MultiChoice told media on 7 September in Randburg that widespread piracy is an “existential threat” to DStv and to broadcasters generally, as pirate IPTV services increasingly resemble legitimate streaming platforms.
Technology enabling organised piracy
At a media event in Randburg, Johannesburg, MultiChoice South Africa CEO Willington Ngwepe described the growth and sophistication of illegal streaming services as a direct challenge to the pay‑TV operator’s exclusive rights. Ngwepe warned that piracy is not only eroding DStv’s position but also threatening other broadcasters and streaming players.
MultiChoice said in a 20 August 2026 release that pirate services have evolved alongside technology. These illegal services now often offer subscriptions, customer support and access to premium films, series and live sport — closely resembling the user experience of authorised platforms. Pirate IPTV operators are able to bundle thousands of channels and programmes into a single unauthorised service and can rapidly shift websites, domains and servers when enforcement takes place, complicating takedown efforts.
Scale and scope in South Africa
MultiChoice’s own research, cited by Ngwepe, found that 25% of South Africans have watched pirated services, a figure the company uses to illustrate how embedded unauthorised consumption has become in its largest market. Canal+ Africa’s PayTV South Africa CEO, Byron du Plessis, also described piracy as a “big threat” at the same event.
“And it’s not just a threat to us, it’s a threat to all broadcasters, including streaming platforms.” — Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice South Africa CEO
What MultiChoice is doing
MultiChoice said its technology arm, Irdeto, is pursuing a multi‑layered approach to fighting piracy. The measures listed by the company include:
- online piracy detection
- forensic watermarking
- site blocking
- payment disruption
- investigations
Ngwepe said Irdeto and MultiChoice are making inroads with these tools, but added that this response alone is insufficient to halt the broader trend.
Why this matters to South African viewers
The rise of pirate services has several practical consequences for ordinary viewers and the South African audiovisual market:
- Higher rights costs and fewer exclusive windows: If piracy undermines the value of exclusive rights, pay‑TV companies may demand higher fees or reduce investment in premium content.
- Quality and reliability: Pirate platforms may present unstable streams, malware risks or poor customer support compared with authorised services, even when they try to mirror the look and feel of legitimate platforms.
- Impact on sports and local production: The source emphasises live sport as a particularly vulnerable category — if revenues fall, broadcasts and local production budgets could be affected.
Enforcement and industry cooperation
MultiChoice’s account underscores the technical and legal complexity of chasing operators who re‑establish services across jurisdictions and infrastructure. The company’s tools aim at detection, blocking and disrupting payment flows, but the company also highlighted the need for broader action across stakeholders — from payment providers to internet hosts — to make enforcement more effective.
At this stage, MultiChoice says its initiatives with Irdeto are producing progress, but the company framed piracy as an ongoing, systemic challenge that requires continuous technological and commercial countermeasures.
What to watch next: how regulators, payment processors and international partners respond to the platforms that facilitate piracy; whether court and blocking orders can keep pace with operators that shift domains and servers; and whether viewers shift consumption behaviour in response to improved legal offerings and anti‑piracy measures.
