M-Net recently launched GOtv in South Africa, offering a pay-TV service over the country’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) network.
To receive the service, you need a UHF antenna and one of GOtv’s DTT decoders, which it said will be on sale for R699.
At launch, GOtv will offer two packages: GOtv Value for R99 per month and GOtv Lite for R45 every 3 months.
GOtv Value is priced the same as DStv Access, which raises the question of how MultiChoice’s two services compare.
Looking at the best-case scenario for the DTT service—households with a UHF antenna installed—a full DStv installation is roughly R200 more expensive than GOtv.

Here’s a comparison of DStv and GOtv focusing on their prices and channel offerings. Both are services provided by Multichoice, but they target different audiences with DStv offering satellite TV and GOtv offering a more affordable terrestrial service.

Content Table

  1. DStv Packages
  2. GOtv Packages
  3. Key Comparisons
  4. Why would you choose GOtv Value over DStv Access?
  5. Final Consideration

DStv Packages

DStv has a wider range of packages, offering more premium and comprehensive content. Prices and channel availability can vary by country. Below are typical South African prices (as of mid-2024) for reference:

  1. DStv Premium (R999/month)

    • Over 150 channels
    • All sports, news, entertainment, and international content.
    • Includes Showmax.

  2. DStv Compact Plus (R579/month)

    • Around 135 channels
    • Includes most sports, entertainment, and movie channels.

  3. DStv Compact (R429/month)

    • About 120 channels
    • Decent range of entertainment, movies, and sports, but fewer international channels.

  4. DStv Family (R319/month)

    • Roughly 100 channels
    • Family entertainment, some sports, and lifestyle channels.

  5. DStv Access (R129/month)

    • 70+ channels
    • More basic content with limited sports and international content.

  6. DStv EasyView (R29/month)

    • 40+ channels
    • Very basic package with local news and free-to-air content.

GOtv Packages

GOtv is more affordable and offers fewer channels, with content targeted more toward a mass market, often using a terrestrial signal rather than satellite. Here’s a look at typical pricing:

  1. GOtv Supa (R319/month)

    • 80+ channels
    • Mix of entertainment, sports, and kids’ channels.

  2. GOtv Max (R190/month)

    • Around 60 channels
    • Sports, movies, telenovelas, and kids' shows.

  3. GOtv Plus (R130/month)

    • 45+ channels
    • Limited sports, news, and entertainment channels.

  4. GOtv Value (R80/month)

    • 30+ channels
    • Basic entertainment and news.

  5. GOtv Lite (R30/month)

    • Around 20 channels
    • Mostly free-to-air content, very basic selection.

Key Comparisons

  • Pricing: GOtv is much more affordable, with even the premium GOtv Supa being cheaper than the most basic DStv packages.
  • Channels: DStv has more channels and offers premium international content (movies, sports, documentaries). GOtv focuses more on local content with a smaller selection of international programming.
  • Content Quality: DStv provides superior quality, especially for sports (e.g., English Premier League, UEFA Champions League) and movie lovers. GOtv is better for those looking for basic entertainment at a low cost.
  • Technology: DStv uses satellite technology, which may be necessary in remote areas. GOtv uses terrestrial transmission, which might be more accessible in urban areas but may suffer signal limitations in some rural locations.

Why would you choose GOtv Value over DStv Access?

The comparison above shows that DStv Access offers almost all the channels on GOtv Value and a whole lot more.
Add to that the relatively small difference in once-off costs between the two services, and one can’t help but wonder why anyone would choose GOtv Value over DStv Access.
MultiChoice chief operating officer Mark Rayner said that in other countries in Africa where they’ve launched GOtv, many families see a satellite dish as a long-term investment.
For families moving around a lot, GOtv is more portable than DStv.
“GOtv is also simpler,” he said, regarding its installation and proposition.
Unlike DStv, GOtv also doesn’t charge a reconnection fee when you let your subscription lapse.
Rayner said the number of channels available on GOtv is currently limited by the bandwidth Icasa has assigned them.
For this reason they decided to select 12 of the more popular channels from their entry-level packages for the GOtv bouquet.

Final Consideration:

If you want premium content with more international channels, DStv is better. However, for a more budget-friendly, local-focused service, GOtv offers great value.

Let me know if you want a more specific breakdown based on your location!