DStv cuts 5 Indian channels: What subscribers need to know
DStv is removing five channels from its optional Add Indian package, leaving subscribers with three channels from October 31, 2026.
MultiChoice, the pay-TV operator behind DStv, notified customers about the change in an email sent on September 30.
The company said it is refining the DStv channel lineup to better match how customers watch and enjoy content. It said the move would reduce similar content spread across several channels and create a simpler viewing experience.
The changes affect subscribers to the Add Indian package in South Africa.
DStv removes 5 Indian channels
Five channels will leave the Add Indian package when the changes take effect on October 31.
They are:
- SET Asia – Channel 450
- Zee TV – Channel 452
- SET Max – Channel 457
- Zee Cinema – Channel 460
- WION – Channel 461
The channels will no longer form part of the optional Indian package after the October deadline.
MultiChoice said the decision is part of an effort to focus on fewer and stronger channels instead of maintaining a larger lineup with similar programming.
The company also said the Add Indian package itself is not being discontinued.
Three DStv Indian channels will remain
After the five channels are removed, subscribers will still have access to three channels through the Add Indian package.
They are:
- Star Plus – Channel 453
- Star Vijay – Channel 455
- Colors TV – Channel 456
MultiChoice said Indian entertainment would remain available through these three channels.
The company described the reduced lineup as a way to give customers a cleaner and easier-to-navigate viewing experience.
For subscribers who mainly use the package for Indian television shows and entertainment, these three channels will therefore become the main options after October 31.
Will DStv reduce the Add Indian price?
The Add Indian package currently costs R280 per month, according to MyBroadband.
However, MultiChoice has not confirmed the new price that will apply after the five channels are removed.
The company told subscribers that details about a reduced-price offer would be announced soon.
This means customers may have to wait for further communication from DStv before knowing exactly how much they will pay for the smaller package.
Until MultiChoice announces the new offer, subscribers should not assume that the price has already changed.
DStv’s Indian package has been around for years
The latest reduction marks another change to a package that has been part of DStv’s offering for more than two decades.
DStv introduced the Indian Bouquet in 2001. The service was later restructured several times as the broadcaster responded to changing viewing habits and demand.
In 2015, DStv combined its North Indian and South Indian packages into a single Indian package.
The lineup has continued to change since then, with channels being added, removed or rebranded over the years.
DStv is already changing its channel lineup
The removal of the five Indian channels comes shortly after DStv introduced a major restructuring of its broader package offering.
In September, DStv launched new packages in South Africa, including Starter, Select, Sports and Movies & Series, alongside Premium.
The broadcaster said the changes were designed to simplify its packages, reduce repeats and give subscribers more focused entertainment and sports options.
DStv said some channels would close or change as part of the restructuring. It also said the aim was to concentrate on fewer, stronger channels rather than simply offering more channels.
The latest changes to the Add Indian package appear to follow that same approach.
Subscribers can check DStv’s latest package information through the official DStv website as the company releases further details.
What DStv subscribers should know
For customers subscribed to the Add Indian package, the main change is straightforward.
From October 31, 2026, SET Asia, Zee TV, SET Max, Zee Cinema and WION will no longer be available through the package.
Star Plus, Star Vijay and Colors TV will remain.
The package itself will continue to be available in South Africa, while MultiChoice is expected to provide more information about the reduced-price offer.
The change also signals a wider shift in DStv’s approach as the broadcaster reviews its channel lineup and focuses on fewer channels that it believes offer stronger value to subscribers.