Anyone growing up in South Africa in the ‘90s will remember M-Net Open Time. Some fondly, some not so much, because M-Net Open Time only ran for two hours each day, between 17h00 and 19h00. In the week, the free-to-air sitcoms and soapies were broadly the same each day. However, on weekends you might be lucky to catch portion of a big sports game, but rarely all of it.
Hands up, who used to continue watching the game’s fuzzy broadcast, even after open time ended, to try decipher who won!? Of course, this was the entire point of M-Net Open Time, to give South Africans a taste of what they were missing out on from the pay broadcaster. Now, to celebrate DSTV’s 30th birthday, the open-time concept makes a return. But not quite like you remember it …
M-NET OPEN TIME IS BACK
For M-Net Open Time in 2025, the free-to-air benefit is for one weekend only: Friday 7 November to Sunday 9 November 2025, midnight to midnight. However, the bummer is you have to be an active DSTV satellite customer. Only then will you get full access to all premium channels. This is different to the ‘90s, when you could pick up free-to-air content alongside the SABC state broadcaster.
Byron du Plessis, CEO at MultiChoice (now a CANAL+ company), explains that a nostalgic nod to M-Net Open Time is only the start. “From the start of November, we will reduce HD Decoder pricing by 40% through our newly launched DSTV store. This will make joining and reconnecting easier and more affordable than ever,” says du Plessis. Open Time does not apply to streaming customers.
A GREAT GESTURE
Nevertheless, former presenter Doreen Morris says the revival of M-Net Open Time is still a meaningful gesture. “It’s a lovely way to give back to loyal viewers. For long-time customers on other packages, it opens up access to premium stories they may not have seen before,” Morris says. So, what live sport is on that weekend for open timers to enjoy?
- Springboks vs France match Saturday 8 November.
- Manchester City vs Liverpool on Sunday 9 November.
- F1 Brazil Grand Prix on Sunday 9 November.
What do you think? Are you happy to see M-Net Open Time making a comeback, even if only for a limited time? Or would it be more effective if open time could be viewed by every one? Let us know in the comments below …
