OpenView vs DStv in Yzerfontein: 5 Myths, Costs and the Dish
Quick answer: OpenView is free satellite TV with no monthly fee. You buy the decoder once and watch over 20 channels. DStv is a paid subscription with many more channels, including the big live sport. Both use the same IS-20 satellite, so one well-aligned dish in Yzerfontein can feed both decoders.
Most OpenView vs DStv Yzerfontein questions we get start with a small mix-up. Someone has heard that OpenView is "free DStv", or that it needs a whole new dish. Neither is quite right. This OpenView vs DStv guide clears up the myths first, then gives you the plain facts, then shows what it all means for a home on the West Coast.
OpenView vs DStv key points
- OpenView has no monthly fee, no contract and no sign-up fee.
- DStv costs a monthly subscription, from R99 to R979 at the time of writing (October 2026).
- Both services use the IS-20 satellite, so they can share one dish.
- Each TV that watches different channels needs its own decoder.
- Live Springbok rugby and most big sport are only on DStv.
- On the coast, the dish mounting matters more than the box you pick.
OpenView vs DStv: five myths we hear in Yzerfontein
We fit dishes from the village to Grotto Bay every week. The same questions come up at almost every job. Here are the five we hear most, with the honest answer next to each one.
Myth 1: OpenView is a cheap DStv package
Fact: OpenView is a separate company and a separate service. It is a free platform linked to e.tv, and it is not run by MultiChoice. Your DStv account has nothing to do with it.
Myth 2: OpenView needs its own dish
Fact: OpenView sits on the same IS-20 satellite as DStv, pointing north-east. A working DStv dish can feed an OpenView decoder too. You may only need an extra LNB port and a cable run to the second TV.
Myth 3: OpenView will start charging later
Fact: OpenView states that there are no charges now or in future. There are no sign-up fees, no monthly subscriptions and no contracts. You do not even need a TV licence to buy it.
Myth 4: DStv and OpenView show the same channels
Fact: They overlap on very little. OpenView carries SABC 1, 2 and 3, e.tv and a group of free entertainment, movie, kids and news channels. DStv carries those SABC channels plus a much bigger line-up, including SuperSport.
Myth 5: You must pick one or the other
Fact: Many homes run both. That is one of the most common setups we do for proper DStv installation in Yzerfontein, where the lounge has DStv and the guest room or flatlet has OpenView.
The clear facts: how each service works
Both services send TV from a satellite to a dish on your wall. The OpenView vs DStv difference is in how you pay and how much you get.
How OpenView works
You buy an OpenView decoder once. The official price on openview.co.za is R799 for the decoder only, at the time of writing (October 2026). That price excludes the dish and installation.
Once it is connected and activated, the channels are free for good. The newer OV512 decoder also connects to WiFi for extra on-demand shows, called +More. Data costs apply for that part.
You can read the full list of rules on the official OpenView help page. For what you actually get to watch, see our OpenView channels list for 2026.
How DStv works
DStv is a paid subscription. You buy a decoder, link it to your account and pay every month. The package decides which channels you see.
DStv changed its package names from 17 September 2026. The new line-up is Starter, Select, Sports, Movies and Series, and Premium, with EasyView and Compact Plus still running for existing customers.
OpenView vs DStv channels: what you really get
Channel count is where the OpenView vs DStv gap is widest. OpenView says it has over 20 TV channels plus 28 radio channels. DStv packages start at 85+ channels and go up to 130+ on Premium.
- OpenView: SABC 1, 2 and 3, e.tv in HD, movies, series, kids, reality and news.
- DStv Starter: 85+ channels, including some PSL and international football.
- DStv Sports: 115+ channels, with every Premier League and PSL match plus cricket.
- DStv Premium: 130+ channels, and still the only home of Springbok rugby, F1 and golf.
If rugby season matters in your house, OpenView alone will disappoint you. If you mostly watch soapies, news and a movie at night, OpenView covers a lot of it.
What about streaming instead of a dish?
DStv also sells most packages as a streaming-only option, which needs no dish at all. It does need steady internet, which is not a given in every holiday home on the dunes. We compare the two in our guide to DStv Stream versus a decoder.
OpenView vs DStv cost: once-off versus every month
The OpenView vs DStv money side is simple once you split it into equipment, installation and monthly fees.
| Cost item | OpenView | DStv |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | R0 | R99 to R979 (decoder or Stream, by package) |
| Decoder | R799 official price (decoder only) | Depends on model and retailer |
| Contract | None | Month to month, or 24 months for the Premium deal |
| Basic installation with dish | Quoted on site | From R800 with us |
| Sport | Very limited | Full SuperSport range on higher packages |
All prices are at the time of writing (October 2026). DStv decoder package prices come from the official DStv packages guide.
DStv monthly prices at the time of writing
- Starter: R150 a month on a decoder, R99 on Stream.
- Select: R339 on a decoder, R299 on Stream.
- Sports: R479 on a decoder, R399 on Stream.
- Movies and Series: R500 a month.
- Premium: R979 on a decoder, or R799 on a 24-month contract.
What installation adds
The box price is only part of the bill. Our basic DStv installation with a dish, bracket and cable starts from R800, and an extra view starts from R1,800. Equipment is extra.
Our DStv installation cost guide explains what pushes a quote up or down.
For shop prices on the boxes themselves, see our breakdown of decoder prices at PEP, Game and Makro.
Not sure which one suits your house?
Send us a photo of your dish and TV wall. We will tell you if one dish can run both, and give you a clear price first.
The dish: can OpenView and DStv share one?
Yes. This is the OpenView vs DStv question we get most, and the answer surprises people. Because both services use IS-20, one dish pointed north-east can serve both decoders.
The trick is the LNB, the small unit on the arm of the dish. Each decoder needs its own feed from it. A single LNB feeds one decoder, so for two boxes we fit a dual LNB and run a second cable.
When your old dish needs work first
Sharing only works if the dish is solid. A dish that moves slightly in the southeaster will drop both services at the same time. Common signs we see on older Yzerfontein houses:
- Rusted bracket bolts from the salt air.
- Cracked cable jackets on the sunny side of the wall.
- Water inside the connectors after winter rain.
- A dish that was aimed at a different satellite years ago.
We fix and re-align these as part of an OpenView HD installation, so both boxes get a clean signal.
To check the numbers yourself, see our guide on signal strength versus signal quality.
What it means for homes around Yzerfontein
The right OpenView vs DStv answer depends on how you use the house. Here is what we usually suggest after years of jobs up and down this part of the coast.
Holiday homes on the dunes
Here the OpenView vs DStv choice is often easy. A house that stands empty for months is paying DStv for nothing. Many owners keep OpenView on every TV and only run DStv in the main lounge. Guests still get news, movies and SABC without anyone logging into an account.
Exposed dune plots also take the full force of the wind off the sea. Our note on why coastal installs are different explains the brackets and sealing we use there.
Permanent homes with a Dassen Island view
Families who live here all year often want DStv for sport and kids' channels. A sea-facing wall is beautiful, but it is also the windiest. We often mount the dish on a more sheltered wall that still faces north-east.
Farms and smallholdings toward Darling road
Out on the Darling road, there is often no fibre and a long walk to the TV. Satellite still reaches you, since OpenView states it has 100% coverage across South Africa and DStv uses the same satellite. Here we plan long cable runs carefully, because a bad joint shows up as a weak picture.
For a house with no dish at all, start with a full new DStv installation and add OpenView on the same dish later.
Local tip: After load shedding, switch the decoders on only once power has been stable for a minute. Surges are hard on old LNBs and power supplies, and in a two-box home both can go down together.
OpenView vs DStv checklist: decide in five steps
Use this OpenView vs DStv checklist before you buy anything. It takes five minutes and saves a wasted trip to the shop.
- List what you watch. If live Springbok rugby or the Premier League is on the list, you need DStv.
- Count your TVs. Every TV that shows its own channels needs its own decoder.
- Check your dish. Look for rust, a loose bracket or a cracked cable before adding a second box.
- Think about empty months. A holiday home may be better on OpenView, with DStv only in the lounge.
- Get one quote for both. Ask for a dual LNB and both decoders on one dish, with prices listed separately.
If you still feel stuck after the checklist, our Yzerfontein DStv installers can look at the house and give you a straight answer.
Most of our clients around Grotto Bay and the Jacobsbaai side end up with both. It costs little more than one service, and nobody fights over the remote.
Want OpenView, DStv or both on one dish?
We supply, mount, align and tune everything in one visit, with sealed cabling built for West Coast weather.
OpenView vs DStv in Yzerfontein: your questions answered
What is the difference between OpenView and DStv?
OpenView is free satellite TV with no monthly fee, and you only pay once for the decoder and installation. DStv is a paid monthly subscription with far more channels, including SuperSport. In the OpenView vs DStv choice, OpenView wins on cost and DStv wins on choice and sport.
Can OpenView and DStv use the same dish?
Yes. Both use the IS-20 satellite, so one dish pointed north-east can feed both decoders. You need a dual LNB and a separate cable for the second decoder. We check the bracket and cabling first so both services stay stable in the wind.
Is OpenView or DStv better for a holiday home in Yzerfontein?
For a house that stands empty for months, OpenView saves you paying a subscription while nobody is there. Many owners keep DStv in the main lounge and OpenView on the other TVs. That way guests always have something to watch.
How much does an OpenView decoder cost?
OpenView lists its decoder at R799 at the time of writing (October 2026). That price is for the decoder only and excludes the dish and installation. If you already have a working DStv dish, you may only need an extra LNB port and cable.
How many channels do you get on OpenView vs DStv?
OpenView says it offers over 20 TV channels plus 28 radio channels, including SABC 1, 2, 3 and e.tv. DStv packages range from 85+ channels on Starter to 130+ on Premium. The bigger DStv packages carry most live sport.
Do I need a TV licence for OpenView?
No. OpenView states that you do not need a TV licence to buy and watch its service. There is also no sign-up fee and no contract.