DStv, short for Digital Satellite Television, is a popular direct broadcast satellite TV service based in South Africa. Owned by MultiChoice, it offers a wide array of content, including news, sports, movies, TV series, and more. DSTV offers content in 50+ African countries but is mostly focused on South Africa, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. DStv airs more than 200 television channels and radio stations. The list of channels differ and vary across the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. DStv offers TWO French-dedicated packages (French Touch & French Plus) courtesy of CANAL+ from CANAL+ S.A.
DStv first launched in 1995, providing Sub-Saharan African viewers with a satellite service with multiple channels. Today, it offers around 160 channels via various packages and price points. They operate a streaming only subscription, so there’s no need to be in an appropriate country and sign up for their hardware. They stream through iOS and Android apps, too,so you can keep up with all the latest on-the-go action. When it comes to streaming, you can watch all the live TV channels in your package or choose from masses of catch-up content. With so many channels on offer, there’s plenty of the latest viewing up for grabs. From family friendly movies such as The Call of the Wild, Girlfriend’s Getaway, and Natural Born Pranksters to reality show favourites like The Ellen Degeneres Show, Hot Market and Married at First Sight. Whether you want the latest sports or news updates, music, entertainment, education, or to tune in for your film favourites-they’re all on DStv.
DStv Now is their streaming service, which allows users to access DStv content online on multiple devices like smartphones, smart TVs, and tablets. DStv Now is their streaming service, which allows users to stream DStv content online on different streaming platforms like tablets, smart TVs, Android, and iOS devices. It has a premium streaming service DSTV Now, that lets you watch live TV and catch up on DStv Originals on leading streaming devices. DSTV Now is its live online streaming service offering an impressive list of entertainment, sports, news, and kids channels. It also includes Catch Up TV for shows such as Dark Matter, Ray Donavon, Outlander, and Fear The Walking Dead.
However, DStv limits its viewers to specific geographic regions. DStv is officially available in the Sub-Saharan African region only. This means if you live in the US, Australia, Canada, France, or the UK, you cannot watch DSTV Now as it is geo-blocked outside South Africa. You need a VPN to watch DStv in the US because DStv is geographically restricted to countries in the Sub-Saharan African region. The platform has to abide by stringent licensing agreements and copyright limitations imposed by the content providers. DStv Now is only available to viewers in South Africa because it uses geo-restrictions to comply with licensing and distribution agreements with content providers. These restrictions are in place to comply with content providers’ licensing agreements, limiting access to South African viewers. These restrictions are in place due to content licensing agreements, preventing access to viewers located outside South Africa. That’s why if you’re outside one of the countries where DStv is offered, you’ll receive an error message if you try to access the streaming service.
With so many great entertainment, sports, news, and movie channels to choose from-including a handful of free channels-there’s something for everyone. But how do you tune in if you’re not in one of the African regions you need to be in?
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Bypassing Geo-Restrictions
DSTV Now is geo-restricted to South Africa. It is globally known for its premium content but has limited availability due to geo-restrictions. Therefore, you need to spoof your location to watch DSTV Now overseas. A VPN can help you bypass geo-restrictions by making it appear as if you are located in a different country. When you get a South African IP address using a VPN, your traffic appears to come from South Africa. With your virtual location taken care of, signing up for the DStv streaming only subscription should be fairly straightforward. If you have any problems whatsoever-signing up or paying for a subscription-get in touch with our experts, and we’ll walk you through every step.
Methods to Watch DStv Outside South Africa
There are several ways to access DStv from outside South Africa:
1. Using Unlocator
By using Unlocator, you will be able to spoof your location. First, create an Unlocator account. When you finish signing up, configure Unlocator DNS by following these setup guides based on the device your using. Watching DSTV Now requires a DSTV subscription. Unlocator offers another way to access blocked content; Unlocator VPN. You can set it up on compatible devices such as Android, iOS, Mac or Windows. The difference here is that while rerouting your traffic, you’ll also be protecting your personal data with military grade encryptions. Moreover, Unlocator VPN masks your IP address. This gives you complete anonymity while browsing the web. Unlocator VPN simply allows you to connect to a South African server, instantly granting you an IP address based in South Africa. Once DSTV reads your IP, you’ll be recognized as currently located within that region. When you subscribe to Unlocator, you benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Using StreamLocator
StreamLocator provides you with a virtual location precisely where DStv needs you to be and permits the access you need to watch all of their shows. StreamLocator creates an automatic connection through its smart hub instead of an app or a plug-in. StreamLocator’s ingenious system has them covered, and your connections to geo-blocked services will appear seamless.
The StreamLocator smart hub is a plug-and-play system and couldn’t be easier to set up. Simply plug it into your existing WiFi router (any port will work), follow the few simple steps needed to activate your account, and then choose the new STREAMLOCATOR WiFi network to connect your devices.
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Here’s why StreamLocator is a great option:
- No complicated settings or software installation required: The smart hub covers all of your devices automatically. You don’t have to remember to activate it because it’s always working in the background.
- Automatic Location Selection: Our smart hub does that for you, and you won’t even notice it’s doing it.
- Compatibility with all devices: It works in tandem with your WiFi router, it covers the devices you can’t install software or run an app on. So, the closed systems found on many Smart TV brands will finally connect to services they once couldn’t.
- No affect on Internet speeds: Some VPN services route you through slow or busy servers, causing slowdown and buffering playback. Not StreamLocator. It’s always as speedy as your everyday connection.
- Unlimited Connections: If there are five, six, seven, or even ten of you in your family, and you all want to connect to a service in a different country or region-you can!
3. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
VPN and Smart DNS services have been the most acceptable methods in the past, providing streaming services’ servers with the virtual locations they need. Now there’s StreamLocator, helping you to get your hands on the channels you love and making it easier than ever.
A VPN can help you get around the geo-restrictions by making it appear as if you are located in a different country. When you get a South African IP address using a VPN, your traffic appears to come from South Africa.
Key considerations when choosing a VPN:
- Strong server network: A VPN needs to have a strong server network with many servers available globally.
- Ability to unblock services: Not all VPNs are capable of unblocking streaming services (or other types of services). This is because some platforms have VPN blocks in place.
- Strong security: A VPN service must have strong security measures.
- Speed: While all VPNs slow down your internet connection a little, this shouldn’t be very noticeable.
- User-friendly apps: VPNs must be easy for beginners to use. This means having intuitive apps for all major platforms and good customer support services.
- Value for money: The providers in this list offer deals, discounts, money-back guarantees, and free trials.
Here are some of the top VPN providers for DStv:
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- NordVPN: Offers blazing-fast connection speeds with its large VPN network of over 7,200 servers in 118+ countries (including South Africa). It has strong security measures in place and doesn’t store any logs.
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- Surfshark: It can unblock many different services such as DStv without hassle and allows users to connect to an unlimited number of devices at once.
- IPVanish: Offers fast speeds and supports an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
- ExpressVPN: It has strong security measures in place and can unblock many different services.
- CyberGhost VPN: Has a network consisting of over 11,500 servers and strong security measures.
- Private Internet Access (PIA): It has several customization options and allows users to change the app’s interface to their liking.
- PureVPN: Is easy to use and set up, keeps your data secure, and offers a solid server network.
- Proton VPN: Can unblock many different services, has strong security, and is a great choice for Linux users.
Note: The performance of DStv on our South African server may vary, and there might be instances when it does not work at all.
Here's a comparison table of the top VPNs for streaming DStv outside South Africa:
| VPN Provider | Servers in South Africa | Speed | Security Features | Simultaneous Connections | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Yes | Very Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection | 10 | $$$ |
| Surfshark | Yes | Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, NoBorders mode | Unlimited | $$ |
| IPVanish | Yes | Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection | Unlimited | $$$ |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Very Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, Perfect Forward Secrecy | 5 | $$$$ |
| CyberGhost VPN | Yes | Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, No-logs policy | 7 | $$ |
| Private Internet Access | Yes | Good | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection | Unlimited | $$ |
| PureVPN | Yes | Fast | AES 256-bit encryption, DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch | 10 | $$ |
| Proton VPN | Yes | Good | AES 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, Secure Core servers | 10 | $$$ |
Note: Pricing is categorized as $: Budget-friendly, $$: Moderate, $$$: High, $$$$: Premium.
Registering and Subscribing to DStv from Abroad
You can sign up for a DStv Now account from anywhere as long as you have a high-quality VPN on your device. Provide your payment details. If your smart TV is Android-based, get our Android TV app.
With your virtual location taken care of, signing up for the DStv streaming only subscription should be fairly straightforward. If you have any problems whatsoever-signing up or paying for a subscription-get in touch with our experts, and we’ll walk you through every step.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN to Watch DStv?
No, it is not illegal to use a VPN for accessing DStv Now. While this is possible, as using a VPN is against the terms of service of DStv, it is very unlikely. Technically, doing so is against the terms of service if you’re outside of a supported country, but the chances of anything happening are vanishingly small. The reason for this is simple: VPNs are legitimate privacy tools that are used by millions of people every day.
Can I Use a Free VPN?
While this is possible, I don’t recommend it. Most free VPNs often come with limitations such as bandwidth caps, slow speeds, and fewer server options. Free VPNs don’t have the same infrastructure in place as paid VPN options. This means smaller, weaker server networks and possibly even reduced security measures. Fewer servers could also lead to overcrowding and slower connection speeds, ultimately leading to buffering that interrupts your DStv viewing experience. For these reasons, I don’t recommend using a free VPN.
Is DStv Now Free?
No, DStv Now is not free. It is a subscription-based service that requires a paid subscription to access its content. Does StreamLocator allow me to watch DStv for free?There are ten packages on DStv, all available as part of their streaming only subscription. You can sign up and watch the free option-that won’t cost you a thing-yet, there are far more channels available, at great value subscriptions. They will still come in at the same price, whether you use StreamLocator to access them or not.
Popular Channels on DStv in South Africa
Just check out some of the superb channels you’ll have access to using StreamLocator and DStv.
- M-Net
- M-Net Movies 1-4
- M-Net Plus 1
- M-Net Movies Pretty Deadly
- Studio Universal
- KIX
- Universal TV
- Telemundo
- BBC Brit
- Discovery Channel
- Comedy Central
- E!
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tags: #Africa
