DStv is a paid satellite television service, and most of its channels require an active subscription. However, there are several ways to watch free or near-free channels through your DStv decoder, the DStv Stream app, or the same satellite that DStv broadcasts from.
This guide covers every option available across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and the rest of Africa.
Free channels on DStv without a subscription
If your DStv subscription has expired, a small number of channels remain accessible on your decoder without payment. These are channels that DStv makes available to all connected decoders regardless of subscription status.
In South Africa, the channels available without an active subscription include:
- DStv Channel 100 (Dish on TV / DStv promotional channel)
- People’s Weather (Channel 180)
- VOOV TV (Channel 196) — short-form video and live streams from VOOV creators
In Nigeria, additional free-to-air channels are accessible on a connected decoder even without a subscription, including local terrestrial channels like NTA, Channels TV, and AIT that are carried on the DStv platform.
The number and selection of free channels varies by country and can change without notice. MultiChoice has disabled the “public bouquet” feature on newer DStv HD decoders, which means current-generation decoders offer fewer free channels than older models did.
DStv EasyView channels list
DStv EasyView is the cheapest DStv package in South Africa at R30 per month. It includes 34 or more TV channels plus over 95 audio channels, making it the most affordable way to access DStv content legally.
EasyView channels cover local entertainment, news, children’s programming, and music. The package includes SABC channels, e.tv, community channels like Soweto TV, 1KZN, and selected sports content including SuperSport Schools (Channel 216).
EasyView is a decoder-only package and does not include streaming access. You need a DStv decoder and satellite dish to use it. The full EasyView channel list is available on the DStv website under the package comparison tool at dstv.com.
DStv packages and prices by country
DStv offers different package tiers depending on your country. Below are the current packages for South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya as listed on the official DStv website.
South Africa
| Package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| EasyView | R30/month | 34+ |
| Access | R150/month | 80+ |
| Family | R339/month | 102+ |
| Compact | R419/month | 119+ |
| Compact Plus | R659/month | 124+ |
| Premium | R979/month | 137+ |
Nigeria
| Package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Padi | ₦4,400/month | 45+ |
| Yanga | ₦6,000/month | 85+ |
| Confam | ₦11,000/month | 105+ |
| Compact | ₦19,000/month | 130+ |
| Compact Plus | ₦30,000/month | 145+ |
| Premium | ₦44,500/month | 160+ |
Kenya
| Package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | KSh 750/month | 50 |
| Access | KSh 1,450/month | 85 |
| Family | KSh 2,250/month | 103 |
| Compact | KSh 4,200/month | 126 |
| Compact Plus | KSh 7,300/month | 139 |
| Premium | KSh 11,700/month | 162 |
DStv Stream free channels
DStv Stream is MultiChoice’s internet streaming service. While it primarily requires a paid subscription, the DStv app offers a small selection of free content to non-subscribers, including some catch-up shows and clips.
DStv Stream packages are available without a decoder, starting from R99 per month for the Access tier in South Africa. The full DStv Stream pricing:
| Stream package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Access | R99/month | 80+ |
| Family | R299/month | 101+ |
| Compact | R299/month | 119+ |
| Compact Plus | R549/month | 124+ |
| Premium | R699/month | 137+ |
Stream packages do not require a satellite dish or decoder. You watch through the DStv app on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or web browser. This is useful in areas where a satellite dish is impractical or where you only want to stream on your devices.
Free-to-air channels on the DStv satellite
DStv broadcasts from satellites at two orbital positions: Eutelsat 36B at 36.0° East (DStv Africa) and Intelsat 20 at 68.5° East (DStv South Africa). These satellites also carry hundreds of free-to-air (FTA) channels from other broadcasters that share the same satellites.
To access these FTA channels, you need a standard DVB-S2 satellite receiver (not a DStv decoder) connected to the same dish that points at 36° East. A blind scan on a free-to-air receiver will find hundreds of unencrypted channels.
DStv frequency settings for free channels
The following frequencies carry free-to-air channels on Eutelsat 36B (36.0° East), the same satellite used by DStv Africa:
| Frequency | Polarisation | Symbol rate | Notable FTA channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11940 | H | 27500 | CCTV (Chinese international channels) |
| 11862 | H | 27500 | CCTV News, CCTV-F (French) |
| 12437 | H | 23437 | Francophone African channels (RTS Senegal, ORTB Benin) |
| 11731 | V | 8751 | East African channels (NTV Kenya, KBC) |
These frequencies are for use with a separate free-to-air receiver, not a DStv decoder. DStv decoders are locked to the MultiChoice bouquet and will not display channels from other broadcasters on the same satellite.
A blind scan on the 36° East position typically finds 200 or more free TV and radio channels, including religious broadcasting, African national channels, and international services.
Most digital satellite receivers from the past decade can pick up these free-to-air channels, provided they support DVB-S2 with MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoding (the standards DStv and the channels sharing its satellite use). Some recent Samsung and LG smart TVs ship with built-in satellite tuners that scan the dish automatically, removing the need for a separate decoder box.
OpenView: free satellite TV in South Africa
For South African viewers who want completely free satellite TV, OpenView is the best alternative. OpenView broadcasts from the same satellite position as DStv South Africa and offers 20 or more TV channels plus radio, with no monthly subscription.
OpenView requires a one-time purchase of an OpenView decoder (from R399 at most retailers). The decoder connects to the same satellite dish used for DStv. Channels include SABC 1, 2, and 3, e.tv, eMovies, eExtra, Star Life, BBC World News, and several local community channels.
Unlike DStv EasyView, OpenView has no monthly fee at all. However, it is only available in South Africa and offers significantly fewer channels than even the cheapest DStv package.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch DStv channels for free without a subscription?
Only a handful of channels remain accessible on a DStv decoder without an active subscription, and the selection has been reduced significantly on newer decoder models. For free satellite TV, consider OpenView (South Africa) or a free-to-air receiver pointed at the same satellite.
What is the cheapest DStv package?
In South Africa, DStv EasyView at R30 per month is the cheapest option, offering 34 or more channels. In Nigeria, the cheapest is DStv Padi at ₦4,400 per month. In Kenya, DStv Lite costs KSh 750 per month.
Can I stream DStv for free?
The DStv app offers a very limited selection of free content for non-subscribers. Full streaming access requires a DStv Stream subscription, starting from R99 per month for the Access package in South Africa. DStv Stream does not require a satellite dish or decoder.
How do I get free-to-air channels on my DStv dish?
Connect a standard DVB-S2 satellite receiver (not a DStv decoder) to your existing DStv satellite dish and run a blind scan. The receiver will find hundreds of free channels from other broadcasters sharing the same satellite. Many Samsung and LG smart TVs have built-in satellite tuners that can do this.
Does DStv have free channels in Kenya?
DStv Kenya’s cheapest package is DStv Lite at KSh 750 per month with 50 channels. There is no equivalent of South Africa’s EasyView in Kenya. For free satellite channels in East Africa, a free-to-air receiver on the 36° East satellite will pick up channels including Kenyan broadcasters like NTV and KBC.
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