MultiChoice has announced that it will celebrate DStv’s 30th anniversary with a special Open Time weekend from 7–9 November 2025, giving anyone with an active decoder subscription free access to DStv Premium channels.
The company says this nostalgic celebration is meant to thank viewers who have supported the service since its launch in 1995. The campaign also reunites familiar faces from the early days of South African television — Ashley Hayden, Scot Scott, and Doreen Morris — who became household names through M-Net’s legendary Open Time broadcasts.
“DStv has grown up alongside its viewers,” said Byron du Plessis, CEO: SA PayTV at MultiChoice, a Canal+ company.
“For three decades, we have been part of South Africans’ homes, their weekends and their memories.”
A Throwback With a Modern Twist
The upcoming Open Time weekend marks a return to DStv’s roots. In the 1990s, Open Time gave South Africans a glimpse into M-Net’s premium programming — before pay-TV became mainstream.
Hayden recalls those early years fondly.
“I remember the first time I went on television. M-Net had just started airing morning movies, and there were maybe two housewives watching. Everyone wanted a decoder.”
Scott, who helped launch Open Time, reflected on how far local TV production has come:
“We wrote our own scripts, dressed ourselves, and there was no autocue. You had to keep going no matter what.”
Morris called the revival of Open Time a “meaningful gesture” that rewards loyalty and reconnects DStv with its original mission — bringing South Africans together through storytelling.
Big Discounts and Added Value for Subscribers
As part of the celebration, MultiChoice will reduce HD decoder prices starting in November:
R299 standalone or R699 with installation through the DStv Store
R399 standalone or R899 with installation at major retailers
Du Plessis said the price cuts are part of a broader push to reignite the DStv brand and make it easier for new and returning customers to connect.
“From the start of November, we will be reducing our HD Decoder pricing by 30% in retail and over 40% through our newly launched DStv store,” he explained.
“This will make joining and reconnecting with DStv easier and more affordable than ever.”
Extra Streams and Rewards for Premium Users
Existing DStv Premium subscribers will also enjoy two additional device streams from November through December — bringing the total to four simultaneous streams.
They’ll gain access to the new Premium Concierge Service, offering priority support, and a refreshed Rewards programme featuring:
Free BoxOffice movie rentals
Exclusive screenings and set visits
Celebrity meet-and-greets
VIP access to Rugby Championship and SA20 matches
Luxury travel giveaways
How to Access the Open Time Weekend
The DStv Open Time Weekend runs from 00:01 on Friday, 7 November to 23:59 on Sunday, 9 November 2025.
It’s open to all active DStv satellite customers in South Africa, but does not apply to streaming users.
To participate, customers simply need to stay connected or reconnect their decoders before the second weekend of November to enjoy full Premium access.
