DStv stream now open to more devices

Pay-TV operator DStv has quietly relaxed the limits on the number of simultaneous streams that subscribers are able to access.

In March 2022, it originally limited all subscriptions to a single live stream.

This was to crack down on “password sharing and piracy” where a single subscriber allowed multiple other users to make use of their credentials.

In August, it relaxed this limit by offering the ability for subscribers to add an extra stream (since relabelled extra mobile stream).

These are mobile-only – a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. These cannot be used by smart TV apps or smart connected box apps.

This effectively means that a customer who has added an extra mobile stream will be able to stream simultaneously on two devices along with, presumably, their decoder on their primary TV.

In communication sent to subscribers this past weekend, it now allows customers to add two extra mobile streams.

Pricing for mobile streams is dependent on the package:

► Premium – R99 per month.

► Compact Plus – R79 per month.

► Compact – R49 per month.

► Family – R39 per month.

Access – R29 per month. Two extra mobile streams on the group’s top Premium package will mean a bill of R997 for Stream (non-decoder) subscribers and R1 192 for those with satellite dishes and decoders (including the PVR access fee).

It is surprising that MultiChoice took this long to arrive at this solution. Customers who have abandoned it in favour of Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and illegal IPTV services are not likely to return.

This means if they “borrow” an extra mobile stream from friends and/ or family, MultiChoice now generates incremental revenue from these.