South African streaming and pay-TV subscribers are facing significant changes this month, with both Disney+ and DStv overhauling their apps, packages and pricing within days of one another.
Disney+ recently rolled out a new app in South Africa, replacing its existing platform entirely. According to Disney, existing subscribers can log in with their current details, though profiles, watchlists and viewing history will not carry over from the old app.
Customers have until 12 October 2026 to make the switch before the previous app stops working altogether.
The new app gives subscribers high quality streaming of new releases, series, originals, live events, sport and classics from “Disney”, “Pixar”, “Marvel”, “Star Wars”, “National Geographic” and “Hulu”, with more than 30 language and subtitle options.
The app also adds a new kid’s mode with expanded parental controls, including profile PIN protection, customisable content ratings and notifications when a profile is changed. Subscribers will also be able to download the app and use their account while travelling, a first for the service locally.
Pricing
On pricing, Disney’s old Mobile plan has been replaced by a new Basic package at R49 a month. Anyone previously on Mobile will be shifted onto Basic automatically at no extra cost, though the option won’t be open to new or Premium subscribers.
Where Mobile was restricted to phones and tablets, Basic now works on TVs and laptops too, and picture quality improves from 480p to 720p (video display resolutions), still without offline downloads.
Premium remains priced at R179 a month, reportedly keeping its existing perks of 4K streaming, downloads and four simultaneous streams. Anyone already on Premium keeps those features and their existing billing date once they move across.
DStv follows with its biggest package shake-up in 15 years
DStv is overhauling its own line-up. MultiChoice confirmed on 7 September that new packages and pricing take effect from September 17 2026, in a restructuring reported to be among the company’s biggest in 15 years, and one of the first major shifts since Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice.
The new structure replaces DStv’s familiar tiers with six packages: “Starter”, “Select”, “Sports”, “Movies & Series”, “Premium” and “EasyView”.
Existing “Access”, “Family” and “Compact” subscribers will be migrated automatically, “Access” moving to “Starter”, “Family” to “Select”, and “Compact” to the new standalone Sports package, with reports suggesting migrated customers won’t see an increase as a result of the move.
“Premium”, “Compact Plus” and “EasyView” subscribers stay exactly where they are, though “Compact Plus” is no longer open to new sign ups.
The “Sports” package costs R399 a month on DStv Stream or R479 on satellite, DStv’s first standalone sports tier, carrying around 115 channels including “Premier League” and “Champions League” football, “PSL”, cricket that was previously “Premium” only, local and club rugby, and combat sports, on top of everything included in “Select”.
“Movies & Series”, a new package priced at R500 a month regardless of platform, is built for viewers who want strong entertainment without a sports focus, bundling “M-Net”, “kykNET”, “Mzansi Magic”, “Wethu+”, “BBC Earth”, “Discovery Channel” and the rebranded “M-Net Movies+” channel, while still including around 10 sport channels such as “SuperSport PSL”, “La Liga” and “Serie A”.
“Premium” remains the only tier with exclusive access to Formula 1, Springbok rugby, golf and tennis, and its “DStv Stream” price holds at R799 a month.
On satellite, however, Premium now costs R979 a month unless subscribers commit to a 24 month contract, which brings it down to the same R799. “EasyView” stays unchanged at R30 a month.
Between the two overhauls, South African viewers are looking at a September defined by more flexible, better tailored entertainment options, but also a fair bit of adjusting to new apps, new package names and new prices across both platforms.