A public petition at www.ipetitions.com/petitions/non-premium-dstv-subscribers-unite has sprung up, which instantly started getting signatures from upset subscribers.
"It has become apparent that DStv has complete disregard for their Compact and Select package subscribers. Taking away a channel we had previous access to is the final straw," says the petition. "We request that the original M-Net Series channel be reinstated or that access to all three new M-Net Series channels be granted to all DStv subscribers."
At issue is the M-Net Series channel and kykNET channel which DStv subscribers say were available when they signed up to certain DStv packages. DStv subscribers who received M-Net Series on certain DStv packages for example, now get M-Net Series Zone and not the premium M-Net Series Showcase.
TV with Thinus heard from upset DStv subscribers such as Thabang for example, saying "I am a DStv Compact subscriber. I'm one of many people who are very uset over the fact that all of our favourite M-net Series shows have been moved to DStv Premium. Not all of us can afford DStv Premium. We have called to DStv to complain; phones were hung up in our ears. Would it be possible for you to find out for us whether M-Net will include the new M-Net Series channels on DStv Extra or will they make it available for Compact subscribers?"
"We would like to assure these customers that all our customers are important to us," says MultiChoice. "The changes that we continually make on DStv packages are designed to enhance the experience of our offering."
"There are quite a few misunderstandings that we would like to clarify. The M-Net Series Zone channel will continue to bring our Compact subscribers the latest seasons of top-rated series," says MultiChoice. "In fact they will get more programmes than they had before."
"Some of the new series coming soon on the channel, for example are the latest seasons of Suits, The Good Wife and Blue Bloods. The following new shows will be screened between August and October of this year on M-Net Series Zone: The Americans, The Following, Elementary, Defiance, Chicago Fire and Primeval."
"The DStv Select package with kykNET is still available to customers who subscribed to it prior to the launch of DStv Family," says MultiChoice. "DStv Select customers who moved to other packages are able to go back to DStv Select to access the kykNET channel."
"DStv Select is not available to new customers and to previous DStv Select customers who have been disconnected from it for more than three months."
"kykNET & Kie was added to a number of DStv packages to give customers who did not have access to kykNET content, a chance to see home-grown shows," explains MultiChoice.
"We are committed to add value to our customers - this year we revamped our DStv Lite package into DStv Access, introduced DStv Family and DStv Extra. We also continue to add a number of channels on a regular basis to all packages," says MultiChoice.
