Perhaps a notice from DStv landed on your phone or in your inbox, and the word Access was gone. If you live in Simon's Town and have paid for the cheapest bouquet for years, you may be wondering what happened to your DStv Access channels and whether your bill is about to jump. The short version is good news, and we explain it below in plain terms.
Quick answer
From 17 September 2026, the DStv Access channels moved into a new package called Starter. At the time of writing it offers 85+ channels for R150 a month on a decoder, or R99 a month on DStv Stream. The switch is automatic, you keep your decoder, and existing customers do not pay more after the move.
What happened to DStv Access channels in 2026?
DStv reshuffled its whole line-up in September 2026. Old names such as Access, Family and Compact are no longer sold. Access was replaced by the DStv Starter package, which is now the entry level for satellite customers who want more than the basics.
You do not have to phone anyone or fetch a new box. MultiChoice is moving customers across in phases, so the change may show on your account a little later than your neighbour's. Your smartcard, dish and decoder stay as they are. If the box has been playing up for a while anyway, our decoder repair service can check it before you blame the new package.
- Your decoder keeps working. No new box is needed.
- Your debit order should not rise because of the migration itself.
- Some channel numbers and names may shift, so rescan or check the guide.
- Your old DStv Access package name may still appear on older paperwork for a while.
DStv Access channels and Starter prices at a glance
Here is how the entry-level options compare at the time of writing. Prices come from DStv's own announcement, but they can change, so confirm on the app before you decide.
| Option | Channels | Price per month | Needs a dish? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter on a decoder (was Access) | 85+ | R150 | Yes |
| Starter on DStv Stream | 85+ | R99 | No, uses internet |
| EasyView | 35+ | R30 | Yes |
| Select (was Family) | 100+ | R339 | Yes |
For a pensioner on a fixed income, the gap between R30 and R150 matters. So does the gap between R150 and R339. Most households we visit find that Starter sits in the sweet spot, but not everyone needs it.
DStv keeps the official list of packages and current prices on the DStv website, and it is worth a quick look before you change anything.
Which DStv Access channels are worth watching?
The full list runs long, and channel line-ups move around. Rather than print a list that may be out of date next month, here are the highlights DStv itself points to for the new entry package.
- Wethu+ is on every package from Starter up, and it carries two live PSL matches a week. That is good news for football fans who never wanted to pay for a sports bouquet.
- kykNET & kie is now on all packages, so Afrikaans viewers get a solid channel without upgrading.
- News, kids, lifestyle, faith and music channels round out the bundle, which is what most people used the old DStv Access channels for anyway.
- The public broadcaster channels remain part of the mix, so the familiar local news and soapies are still there. Many viewers in Simon's Town say this is the part of the bundle they use most.
Good to know
Premier League, Springbok rugby, cricket and the big movie channels are not part of Starter. If those matter to you, compare Sports, Movies and Series or Premium before you commit. The full channel list is in the MyDStv app under your package.
Who suits the DStv starter package in Simon's Town?
Simon's Town has a mix of homes you do not find in many Cape Town suburbs. Victorian terraces, hillside family homes, small flats and holiday rentals all sit within a few streets of each other. That mix makes the cheaper bouquets more popular here than you might expect.
Retirees in Glencairn and Castle Hill
Many retired couples tell us they watch the news, a few local dramas and the odd football match. For them the DStv starter package covers almost everything, and the money saved goes towards the grandchildren rather than channels nobody opens. Some still weigh up a free option, and our look at OpenView versus DStv for a second home helps with that choice.
Flats and naval accommodation
Tenants in flats around Simon's Town Central and Da Gama Park often share a communal dish. Starter works on most shared systems, but check with the body corporate before booking an installer. Where the building's own setup is the weak link, we look after communal DStv systems for flats and complexes too.
Holiday lets and guesthouses
Guests on a weekend away to see the penguins at Boulders want something familiar on the TV, not every sports channel. A cheap DStv package with local channels keeps them happy, and you avoid paying a big monthly bill for rooms that may stand empty in winter.
Need DStv help in Simon's Town?
Tell us what you need or what your screen shows. We price the job before we drive out.
EasyView vs DStv Access channels for Simon's Town holiday homes
EasyView costs R30 a month at the time of writing and gives you 35+ channels. It is the cheapest DStv package on satellite and has no contract worries. For a granny flat or a second home that is only used in December, it can be all you need.
The trade-off is choice. You lose a lot of the variety that came with DStv Access channels, including several kids and lifestyle options. If you share the TV with grandchildren in the school holidays, Starter is the safer bet.
- Watch mostly local news and a soapie? EasyView may do.
- Want football on Wethu+ or kykNET & kie? Starter makes sense.
- Need big sport or movie channels? Look higher up the range.
Adding a second TV on a cheap DStv package
Many Simon's Town houses are built up the slope, with a lounge downstairs and a TV room or bedroom upstairs. People ask whether they can watch the old DStv Access package on two TVs. The answer is yes, through XtraView.
XtraView links two decoders on one subscription so each TV can watch a different channel. You pay your normal Starter subscription plus one Access Fee, which is R125 a month according to DStv. That puts two TVs on Starter at about R275 a month at the time of writing.
Technician tip
Run the numbers before linking a second decoder. For some homes a second Starter subscription on DStv Stream at R99 is cheaper than XtraView, as long as the second TV is a supported smart TV with decent internet.
If XtraView does suit you, our XtraView installation in Simon's Town covers the cable run, the linking and the testing. If you prefer the streaming route, we explain how to link DStv Stream to your TV step by step.
Getting DStv Access channels on a Simon's Town roof
If you are new to DStv in Simon's Town, the package is the easy part. The dish is where local conditions come in. The satellite sits to the north-east, and the mountain behind town can throw a long shadow over homes on the higher streets.
Salt air off False Bay rusts cheap brackets and bolts, and the summer south-easter tests every fitting. We use stainless or galvanised hardware and point the dish with a signal meter, not a guess. Our DStv installation service includes the dish, LNB, cable, setup and a signal test with you.
Safety first
Please do not climb onto a steep roof or a double-storey wall to check your dish yourself. Many homes here sit on sharp slopes, and the wind can pick up without warning. Let a trained installer with the right ladder and harness do it.
Keeping your bill low after the move
The 2026 changes surprised many people, mostly because they expected an April increase that never came. We cover the whole story in our piece on the DStv price increase in 2026. In short, DStv froze prices in April and then restructured in September.
A few habits help keep a cheap DStv package cheap:
- Check your package in the MyDStv app once the migration lands, so you know which DStv Access channels you kept and what you are paying for.
- Remove add-ons you no longer use, such as a movie add-on for kids who have moved out.
- Pause or downgrade a holiday home in the quiet months, if the rules for your account allow it.
- Fix small faults yourself first. A remote that has stopped working is often just flat batteries or a pairing issue.
Retirees on Starter often ask us whether to upgrade for one big match. Usually the honest answer is no. Watch it with friends or at a local spot, and keep the monthly bill where it is.
Need help with DStv Access channels in Simon's Town?
If your channels look different, your dish has moved in the wind or you want a second TV, we are close by. Our DStv installation team in Simon's Town works from Miller's Point to Glencairn and quotes before driving out. Send us a message about your setup and we will help you choose the simplest option.
DStv access channels in Simon's Town: FAQs
What are the DStv Access channels now called?
The DStv Access channels now sit in the Starter package, which replaced Access on 17 September 2026. At the time of writing Starter offers 85+ channels for R150 a month on a decoder or R99 a month on DStv Stream. The move is automatic, so you do not need a new decoder or a new contract.
How much is DStv Access per month in 2026?
Access is no longer sold, so the closest match is Starter at R150 a month on a decoder at the time of writing. On DStv Stream the same package costs R99 a month. Existing Access customers were moved across without paying more. Always confirm the current price in the MyDStv app or on the DStv website.
Do DStv Access channels include sport?
Some sport, yes. Wethu+ is included from Starter upwards and shows two live PSL matches a week. The big events such as Premier League, Champions League, cricket and Springbok rugby are not part of the entry package. For those you need Sports or Premium, depending on what you want to watch.
Can I get DStv Access channels on two TVs in Simon's Town?
Yes. In Simon's Town we link a second decoder through XtraView, so both TVs can watch different channels. You pay the Starter subscription plus one Access Fee of R125 a month at the time of writing. We run the cable, link the decoders and test both rooms before we leave.
What is the cheapest DStv package in Simon's Town?
EasyView is the cheapest satellite option at R30 a month at the time of writing, with 35+ channels. It suits holiday homes and granny flats in Simon's Town that only need local channels. Starter costs more but gives far more choice, including Wethu+ football and kykNET & kie.