Supersport may be separated from DStv offering
MultiChoice reconsiders bundling model as consumer demand grows for standalone sports offerings, echoing strategies used by potential new owner Canal+.
South Africa.- Sports fans across South Africa may soon get what they’ve long been asking for: the chance to subscribe to SuperSport without paying for a slew of other channels they don’t watch.
MultiChoice this week confirmed that it is revisiting the idea of unbundling its flagship SuperSport channels from the traditional DStv bouquet.
Supersport also runs the Supersportbet division, an online platform dedicated to sports betting and casino entertainment.
The company said this move reflects evolving consumer preferences and the growing appetite for more flexible, cost-effective subscription models.
“This includes considering whether certain bundled elements, such as SuperSport and General Entertainment, could be offered differently in future,” MultiChoice told MyBroadband.
While the broadcaster emphasised that the idea is still in early exploration, it did admit that it’s assessing both the commercial viability and potential customer value of the model.
“It is also too early to comment on the specifics of any potential model – including whether changes would be optional or how pricing might be structured,” the company said.
“We remain committed to delivering flexibility and value to our customers and will share further updates as and when there is meaningful progress to report.”
Restructuring packages
This isn’t MultiChoice’s first rodeo when it comes to restructuring its packages. Back in 2021, it tested the waters with DStv Flex – a modular subscription that allowed users to choose between an entertainment core and optional sports “bolt-ons.” Despite initial interest, Flex faded into silence, and by 2024, the company had all but confirmed it was no longer a focus.
But now, with French media giant Canal+, which already offers standalone sports bundles in Europe, pushing for regulatory approval to acquire MultiChoice, the winds may be shifting once again.
Canal+’s €34.99 monthly sports-only bundle (which includes Apple TV+) could serve as a blueprint, but not everyone is convinced.
Media commentator Thinus Ferreira cautioned, “Canal+ won’t strip out sport from the existing package setup since it forms an integral part of the traditional pay-TV bundle.”
Still, if Canal+’s acquisition goes through, pending approval from the Competition Tribunal and Icasa, DStv could be in for a transformation. With the Competition Commission already on board, a decision is expected by October 2025.
For now, South Africans can only wait and hope that watching a Springboks match won’t require also paying for MasterChef Australia reruns.
