Free DStv alternative in South Africa

Vodacom’s deal with Amazon, which gives many of its subscribers free access to Amazon Prime and world-class video streaming, is a blow to DStv.

On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, Amazon launched its Prime membership programme in South Africa, offering members many benefits.

These benefits include unlimited free delivery, exclusive deals and sale events, Prime Video, and free gaming with Amazon Luna.

Amazon Prime is available for free on a 30-day trial. A permanent membership costs R59 a month or R399 per year.

Prime Video is one of the biggest benefits. At R59 per month, or R33 per month on an annual package, it is much cheaper than DStv.

The service gives members unlimited access to exclusive Amazon Originals and international licensed movies and series.

The Prime Video service is available across Smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, tablets, mobile phones, and desktops.

The biggest selling point is the price. Amazon Prime Video, as a standalone service, previously cost R79 per month.

Jamil Ghani, the worldwide leader of Amazon Prime, told Biznews that the much lower Amazon Prime price point was deliberate.

“Members have been able to enjoy Prime Video for some time now at R79 per month. They will now be able to enjoy all of the Prime benefits for R59 per month,” he said.

“For those who are ready to commit to a year, it’s R399, which comes out to a screaming deal on a monthly equivalent basis.”

This means that Amazon Prime, which includes Prime Video, is much cheaper than DStv Stream and offers better like-for-like value.

MultiChoice has been losing DStv subscribers for years, which started with the launch of Netflix in South Africa.

The influx of new, affordable streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, is proving difficult for DStv to compete against.

MultiChoice’s integrated annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025 showed that DStv lost 589,000 subscribers in South Africa.

It is not clear how DStv can respond to the growing threat of affordable alternatives, especially given Amazon Prime’s pricing.

Vodacom’s deal with Amazon in South Africa

On 25 June 2026, Vodacom South Africa announced that it had partnered with Amazon South Africa to offer customers benefits through Amazon Prime.

Vodacom’s RED Core, RED Flexi, and RED VIP customers will enjoy all the benefits of Amazon Prime.

Vodacom customers who sign up for a Home Internet, Mobile Broadband, or Fibre plan will be eligible for Amazon Prime from August 2026 onwards.

RED Flexi customers will receive a free 3-month trial, while RED Core customers will receive a 12-month trial.

Customers who wish to continue the subscription will thereafter be billed R59 per month.

RED VIP, Home Internet and Fibre customers will receive free lifetime access, for as long as Amazon Prime operates in South Africa.

All Vodacom prepaid customers can also sign up to Amazon Prime and pay for the service using their airtime.

Vodacom first introduced Prime Video in 2020 and Prime Video Mobile Edition in 2022, the first mobile operator in South Africa to launch the service.

Mariam Cassim, chief executive officer for Vodacom Fintech Group and Group Partnerships, said this is a big development for the company.

“We are enhancing the value proposition we offer while responding to the evolving customer needs and preferences,” she said.

This means that many South Africans with Vodacom mobile contracts will get a DStv alternative for free.

This will put further pressure on DStv, which has been bleeding subscribers and struggling to respond to the onslaught from streaming giants.