Updated 10 October 2026: DStv South Africa replaced its Access, Family and Compact packages with Starter, Select and Sports on 17 September 2026, and added Movies & Series. The package and price tables below are the new ones.
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
DStv does not publish a list of channels that stay available on a decoder after a subscription lapses, so we no longer list any here. Treat any channel that remains as a bonus rather than something to rely on.
If you want free television through a satellite dish, the reliable options are a free service with its own decoder, such as OpenView in South Africa, or a standard free-to-air satellite receiver. Both are covered below.
DStv EasyView channels list
DStv EasyView is the cheapest DStv package in South Africa at R30 a month, with 35+ channels according to DStv’s package guide. DStv names TNT Africa, e.tv Extra, SuperSport Blitz and Moja 99 among its favourite EasyView channels. EasyView was not changed in the September 2026 package overhaul.
DStv’s price table gives no DStv Stream price for EasyView, so check dstv.com before assuming it is available on the DStv app. The full channel list is on dstv.com.
DStv packages and prices by country
DStv offers different package tiers depending on your country. South Africa moved to a new line-up on 17 September 2026; DStv says any changes in other countries “will be communicated as soon as they are confirmed”. Prices below were checked on DStv’s own pages on 10 October 2026.
South Africa
| Package | Decoder price | TV channels | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| EasyView | R30/month | 35+ | unchanged |
| Starter | R150/month | 85+ | Access |
| Select | R339/month | 100+ | Family |
| Sports | R479/month | 115+ | Compact |
| Movies & Series | R500/month | 115+ | new package |
| Premium | R979/month (R799 on a 24-month contract) | 130+ | unchanged |
Nigeria
| Package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Padi | ₦4,400/month | 45+ |
| Yanga | ₦6,000/month | 90+ |
| Confam | ₦11,000/month | 110+ |
| Compact | ₦19,000/month | 125+ |
| Compact Plus | ₦30,000/month | 135+ |
| Premium | ₦44,500/month | 140+ |
Kenya
| Package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | KSh 750/month | 45+ |
| Access | KSh 1,450/month | 80+ |
| Family | KSh 2,250/month | 100+ |
| Compact | KSh 4,200/month | 120+ |
| Compact Plus | KSh 7,300/month | 130+ |
| Premium | KSh 11,700/month | 150+ |
DStv Stream free channels
DStv Stream is MultiChoice’s internet streaming service, watched through the DStv app on a phone, tablet, smart TV or browser, with no satellite dish or decoder. DStv lists no free Stream package: in South Africa the cheapest is Starter at R99 a month.
| Stream package | Price | TV channels |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | R99/month | 85+ |
| Select | R299/month | 100+ |
| Sports | R399/month | 115+ |
| Movies & Series | R500/month | 115+ |
| Premium | R799/month | 130+ |
Streaming is useful where a satellite dish is impractical, or where you only want to watch on your own devices.
Free-to-air channels on the DStv satellite
DStv broadcasts from two orbital positions: Eutelsat’s 36° East slot for DStv across most of Africa, served by Eutelsat 36D, launched in 2024 to replace the older 36B, and Intelsat 20 at 68.5° East for DStv South Africa. Other broadcasters share both positions, and some of their channels are free-to-air (FTA).
To find those FTA channels you need a standard DVB-S2 satellite receiver, not a DStv decoder, connected to a dish pointed at the same position. DStv decoders are locked to the MultiChoice bouquet and will not display channels from other broadcasters.
DStv frequency settings for free channels
Free-to-air line-ups at 36° East change often as broadcasters move transponders, so rather than rely on a fixed list, run a blind scan on your FTA receiver. It finds every active transponder and lists the unencrypted channels automatically. For the main satellites serving Africa and their current headline frequencies, see our satellite TV frequency list for Africa.
Most digital satellite receivers from the past decade can pick up free-to-air channels, provided they support DVB-S2 with MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoding. 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. It broadcasts from Intelsat 20 at 68.5° East, the same satellite as DStv South Africa, and OpenView says it carries over 20 TV channels and 28 radio channels, with no monthly fee.
You need an OpenView decoder, which OpenView sells for R799 (decoder only, excluding the dish and installation). It works with an existing DStv dish. Channels include SABC 1, 2 and 3, e.tv, eExtra, eMovies, Star Life and France 24. See our OpenView guide for settings.
Unlike DStv EasyView, OpenView has no monthly fee at all. However, it is only available in South Africa and offers fewer channels than even the cheapest DStv package.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch DStv channels for free without a subscription?
DStv does not publish a list of channels that stay on after a subscription lapses. For reliably free satellite TV, use OpenView (South Africa) or a standard free-to-air receiver pointed at the same satellite.
What is the cheapest DStv package?
In South Africa, DStv EasyView at R30 a month is the cheapest, with 35+ channels. In Nigeria, the cheapest is DStv Padi at ₦4,400 a month, and in Kenya, DStv Lite at KSh 750 a month.
Can I stream DStv for free?
DStv lists no free Stream package. In South Africa the cheapest is Starter at R99 a month, watched through the DStv app with no 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 list any free channels from other broadcasters sharing the same satellite. Some 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 a month, with 45+ channels. For free satellite TV, a standard free-to-air receiver will find unencrypted channels on satellites that reach Kenya; run a blind scan to see what is currently available.
Correction, 9 October 2026: This article previously named Eutelsat 36B as DStv Africa’s satellite and listed four free-to-air frequencies at 36° East. Eutelsat 36D has replaced 36B, and those frequencies no longer appear in current listings for the satellite, so the table has been removed.
Correction, 10 October 2026: This article previously priced the OpenView decoder from R399 and listed BBC World News among its channels. OpenView sells its decoder for R799 and its line-up includes France 24, not BBC World News. It also listed specific channels said to remain on unsubscribed DStv decoders, which DStv does not document, so that list has been removed.
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