Picture a guesthouse with six rooms, a breakfast room and a lounge with a fireplace. Which of the DStv business packages does it need, and how many? That's the puzzle we sort out for guesthouse owners most often, so here's how the options compare.
Quick answer: Most guesthouses need the Stay group of DStv business packages for the bedrooms, choosing between Basic, Essential and Ultra tiers. If you also show TV in a lounge, bar or breakfast room, that space needs a Play package, because Stay channels are cleared for in-room viewing only. Fees are charged per TV each month.
We plan and install guest TV across Franschhoek, from cottages in the village to guest farms out towards La Motte and Wemmershoek. Below we compare the tiers, the room-versus-lounge split and the two ways to wire it. For the install side, our commercial DStv installation page has the details.
Three questions before choosing DStv business packages
Before you look at tiers, answer these. They'll narrow the choice faster than any brochure.
- Where will guests watch? Only in their rooms, or also in shared spaces like a lounge or bar?
- Who are your guests? Couples on a wine weekend want different TV from families or sports fans.
- How many screens? The fee is per TV, so a TV in every room plus the lounge adds up.
The business terms let MultiChoice inspect a property and check the number of rooms and screens. Count honestly, because a short count can lead to back-charges.
Stay tiers of the DStv business packages for guest rooms
Of all the DStv commercial packages, Stay is the group built for hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. It comes in three tiers, and each step up adds channels and live sport events.
| Stay tier | What changes | Suits a guesthouse that |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | The smallest line-up of the three | Sells quiet weekends, where TV is a backup for a rainy evening |
| Essential | More channels, plus more sport events | Hosts families and longer stays, with kids and movie channels in demand |
| Ultra | The biggest line-up and the most sport events | Gets asked about the big match at check-in, and charges rates to match |
Each tier has its own fee per TV, listed on the DStv Stay packages page. Check it when you apply, since rates and channels can change. Our older post on DStv for guesthouses and wine estates covers room layouts.
Technician tip: Start one tier lower than you think. The business terms say upgrades apply straight away, while downgrades only take effect at the end of the billing period, so moving up is the easier direction.
When a guesthouse also needs a Play business package
This is where owners get caught out. Stay channels are restricted to in-room viewing, so the TV in your lounge, honesty bar or breakfast room can't run on Stay.
Shared spaces fall under Play, the group for areas where people eat, drink or relax. A boutique hotel with a restaurant is the classic example: Stay in the suites, Play in the dining room. The same applies to a guest farm with a tasting deck that shows the rugby.
If your lounge TV is only for the owners' family, it's a different story. Talk to MultiChoice about how they'd treat it before you apply, and keep their answer in writing. A farm office with a news screen is different again, since a DStv office TV falls under the Work group.
Decoder per room or one shared system?
The DStv for Business application form lists two ways to deliver the signal. Both work with DStv business packages, and the right one depends on your building.
A decoder per room
Each TV gets its own decoder and smartcard, fed by cable from the dish. It's simple, and a fault in one room doesn't affect the others. It suits small guesthouses and cottages spread across a property.
A head-end system
One central system takes the signal and sends channels to many screens. There are fewer boxes in the rooms, and guests can't unplug things. It suits bigger guesthouses and small hotels, and our communal DStv for guest farms article explains how shared systems are laid out.
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 conditions that shape a guesthouse install
Franschhoek is a lovely place to stay and a tricky place to aim a dish. The mountains ring the valley, and in winter they can shadow the north-eastern sky where the satellite sits.
- Mountain shadow. A spot that's clear in summer can be marginal in June. We check the line of sight with the season in mind before choosing the dish position.
- Heavy winter rain. Cloud and downpours cause rain fade. A dish aligned on a meter with good margin rides it out better, as our note on Winelands storm signal loss explains.
- Long driveways and spread-out cottages. On guest farms near Groendal and Simondium, the dish can be far from the rooms. Long runs need good cable and sometimes conduit or trenching.
- Older village cottages. Thick walls and old roofs need care. We'd rather use a wall or pole mount than risk damage.
Safety first: Please don't ask staff to climb onto a wet roof to check a dish after a storm. Valley roofs stay slippery long after the rain stops. Leave ladders and roof work to a trained technician.
What DStv business packages add to your monthly costs
Budget for two separate bills. MultiChoice charges the monthly fee per TV, and the brochure says billing starts once installation is done and the service is switched on.
Installation is a once-off cost paid to us. At the time of writing, a single-screen install usually budgets from around R850 to R1,400. A guesthouse with several rooms, long cable runs or a difficult roof usually runs from around R1,500 to R2,400 or more, so ask our team for a current quote.
The things that move a guesthouse quote most are the number of rooms, the distance from dish to rooms, the roof type and any TV wall mounting you'd like done at the same time.
Small extras guests notice
TV is one part of the stay. Guests also judge the WiFi, and a slow connection in the far cottage gets mentioned in reviews. Our guide to guesthouse WiFi and access points covers that.
Lock-up-and-go months matter too. If you close for part of winter, cameras on the gate and parking help you keep an eye on things, and our CCTV camera installation can share cable routes with the TV. Remote farms with poor fibre often ask about Starlink installation for guest internet.
Plan your guesthouse TV with us
Once you've chosen your tier and worked out the room-versus-lounge split, we'll design the cabling and install it neatly. Our DStv installers in Franschhoek work to MultiChoice installation standards and test each room with you before we leave.
Call or WhatsApp 079 754 5527, or send us a floor plan or a few photos through our contact page. We'll quote before we drive out.
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 business packages: FAQs
Which DStv business package is best for a guesthouse?
For bedrooms, the Stay group is the one DStv designed for guesthouses, with Basic, Essential and Ultra tiers. Choose the tier by how much your guests care about sport and movies. Any shared lounge or bar TV needs a Play package instead.
Is there a DStv business package for guesthouses?
Yes. DStv's Stay packages are made for hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and retirement villages, with in-room viewing. They're part of the DStv business packages range and are charged per TV each month.
Can I use XtraView or a home account for guest rooms?
No. DStv's business brochure says the only legal way to show DStv on business premises is a DStv for Business agreement. Home subscriptions and XtraView are meant for private homes, so guest rooms need a business account.
How much is a DStv business subscription for a guesthouse?
It's the monthly fee for your Stay tier multiplied by the number of TVs, plus Play fees for any shared area. MultiChoice lists the current rates on its DStv Business site, and they can change, so confirm them when you apply.
Do you install guesthouse DStv in Franschhoek and La Motte?
Yes. We install guest TV in Franschhoek village, La Motte, Groendal, Wemmershoek and nearby farms. We check the mountain line of sight and cable routes on site, then give you a quote before work starts.
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