DStv Now (the DStv App): How to Log In, Stream & Watch in 2026

If you have ever searched for "DStv Now," you are looking for the DStv app — the way to stream your DStv channels, catch-up, and on-demand content over the internet instead of being tied to the decoder in your lounge. This guide explains what DStv Now is, how to download it, how to log in, what you can watch, and why so many viewers who start streaming end up questioning the price they pay for it.

For the full context on how the app fits with satellite, DStv Stream, and the cheaper alternative, read the full DStv app guide. For the technology behind streaming TV, see what an IPTV service is and how it works.

What Is DStv Now?

DStv Now is the former name of the DStv app — MultiChoice's streaming application that lets DStv subscribers watch their channels on phones, tablets, laptops, Smart TVs, and streaming sticks, anywhere with an internet connection. Today the service is simply called the DStv app, but millions of South Africans still search for it as "DStv Now."

It gives existing subscribers three things:

• Live channels — stream the same channels your package includes, away from the decoder
• Catch-up — watch programmes that already aired
• On-demand — a library of shows and movies to watch any time

If you subscribe through DStv Stream (the dish-free product), the DStv app is also your main way to watch — there is no decoder at all.

How to Download the DStv App

The app is available on every major platform:

• Android phones & tablets — Google Play Store
• iPhone & iPad — Apple App Store
• Smart TVs — Samsung, LG, and other app stores
• Streaming sticks — Amazon Fire TV and similar
• Web — stream in a browser at the DStv website

Download is free; you need an active DStv subscription to watch.

How to Log In to DStv Now

1. Open the DStv app (or the DStv website).
2. Select "Sign In."
3. Enter your DStv credentials — the email or phone number and password linked to your MultiChoice account.
4. If it is your first time, you may be asked to connect the app to your DStv subscription by confirming your smartcard or account number.
5. Browse and watch — your package's live channels, catch-up, and on-demand load automatically.

Forgotten your password? Use the "Forgot Password" link on the sign-in screen to reset it via your registered email or phone number. (For a deeper walkthrough of sign-in errors, see our DStv login troubleshooting guide.)

What Can You Watch on DStv Now?

What appears in the app depends on your package — the app mirrors your subscription tier. A Premium subscriber sees the full channel list and SuperSport; an Access subscriber sees a much smaller bouquet. On-demand and catch-up libraries are likewise tied to your plan.

There are also limits some viewers find frustrating:

• Simultaneous streams are capped depending on your subscription
• Some channels are not available to stream for rights reasons
• Catch-up windows expire after a set period
• You still pay the full package price whether you watch on the app or the decoder

The Catch: You Are Streaming, But Still Paying Satellite Prices

Here is what most DStv Now users eventually realise. The app proves you do not need a dish to watch television — everything is already coming over the internet. Yet the bill is unchanged: a Premium subscription is still around R929/month whether you watch on the Explora or on your phone.

If you are already streaming through an app, the only question left is which app gives you the most for your money.

DStv Now vs IPTV

Both stream over the internet on the devices you own. One limits you to the channels in your (expensive) package; the other — IG IPTV — gives you 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ on-demand titles, including the football, rugby, and movies, for a fraction of the price.

For the full comparison, read the full DStv app guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DStv Now?

DStv Now is the former name of the DStv app — MultiChoice's streaming application that lets subscribers watch live channels, catch-up, and on-demand content over the internet on phones, tablets, Smart TVs, and streaming sticks. It is now simply called the DStv app.

How do I log in to DStv Now?

Open the DStv app or website, select Sign In, and enter the email or phone number and password linked to your MultiChoice account. First-time users may need to connect the app to their subscription using their smartcard or account number.

Is DStv Now free?

The app is free to download, but you need an active DStv or DStv Stream subscription to watch. What you can stream depends on your package tier.

Why can't I stream some channels on DStv Now?

Certain channels are restricted from streaming for broadcast-rights reasons, and the number of simultaneous streams is capped by your subscription. These limits apply even though you are paying the full package price.

Can I watch DStv Now outside South Africa?

DStv Now has regional restrictions on much of its content, so streaming abroad is limited. A premium IPTV service such as IG IPTV streams anywhere with an internet connection, without those geographic limits.

Is there a cheaper alternative to DStv Now?

Yes. A premium IPTV service such as IG IPTV streams 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ on-demand titles — far more than any DStv package — for a fraction of the price, on the same devices, with no decoder or dish.

Get Started With IG IPTV Today

If you are already watching DStv through an app, you have proven you do not need a dish — only a fair price. IG IPTV delivers 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ on-demand titles in up to 4K Ultra HD — all the sport, movies, and entertainment — for far less than a DStv Premium subscription. No decoder, no contract, watch on any device, anywhere. Activation in under 5 minutes via WhatsApp, with a free 24-hour trial and no credit card required.

Start your free trial today — message IG IPTV on WhatsApp and stream more for less.