Once it’s done, you will have to pay a monthly subscription amount to continue accessing the service.
GoTV
GoTV is another product from Multichoice. This service is another Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) offering that can be found in the country. To get it, you need to be in an area that’s covered, and you need to get the GoTV set-top-box.
With GoTV, you get a wide range of channels, including free-to-air channels. You do need to pay a monthly subscription, however. This can be paid at many outlets across the country. A number of banks also offer the ability to pay GoTV subscriptions via USSD on your phone.
YouTube
YouTube is another DSTV alternative that most people have been turning to in recent times. The great thing about YouTube is that you get a wide range of shows. You can stream your news via YouTube as an example. You also get a lot of entertainment videos.
Not many people consider YouTube to be in the same league as services such as DSTV and Netflix. However, the truth is that most people who have smart tvs spend most of their time streaming videos off YouTube when compared to watching traditional television shows. Today, it’s possible to get all your entertainment off YouTube.
Summary
In this article, we provided you with the alternatives to DSTV. We noted that people usually land here because they are looking for cheaper options for their entertainment. Others land here because they are tired with the quality of programming on DSTV.
Whatever your reasons, there are many options out there to which you can turn for your entertainment. You don’t have to be stuck with DSTV. These alternatives include streaming services such as Netflix and Showmax. They also include other satellite tv services such as OpenView.