JioStar and DStv proudly announce the launch of Star Khanya, an exciting general entertainment channel in isiZulu, blending rich storytelling with the heart and soul of South African culture.
Launching on 18th August 2025 at 18:00 on DStv Channel 160, Star Khanya will be available to Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family, and Access customers.
Star Khanya is a cultural collaboration, where two rich traditions meet and shine. “Khanya,” meaning “to shine” in isiZulu, sets the tone for the brand and offers a rich lineup of Indian telenovelas and soapies – all dubbed in isiZulu and subtitled in English. Eight original prime time shows air daily from 18h00-22h00.
Featuring family-friendly content with strong, progressive and contemporary characters, Star Khanya promises to deliver powerful, relatable stories that echo the dreams, struggles and triumphs of life.
“We’ve made meaningful improvements to DStv this year with more channels, more value, and greater streaming flexibility,” says Byron du Plessis, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. “Star Khanya brings more local relevance to our content mix, offering engaging entertainment in a language that feels like home for millions of our customers. We’re committed to making DStv better for everyone, across all packages.”
“We believe in the power of storytelling to unite people across cultures and languages. With Star Khanya, we celebrate identity, connect communities and redefine how stories are localised. It’s a channel born of light, purpose and the indomitable power of quality storytelling,” said a JioStar spokesperson.
A channel that shines with purpose
Star Khanya goes beyond entertainment – it expresses identities and aspirations. Each series is handpicked to reflect stories of passion, pride, resilience, and transformation.
Visually, the channel draws inspiration from the artistry of Zulu beadwork, with its rich symbolism, vibrant colours, and deep sense of identity. The logo reflects the strength of women, and the channel jingle blends tradition with contemporary energy, evoking pride and emotion with every note.
JioStar already broadcasts the popular Star Life (DStv channel 167) and research confirms a growing trend towards quality dubbed stories in local languages. Star Khanya taps into this insight by delivering our award-winning shows in isiZulu, providing a more immersive, relatable and accessible experience for South African viewers.
More Value for DStv customers
DStv is continuing to broaden the entertainment experience for customers across all packages. The launch of Star Khanya adds to the list of recent product improvements, including new channels, extra concurrent streams, lower decoder pricing and added Rewards. More enhancements are on the way in the months ahead, to ensure DStv customers get even more entertainment for their subscription.
Star Khanya.
Made to inspire. Built to shine.
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About JioStar
Perched firmly at the nucleus of spellbinding content and innovative technology, JioStar is a leading global media & entertainment company that is reimagining the way audiences consume entertainment and sports. Its television network and streaming service together reach more than 750 million viewers every week, igniting the dreams and aspirations of hundreds of million people across geographies.
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