Not everyone wants a monthly subscription, and in Hermanus we are asked more and more about the alternatives: OpenView HD and a plain digital TV aerial. Both get you watching without a DStv account — they just suit different households. Here is how we talk it through before we install and set either one up.
OpenView HD (OVHD)
OpenView is a free-to-air satellite service: a one-off install — dish, decoder and alignment — and then a bouquet of channels with no monthly fee. It needs its own decoder and a properly aligned dish, exactly like DStv, which is why on this coast it has to be mounted and sealed for the wind or it will drop signal the first time it blows.
It is the better fit if you want a decent spread of channels — news, sport highlights, general entertainment — without paying every month, and you are happy with a satellite dish on the wall.
A digital TV aerial (DTT)
The other free option is a digital TV aerial for the terrestrial SABC and e.tv channels. No dish, no decoder subscription — just the right antenna, mounted high and aligned for the local signal. It is the simplest, cheapest route to the free local channels in HD, provided your area has good terrestrial coverage.
How to choose
- Choose OpenView if you want more channels than terrestrial offers, with no monthly bill, and do not mind a dish.
- Choose a digital aerial if you mainly want the free local channels and prefer the simplest possible setup.
- Keep DStv if you want the full premium sport and movie line-up — and consider running OpenView or an aerial alongside it as a backup.
They work alongside DStv
Plenty of Hermanus homes run both: DStv for the premium content and OpenView or an aerial as a no-cost backup for the rooms that do not need everything. We can set the lot up in one visit and put it all on one tidy install.
Built for the coast either way
Whichever you choose, the install is what makes it last. Cheap cable and an unsealed connector fail fast in the salt air — so we use the same marine-grade coastal-grade materials and sealing on an OpenView or aerial job as we do on DStv. Activated, scanned and demonstrated before we leave.
Whichever system suits you best, our team handles DStv installation Hermanus homeowners trust, alongside dedicated OpenView HD installation in Hermanus.
Not sure which way to go? Tell us how your household watches and we will give you a straight recommendation — no upsell. Get in touch across Hermanus and the Overberg.