DStv has launched a new channel — Play Room — on channel 300, which offers local South African education and entertainment programming and popular international comment.

Play Room went live on 6 November 2023. It also features popular animated shows dubbed into isiZulu.

“A whole new world of learning and fun opens up for local kids on 6 November when the new children’s channel Play Room launches on DStv Channel 300,” DStv said.

Georginah Machiridza, executive head of general entertainment at the MultiChoice Group, said the broadcaster believes that parents and children will have a strong affinity to the new channel.

“We are constantly looking to give our customers the best entertainment and by increasing our content offering we’re providing more viewing options to them,” said Machiridza

“From a local content perspective, we’re excited to expand on local representation in the form of content being dubbed in local languages.”

In the mornings, Play Room will focus on broadcasting educational programming aimed at four- to six-year-olds.

In contrast, afternoon programming will feature live action and a local live show with “high entertainment value for tweens”.

The local live show will combine TV with social media to create an interactive experience for teens.

South Africans must subscribe to at least DStv Access at R99 per month for the streaming-only plan and R129 monthly for the decoder package to access the channel.

DStv appears to have slowed the addition of new channels significantly in 2023. By November 2022, the broadcaster had added six channels to its catalogue.

However, so far in 2023, this is the first new channel offering. DStv dropped the CCTV-4 channel in March 2024.

MyBroadband asked the pay-TV broadcaster if it had decided to slow new channel acquisitions in 2023.

MultiChoice declined to answer and said it would communicate channel changes as they happen.

“We communicate channel changes when they happen. Information about channel launches will be communicated soon,” it said.