DSTV Premium costs R899/month in 2026 — that's R10,788 a year. Even DSTV Compact Plus is R549/month (R6,588/yr). And the 24-month satellite contract typically requires an installer + decoder + dish. SMART OTT delivers every DSTV channel including SuperSport, plus 1.7M+ international channels, plus 4K, for ~$60 USD/year (~R1,100).
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No credit card. Cancel DSTV only after you've confirmed everything works.
Real savings — annual math
| Item | DSTV | SMART OTT |
|---|---|---|
| DSTV Premium | R899/mo (R10,788/yr) | ~R1,100/yr |
| Equipment (HD/PVR Decoder) | R1,200 once + Dish R600+ | $0 |
| Multi-room (XtraView) | R110/mo (R1,320/yr) | Included |
| 4K UHD content | Limited | Full library |
| International packages | R30-80/mo extra each | Included |
| Year 1 typical | ~R12,500+ | ~R1,100 |
| Savings | — | ~R11,400/yr (91%) |
How to cancel DSTV (the right way)
Most people lose money cancelling because they rush. Here's the safe sequence:
- Activate SMART OTT trial. Verify SuperSport, SABC, e.tv, M-Net feeds work.
- Call DSTV at 011 289 2222 (RSA) or use the MyDSTV app cancellation flow.
- State clearly: 'I want to cancel my subscription permanently'.
- Refuse retention offers — they expire after 3-6 months.
- Confirm cancellation in writing via the MyDSTV portal.
- Return the decoder and smartcard if you rented (not if owned). Keep your courier slip.
- Leave the dish on the roof — DSTV doesn't take it back. Future-proofs you if you ever change your mind.
- Switch to a fibre-only ISP plan (Vumatel, Vodacom Fibre, MTN, Openserve) — typically R600-900/mo for 50-200 Mbps uncapped.
What you keep when you switch
- ✓ SuperSport — all channels (1-9), PSL complete, Springboks, Proteas, Castle Lager Premiership
- ✓ Champions League + Europa League + Premier League (via SuperSport feeds)
- ✓ All SABC channels (SABC 1, 2, 3) + e.tv + eNCA
- ✓ M-Net channels (M-Net, kykNET, kykNET & kie)
- ✓ Movies channels (M-Net Movies, Showmax content)
- ✓ News (eNCA, SABC News, BBC News, Al Jazeera, CNN)
- ✓ Children's (Disney, Cartoon Network, Nick Jr — all SA feeds)
- ✓ International channels DSTV charged extra for (BBC Lifestyle, Discovery, History)
What you give up (and how to replace it)
- ✗ DSTV PVR decoder for local recording (replaced by Firestick + cloud recording or Plex server)
- ✗ Showmax SA library specifically (replaced by SMART OTT 200K VOD — much larger library)
- ✗ DSTV Now app (replaced by IPTV Smarters Pro — same UX)
- ✗ Sub-Saharan-specific channels that DSTV exclusively distributes (very few — most are also on free-to-air)
Your migration timeline
The full transition takes about 7 days from start to finish:
- Day 1: Activate your SMART OTT 24h free trial (no credit card). Set it up on your TV alongside DSTV.
- Day 2: Verify your specific channels work. Test sports, locals, kids' programming.
- Day 3: Pay for the SMART OTT annual plan (Elite $60 or Infinity 4K $80).
- Day 4-6: Keep both running. Show the household how SMART OTT works.
- Day 7: Call DSTV to cancel. Return any equipment within 14 days, get a receipt.