There was a clear message behind DStv’s Expect More experience in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 16 September: Mzansi still has plenty of stories to tell — and plenty of reasons to tune in.
Urban Lifestyle was invited to experience the night first-hand, stepping beyond the usual press-event format and into the worlds created for some of DStv’s biggest shows.
From live shoots and functioning television sets to sport, entertainment and unexpected moments, the experience was designed to put audiences inside the action rather than simply watching from the outside.
And then came the announcement many reality-TV fans will be talking about: Big Brother Mzansi is returning for Season 7.
Big Brother Mzansi Is Back
The return of Big Brother Mzansi gives one of South Africa’s most recognisable reality formats another chapter, although DStv is keeping further Season 7 details under wraps for now.
Smash Afrika and Season 6 winner Liema Pantsi were among those at the event when the announcement was made.
For a show that has become part of the local entertainment conversation, the return is about more than another season. Big Brother Mzansi has consistently created moments that spill beyond the television screen and into social media, music, fashion and everyday conversations.
The question now is what Season 7 will bring.
Putting Mzansi’s Stories Centre Stage
DStv used the Expect More experience to highlight the breadth of its South African content pipeline.
According to the broadcaster, 266 South African titles had already aired across Mzansi and kykNET channels in 2026, spanning reality, drama, movies, soaps, documentaries and entertainment.
There is plenty more coming, including Spinners Season 2, Invisible, Boer Soek ’n Vrou Season 19, Life with the Khoza Brothers and Big Brother Mzansi Reunion Season 2.
Spinners Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Mzansi Magic on 25 October, while Invisible, based on Deon Meyer’s novel, arrives on M-Net on 14 October.
We Stepped Into the Shows
What made the Johannesburg experience different was how closely guests were brought into the production process.
Hosted by Anele Mgudlwa and produced by Gavin Wratten, the event transformed Urban Brew Studios into an interactive playground, with guests moving through fully operational sets for Spinners, Carte Blanche, Married at First Sight and Big Brother Mzansi.
There was even a chance to experience pitch-side PSL reporting, with the resulting segment filmed, edited and screened on the same night.
It offered a behind-the-scenes reminder that the polished television product audiences see at home is built through a much bigger creative ecosystem of producers, presenters, journalists, technical teams and performers.
Sport Remains Part of the Story
The Expect More experience also placed South African sport firmly in the spotlight.
SuperSport produces more than 300 live matches across the Betway Premiership, Betway SA20 and Carling Currie Cup each season, alongside Proteas home internationals and locally played United Rugby Championship fixtures.
For viewers, that means the DStv experience extends beyond scripted entertainment and reality television into the live moments that continue to shape South Africa’s sporting culture.
With the refreshed Starter, Select, Sports, Movies & Series and Premium packages now rolling out, DStv is positioning its next chapter around accessibility, local storytelling and the sheer variety of content available to audiences.
And with Big Brother Mzansi Season 7 officially on the horizon, Mzansi’s television conversation is about to get interesting again.
