Pay TV brand DStv will limit streaming services to only one device in a decision aimed at curbing fraud and revenue loss from customers reselling their viewing rights or giving them to others for free.
From March 22, subscribers will be “limited to streaming DStv on one device at a time”.
“Password sharing and piracy are challenges for streaming providers globally,” MultiChoice said via a notice on their website.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to counteract password sharing and piracy, while continuing to bring you the best viewing experience, we will be introducing measures to limit concurrent streaming. From March 22, 2022 customers will be limited to streaming DStv on one device at a time. They will still be able to watch previously downloaded content on a second device.”
MultiChoice says the change is being made to all DStv subscriptions across Africa but that “only customers making use of more than one concurrent stream will be directly affected by the change.”
MultiChoice says the pay-TV operator “will not limit the number of people using a login, however, we are limiting (to one) the number of people who can stream at the same time.”
MultiChoice says that offline viewing is not impacted by this change and that the number of devices a DStv subscriber can have registered for streaming does not change with up to 4 registered devices that are allowed.
Showmax subscribers are not impacted and the change only applies when streaming DStv.
South Africans responded with anger over DStv’s new streaming limit decision, as public outrage kept building through Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday morning.
In summary
When is this change taking place?
Tuesday March 22, 2022
Why is DStv making this change?
It’s one of many ongoing measures to counteract password sharing and piracy.
Does this change apply to all DStv subscriptions?
Yes, the change will be made to all DStv subscriptions across Africa, however, only customers making use of more than one concurrent stream will be directly affected by the change.
Does this impact the number of devices I have registered or offline viewing of content I’ve downloaded
No, customers are allowed 4 registered devices for streaming and still have the option to download DStv content on selected devices for offline viewing as a way to allow for more than one family member to enjoy DStv at the same time.
How does this impact customers with more than one decoder linked in XtraView?
There is no change to viewing DStv on decoders – customers can continue to enjoy viewing DStv on up to 3 decoders linked to the same subscription in XtraView.
Does this mean only one person can be logged in at a time?
No, we will not limit the number of people using a login, however, we are limiting (to one) the number of people who can stream at the same time.
Is there any change to pricing because of this change?
No.
Will this impact Showmax customers?
No, this change only applies when streaming DStv.
