DStv Business Packages Checklist: What to Ask First

Before you sign up for DStv business packages for a tasting room, guesthouse or office in Wellington, a handful of good questions can save you months of paying for the wrong setup. We've split them into three short lists: questions for yourself, for MultiChoice and for your installer.

Start with questions for yourself

Nobody can pick a package for you until you know how the space will be used. Grab a pen and walk the property with these in mind.

• Where will the screens go: guest rooms, a tasting room, a restaurant, a staff room or reception?
• Who's watching: overnight guests, walk-in customers or your own staff?
• How many TVs do you need now, and how many in a year's time?
• Does any part of the property mix uses, like cottages next to a deli?
• Will you close for part of the year, or trade all year round?

Count every screen honestly, because the fee is charged per TV. The terms let MultiChoice inspect premises to check the number of screens or rooms, and it can back-charge if the count is short. If you let rooms, our guide to DStv for guest houses covers in-room setups.

How DStv business packages are grouped

Your answers above point straight to a group. DStv sorts its commercial offer by the type of space, and each group's channels are cleared for a different kind of viewing.

Your space	Group to ask for	Why it fits
Guest rooms, B&B, retirement village	Accommodation	Channels are cleared for in-room viewing only
Tasting room, restaurant, pub or shop	Public viewing	Made for shared areas where people eat, drink or relax
Office, school, bank or reception	Workplace	Meant for business offices where people work
Wine estate with cottages and a restaurant	Two groups	In-room channels can't be shown in the restaurant

The accommodation and public groups each come in more than one tier. The workplace group is simpler, and it's the DStv office option most farm offices and receptions end up on.

Guesthouse owners will find more planning tips in our note on guesthouse connectivity in Wellington, which covers WiFi and TV together.

Questions to ask MultiChoice about DStv business packages

The subscription is a direct deal between you and MultiChoice. Put these to the DStv Business team, and keep their answers in writing.

1. What's the current fee per TV for my group and tier? Rates change, so get today's figure rather than an old flyer.
2. Which documents do you need? The brochure lists company registration documents, a VAT notice if you're registered, and an ID for sole proprietors.
3. When does billing start? At activation, which happens once installation is complete.
4. How do upgrades and downgrades work? Upgrades apply straight away. Downgrades apply from the end of the billing period.
5. What's the notice period to cancel? The terms say thirty days' written notice.
6. What if we open a second venue or move? You must tell MultiChoice in writing.

The DStv for Business brochure holds the application form and the full subscriber terms. Read the section on what venues may not do, such as charging people to watch or putting adverts over the picture.

Questions to ask your installer

The terms say you need a separate agreement with your installer, who works for you and not for MultiChoice. So the quality of the install is between the two of you. These questions sort the careful installers from the rushed ones.

• Do you work to MultiChoice installation standards, and will I get the quote in writing?
• Will each TV get its own decoder, or will a head-end system feed them all?
• Where will the dish go, and is the view to the north-east clear all year?
• How long are the cable runs, and what grade of cable will you use?
• Who do I phone if a screen loses signal on a busy Saturday?

Winelands site questions that change the quote

Every property around here is different. These are the site questions we ask on a first visit, and the answers move the price more than anything else.

Is the view of the sky clear?

The satellite sits high in the north-east sky. On farms in Bovlei and the Hawequa foothills, a slope, a row of poplars or a tall cellar can block it. Our post on why line of sight matters shows what we look for, and satellite dish alignment gets the best from a tricky spot.

How far is the dish from the screens?

Older homes in Wellington and farms near Dal Josafat often have the dish on one building and the TVs in another. Long runs need good cable and sometimes a different layout, so we measure before we quote.

Decoder per TV or one shared system?

The application form lists both options: a decoder for each TV, or a head-end that sends channels to many screens. Bigger blocks in Newton or Groenvallei often suit our communal DStv installation approach.

What happens when the power goes off?

Decoders, routers and screens all drop with the power. Our tips to loadshedding-proof your TV help you decide what's worth keeping on backup.

Budget questions for DStv business packages

There are two costs to plan for. One is the monthly MultiChoice fee per TV. The other is our once-off installation.

At the time of writing, a standard single-screen install usually budgets from around R850 to R1,400. Bigger jobs with long cable runs, several screens or difficult roofs run from around R1,500 to R2,400, so ask our team for a current quote. Check per-TV rates on the DStv Business packages page when you apply.

Red flags to watch for

A few warning signs come up again and again. If you spot any of them, stop and ask more questions.

• Someone offers to run a home subscription in your venue.
• The quote has no written breakdown of what's included.
• You're told it's fine to charge entry for a big match. The terms say it isn't.
• Someone suggests declaring fewer TVs than you actually run.

While we're on site we can also do WiFi and network cabling for guests, or CCTV for a farm stall or shop.

Book a site visit in Wellington

Our commercial DStv installation team works across Wellington, Paarl and Mbekweni. We'll answer the installer questions on site and put the quote in writing before any work starts.

Call or WhatsApp 079 754 5527, or reach us through our contact page. You'll find more about the DStv installers in Wellington on our home page.

DStv business packages: FAQs

How much is a DStv business subscription?

MultiChoice charges a monthly fee for each TV, and the rate depends on the group and tier you choose. Rates change, so ask the DStv Business team for the current figure when you apply. Installation is a separate once-off cost that we quote in writing.

What documents do I need for DStv business packages?

The DStv for Business brochure asks for company registration documents and a VAT registration notice if you're registered. Sole proprietors send an ID document instead. You also sign a payment instruction for the monthly debit order.

Which DStv business package suits a wine tasting room?

A tasting room is a shared space where people drink and relax, which is what the public-viewing group is for. If the farm also has guest cottages, those rooms need the accommodation group, because in-room channels can't be shown in public areas.

Do you install DStv business packages in Wellington and Paarl?

Yes. We install for guesthouses, wine farms, restaurants and offices in Wellington, Paarl, Mbekweni and the Bovlei area. We visit first, check the dish position and cable runs, and give you a written quote before we start.

Can I upgrade my DStv business package later?

Yes. Under the DStv for Business terms, an upgrade applies straight away. A downgrade only takes effect at the end of your current billing period, so plan changes before a quiet season.