If you want DStv in a second room, you will quickly run into two terms that sound similar but mean very different things: Extra View vs Extra TV Point. Choosing the wrong one means either paying a monthly fee you did not need, or buying a second decoder when a simple cable would have done the job. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, so you can decide what your home actually needs before you call an installer.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is Extra View? | A MultiChoice feature (XtraView) that links 2–3 decoders under one subscription, so each TV can watch a different channel. |
| What is an Extra TV Point? | A physical installation – running a new cable point to another room, either to mirror one decoder or to feed a second one. |
| Want different channels per TV? | You need Extra View (plus a second decoder). |
| Happy to watch the same channel? | An Extra TV Point alone is cheaper – no monthly fee. |
| Ongoing cost | Extra View adds a monthly Access Fee per extra decoder. An Extra TV Point is a once-off install. |
What is DStv Extra View (XtraView)?
Extra View – officially XtraView – is a MultiChoice feature, not a piece of hardware. According to DStv's own help pages, it lets you link two or three decoders together under a single subscription. You pay your normal monthly subscription plus one Access Fee for each additional linked decoder. The big win is independence: each television runs off its own decoder, so the lounge can watch sport while the bedroom watches a movie – all on one DStv account.
Because every linked TV has its own decoder, everyone gets their own remote, their own guide, and their own recordings (on a PVR or Explora). The decoders do have to talk to each other through a link cable, and they must run off the same dish, so this is a setup best handled by an accredited technician – our DStv Extra View installation service links and activates the decoders for you. If you want the full breakdown of how the link works, read our complete guide to DStv Extra View.
What is an Extra TV Point?
An Extra TV Point is an installation job, not a subscription feature. It means running a new cable point from your dish or existing decoder to another room so a television there can receive a DStv signal. There are two common versions, and people often confuse them:
- A mirrored point – the second TV simply shows whatever the one decoder is tuned to. There is no extra monthly fee, but both screens watch the same channel.
- A point prepared for a second decoder – the installer runs the correct cabling (and fits the right LNB or multiswitch) so a second decoder can be added later. On its own it is just cabling; the moment you add and link that decoder, you are into Extra View territory.
So an Extra TV Point is the physical groundwork. Whether it ends up needing a monthly fee depends entirely on whether a second, independent decoder gets linked to it. Our extra TV point installation service covers the cabling, wall points and signal splitting for that second room.
Extra View vs Extra TV Point: the real difference
Here is the side-by-side so you can see exactly where the two part ways:
| Feature | Extra View (XtraView) | Extra TV Point |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | MultiChoice subscription feature | Physical cable installation |
| Different channels per TV? | Yes – each TV is independent | No – mirrors the same channel (unless a second decoder is added) |
| Second decoder needed? | Yes | Only if you want independent viewing |
| Monthly cost | Subscription + one Access Fee per extra decoder | None for a mirrored point |
| Once-off install | Cabling + decoder linking | Cabling + wall point |
| Best for | Households that fight over the remote | A second screen showing the same thing (e.g. patio TV) |
Which one do you actually need?
It comes down to one question: do the two TVs need to watch different things at the same time?
- Choose Extra View if the lounge and bedroom want to watch separately – sport in one room, kids' channels in another. You will need a second decoder and you will pay a monthly Access Fee, but everyone gets full independent control.
- Choose an Extra TV Point if you just want the same picture on a second screen – for example a TV on the patio mirroring the lounge during a rugby match. It is a once-off cost with no monthly fee.
A common money-saver: if you already own a spare decoder, Extra View only costs you the Access Fee plus the linking install. If you do not, factor in the price of a second decoder too.
What each setup needs
Both setups start at your satellite dish, and the dish hardware matters. To run two or more decoders off one dish for Extra View, you usually need a Smart LNB (or a multiswitch) that can feed multiple decoders. If your dish still has an older single or twin LNB, an installer may need to upgrade it – something we handle as part of satellite dish installation. For a simple mirrored Extra TV Point, a signal splitter and the right cable run are often all that is required.
Either way, getting the LNB, cabling and decoder linking right the first time is what keeps your signal stable and avoids the dreaded “no signal” errors down the line. This is the part most DIY attempts get wrong.
What does it cost?
Two separate costs are involved, and keeping them apart avoids surprises:
- The MultiChoice Access Fee (Extra View only) – a monthly fee per additional linked decoder, billed by DStv on top of your subscription. It is in the region of R105 a month (around R85 on an Explora) depending on your decoder and package; check DStv's current rates for the exact figure.
- The installation (once-off) – our DStv installations start from around R550, with the final price depending on cable runs, whether an LNB upgrade is needed, and whether you are linking a second decoder or just splitting to a second screen.
An Extra TV Point with no second decoder has no monthly fee at all – you only pay the once-off install. That is the cheapest way to get DStv onto a second TV if you are happy watching the same channel.
FAQ
What is Extra View on DStv?
Extra View (XtraView) is a MultiChoice feature that links two or three decoders under one subscription, so each TV can watch a different channel. You pay your normal subscription plus one monthly Access Fee for each additional decoder.
How much does XtraView cost?
XtraView adds a monthly Access Fee per extra linked decoder – around R105 a month (about R85 on an Explora) – on top of your normal subscription. There is also a once-off installation cost to link the decoders, and the price of a second decoder if you do not already own one.
How do I activate XtraView on DStv?
First, an accredited installer physically links your two decoders to the same dish. Once the cabling is done, the link is activated on your DStv account (via the DStv app, the website, or the call centre) so both decoders run under one subscription. Doing the install first is essential – activation will not work without the correct physical link.
Is an Extra TV Point the same as Extra View?
No. An Extra TV Point is the physical cabling to a second room, while Extra View is the subscription feature that lets a second decoder show different channels. You can have an Extra TV Point with no Extra View (a mirrored screen, no monthly fee), but Extra View always needs the cabling an Extra TV Point provides.
Can I watch different channels on two TVs with one decoder?
No. One decoder can only tune one channel at a time, so a second TV connected to it shows the same picture. To watch different channels on each TV you need a second decoder linked via Extra View.
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