How to Stream DSTV from Abroad

Anyone who’s been long enough in South Africa has definitely heard of DStv. The TV broadcaster is the biggest in the country, offering multiple channels and services to their subscribers. Whether you’re into sports, movies, series, or news, DStv has everything. However, the service is only available inside South Africa, so if you live abroad, you’re going to miss out on your favorite programs. Unless…

This guide has all the info you need to unblock DStv no matter where you are on the map. Read on and find out.

DStv – A Quick Introduction

Ever heard of Multichoice? The company is the biggest satellite pay-TV operator in Africa. Their product is called DStv.

Short for Digital Satellite Television, the channel launched back in 1995 and has become widely popular in the African region.

As of 2019, DStv has around 12 million customers, with the majority being in South Africa and Nigeria.

If you use SuperSport to tune in to your favorite sporting events, then you owe DStv a big “Thank You.” Such channels can’t be accessed without a DStv subscription. However, the platform offers several plans to give you the flexibility you need, including

• Premium (R809)
• Compact Plus (R519)
• Family (R265)
• Access (R105)
• Easy View (R29)

One Problem Though

Even though the company is called Multichoice, they give you no choice at all if you’re residing outside of South Africa. Sadly, DStv channels are only available for viewers living inside the South African region.

What actually got my attention is a comment on Quora. We all have that habit we do on a daily basis. Well, mine is surfing websites like Quora and Reddit for global information. However, this poked my interest.

Sorry, my friend, due to licensing agreements, if you try to access the service from outside those borders, the following message will appear on your screen:

“Sorry, DStv Now isn’t available in your region.”

I know how frustrating that could be. I’ve personally tried to watch it from abroad and got the same message. But in order to fix the problem, you have to identify what is causing it.

And in this case, it’s your IP address. This label that is assigned to your device allows the service to pinpoint your location. As soon as DStv reads that you are outside its coverage zone, it will prevent you from viewing its content.

But it doesn’t stop here. There are two workarounds you can use to circumvent the geo-restrictions imposed on DStv. Scroll a bit further and see for yourself.

Global DStv – Is it Possible?

Well, yeah, it is if you know your way around. All you need to do is spoof your geographic position to South Africa, and one of the most efficient ways to do so is with a VPN. But what is it?

VPN 101

Well, a Virtual Private Network is an internet software that can alter your online whereabouts. It does that by rerouting your traffic through one of its servers in a country of your choosing.

Once you establish a connection, you’ll receive an IP address in the territory where the server is located. As a result, any service/channel restricted to that region will take on the impression of you residing in its broadcasting area. 

In your case, a South African server is all you need. Hit connect, obtain a South African IP address and stream DStv wherever you are. 

However, if you think VPNs are only good at unblocking channels, then you’ve got another thing coming. They also shield your data with the latest military-grade encryption. Now, you can surf the internet without having to worry about who might be monitoring your browsing activities.

Also, they protect you from various cyber threats like hackers on public WiFi networks. Additionally, if you’re into torrenting and file-sharing activities, a VPN hides your IP address. So, you’re completely anonymous. That will help you avoid any copyright holders from taking legal action.

Establishing a South African VPN Connection

VPNs are essential in today’s digital world that is full of hazards and cyber threats. Therefore, I recommend you use this service whenever you go online, not just to bypass geo-blocks when you’re abroad.

But for now, let’s just focus on unblocking DStv. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Sign up for a reputable VPN provider. According to stats, ExpressVPN is one of the top VPNs to use.
2. Find their application in your native App Store and download it.
3. Activate the VPN client and log in.
4. Search for a South African server and hit connect.
5. See if the connection took place by visiting our IP Checker
6. Watch all your favorite programs anywhere on DStv.

ExpressVPN? Really?

If you type the word “VPN” in a search engine, you’ll get plenty of options to choose from. But that doesn’t mean that they all offer elite services. That is why we recommend that you use ExpressVPN.

To kick it off, the provider has more than 2500 servers across 164 locations in 94 countries, including South Africa. It provides unlimited server and IP switching, so you can unblock any channel you want.

Moreover, ExpressVPN excels in the security department as it offers the same encryption the US government uses – AES 256-bit encryption. That’s not all; a reputable VPN should respect your privacy and ExpressVPN does one heck of a job to prove that.

The provider doesn’t store user logs, activities, or any kind of information. Plus, it includes a kill switch to terminate your connection if a sudden VPN network drop occurs. That will keep all your info private. Other features include DNS Leak Protection, Split Tunneling (my favorite), and P2P sharing.

Now, this is a vital part to consider. Although ExpressVPN allows five concurrent connections, it doesn’t support all the devices out there just like any VPN in the industry. You’re limited to a couple of platforms. However, with MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS Proxy, you can expand the compatibility.

You’ll be able to change DNS on Android, iOS, PC, Mac, FireStick, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Smart TVs. That way, you get to unblock DStv on any device. But you should know that there won’t be any added security.

To be honest, ExpressVPN isn’t the only provider capable of giving you top quality service. You could also go for any of the below alternatives. They are the best in the business:

How to Access DStv with Smart DNS Proxies

I’ve already mentioned that above, but here, we’ll be digging a bit deeper. Smart DNS Proxies are tools that don’t make a lot of modifications to your internet connection. Instead, they only redirect part of your traffic that highlights your whereabouts.

Although it’s an alternative to VPNs, it doesn’t keep up when it comes to privacy. This service does not encrypt your traffic, so if you’re using it, you’re out in the open unprotected. Also, it doesn’t hide your IP address, which means that you’ll be exposed.

However, it doesn’t have to be bad. With no encryption, you’ll be able to stream your content with minimal speed loss. Moreover, with your IP address intact, you can manage both local and restricted channels at the same time. Basically, we can say that Smart DNS is strictly for bypassing regional restrictions.

One more thing, Smart DNS can’t unblock any channel like a VPN does. Smart DNS proxies have a list of supported channels, so make sure the one you want to unblock is on that list before you sign up for the service.

Yes, they have some red flags, but these tools are still pretty popular among users. Therefore, if you want to configure it on your device, follow these steps:

1. Subscribe to a well-known Smart DNS service. We recommend you use Unlocator.
2. DStv has to be in their supported channels
3. Follow the setup guides provided on their website to configure Smart DNS according to the platform you’re using.
4. Stream your favorite programs from all corners of the world with DStv.

Is DStv Worth It?

DStv is home to some of the best shows and programs. From movies, series, and kids entertainment, to sports, news, lifestyle, and reality TV, this service has it all. So, yeah, it’s worth it. Here’s a taste of what you’ll get when you subscribe:

DStv Compatible Devices

You can watch your favorite programs on a wide array of devices and platforms, including:

How to Stream DStv from Abroad – Conclusion

DStv is one of the biggest TV broadcasters in the world. And with such a huge selection of premium channels on offer, all TV lovers should consider subscribing to it, not just South African expats.

Therefore, if you want to get your hands on this fantastic service but you live abroad, make sure you get a VPN or a Smart DNS proxy. Once you’re done, pay me another visit and share your experience. I would love to hear all about it in the comment section.