Good news first: DStv Explora packages aren't a separate price list. Any satellite package on the current line-up will play on an Explora or an Explora Ultra. What changes is the extra Access Fee for the recording box, and which package gives your household the channels it actually watches.
Quick answer: DStv Explora packages are the normal satellite packages plus an Access Fee of R125 a month at the time of writing. Starter suits light viewers, Select suits families, Sports suits football and cricket fans, and Movies & Series suits drama lovers. Premium is the only home of Springbok rugby and F1. Ask our team for a current quote on the install.
How DStv Explora packages are priced
Your Explora bill has two parts. The first is the package itself. The second is the Access Fee, which DStv charges on PVR decoders like the Explora and Explora Ultra because they record and pause live TV.
In September 2026 DStv rolled out a new line-up. Customers were moved across automatically, nobody needed a new decoder, and DStv said nobody would pay more after the move. If you set up your Explora years ago in Franschhoek, it still works with the new names. Our note on DStv prices in 2026 covers what changed this year.
Good to know: Compact, Family and Access are no longer sold under those names. Existing Compact Plus customers can keep it, but new customers can't sign up for it.
DStv Explora packages and prices side by side
These are the decoder prices for the satellite packages at the time of writing, with the Access Fee added so you can see the real monthly cost on an Explora. Prices can change, so confirm them on dstv.com or in the MyDStv app before you choose.
| Package | Channels | Package price pm | On an Explora (plus R125) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 85+ | R150 | R275 |
| Select | 100+ | R339 | R464 |
| Sports | 115+ | R479 | R604 |
| Movies & Series | 115+ | R500 | R625 |
| Premium | 130+ | R979 | R799 on a 24-month contract, Access Fee included |
EasyView sits at R30 a month, but on an Explora the R125 Access Fee would cost four times more than the package. If that's your budget, a basic HD decoder makes more sense. Our full DStv price list covers the HD decoder side as well.
Matching a plan to the way your home watches
We ask clients one simple question before we fit a decoder: what's on the TV at 8pm most nights? The answer usually picks the package for you.
Starter for light viewing
Starter replaced Access. It has news, kids' channels, Wethu+ with two live PSL matches a week and kykNET & kie. It suits a retired couple in a Bo-Dorp cottage who mostly record the news and a few shows.
Select for a mixed family
Select replaced Family. It adds more general entertainment and kids' content. This is where most families in Groendal and Mooiwater land when they want variety without paying for sport.
Sports for football, cricket and the Cape Epic
Former Compact customers were moved to Sports. It carries every Premier League, Champions League and PSL match, plus SuperSport Cricket, which used to be Premium only. You also get Currie Cup and SA Cup rugby, one URC match a week, UFC and EFC, and cycling including the Tour de France and the Cape Epic.
Movies & Series for drama fans
This new package adds M-Net, kykNET, Mzansi Magic, BBC Earth, Discovery and M-Net Movies+ on channel 106, on top of everything in Select. If your household records series to binge on rainy winter weekends, this pairs well with the Explora's hard drive.
Premium for the Springboks
Springbok tests, international rugby, F1, golf, tennis and motorsport stay on Premium only. If a Bok match is the one thing you can't miss, no other package will do.
DStv Explora Ultra packages: anything different?
No. DStv Explora Ultra packages are the same packages at the same prices, with the same Access Fee. The difference is the box. The Ultra is 4K and HDR capable, has built-in WiFi and streaming apps, and records up to about 110 hours.
So the Ultra makes the most sense on packages with lots of recordable shows, like Movies & Series or Premium. If you're torn between the two boxes, our Explora Ultra vs Explora 3 comparison lays out the hardware side.
Technician tip: Connect the Ultra to your home WiFi during setup. Without internet you lose catch-up and the streaming apps, which are a big part of what you're paying for.
Need a hand in Franschhoek?
Tell us what you need or what your screen shows. We give you a clear price before we drive out.
Valley signal and your recordings
The best package means little if the Explora misses recordings. In Franschhoek the mountains sit high on the northern sky in winter, and the dish needs a clear view north-east to the satellite. A dish placed in summer can lose margin once the low winter sun and heavy cloud arrive.
An Explora also needs a Smart LNB to feed its tuners, so it can record one channel while you watch another. We check both on a signal meter during an Explora installation, then test a recording before we leave.
On farms around La Motte, Wemmershoek and Simondium, long driveways often mean long cable runs from a shed or outbuilding. Long runs lose signal, so we plan the dish position and cable route together. Our page on Explora installation requirements explains the dish size and cabling side.
Choosing DStv Explora packages for guesthouses and holiday homes
Many homes in the valley are lock-up-and-go or guest units. Three things are worth knowing before you pick a package for them:
- Guest suites usually need a commercial setup, not a home package. See our guide on DStv for guesthouses and wine estates.
- If the house stands empty for months, you can change or pause the package through the MyDStv app rather than pay for channels nobody watches.
- A second TV in the main house can share your subscription through XtraView setup. If one box is already an Explora, the second linked decoder costs nothing extra each month.
How to switch your package on an Explora
Changing package doesn't need a technician. Follow these steps:
- Open the MyDStv app or log in on dstv.com.
- Choose the option to change your package and pick the new one.
- Leave the Explora switched on and on a channel so the update reaches it.
- If new channels show an error after a while, use the app's fix errors option to reset the decoder.
If your Explora still struggles after a package change, it's usually signal, not the subscription. That's when our satellite dish alignment service helps.
Book your Explora setup in the valley
We fit and tune Explora and Explora Ultra decoders across Franschhoek, La Provence and the surrounding farms, and we quote before we drive out. Talk to us about DStv installation in Franschhoek, or send a message through our contact page with your package and your TV count.
Talk to our Franschhoek team
We work across Franschhoek, La Motte, Groendal, Wemmershoek, Simondium and nearby. Call or WhatsApp us and we will tell you the practical next step.
DStv Explora packages: FAQs
What packages can I use with a DStv Explora?
Any current satellite package works on an Explora: Starter, Select, Sports, Movies & Series and Premium. You also pay the Access Fee, which is R125 a month at the time of writing. Check dstv.com or the MyDStv app for the latest prices before you switch.
How much are DStv Explora packages and prices per month?
At the time of writing, the total runs from about R275 a month for Starter plus the Access Fee, up to Premium at R979, or R799 on a 24-month contract that includes the Access Fee. Prices can change, so confirm them with DStv.
Can I use DStv Explora with the old Compact or Access package?
Those names were replaced in September 2026. Compact customers moved to Sports and Access became Starter, and the move happened automatically without a new decoder. Your Explora keeps working on the new package.
Can I use DStv Explora with Extra View?
Yes. An Explora can be the main box in an XtraView setup, linked to a second or third decoder on one subscription. Because the Explora already pays the Access Fee, a second linked decoder adds nothing extra each month at the time of writing.
Do you install Explora decoders in Franschhoek farms and estates?
Yes. We install Explora and Explora Ultra decoders in the village and on farms and estates around Franschhoek. We check the dish's view past the mountains, fit the Smart LNB and plan long cable runs. Ask our team for a current quote.
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