Why We Can't Quit DSTV

You may recall (South African's) a couple months ago, DSTV removed all Compact Subscribers Series Channel without any warning, but the pricing stayed the same. There was a massive uproar and I found myself ready and willing to irrevocably cancel our subscription with immediate effect. I mean at the end of the day all I need is SABC and eTv channels, I don't really watch that much television anyway.

DSTV's social media sites were set ablaze as disgruntled subscribers vented and protested over the removal of the much loved channel. 3 months later we're still subscribed. I feel as powerless to the subscription dependence as my sisters Sausage dog "Nauti" is to table scraps. 

So why hasn't anything changed? Why are we still paying as much for a tv subscription as we do for our gym membership? The same amount as half a tank of petrol and a dinner for two? Why!

Well if you've got DSTV you'll know that the Compact subscription has some of the funniest and most interesting channels to watch. From documentaries about human life, sex therapy and crazy fetishes to Extreme Make Over's and sheer comedic brilliance, its all there and we just can't seem to quit it. Perhaps its a classic case of the FOMO (fear of missing out) and YOLO (you only live once) that's clearly won over the logical part of my brain. How do you blame me, just look at these offerings...

• Max #128 - "Smoking Gun Presents". This could be the best hour of entertainment I've had in a while. A programme dedicated to short clips and comedic reviews of anything from Stupid Drivers to Stupid TV Commercials of our time. 
• TLC #172 - "Long Island Medium". My absolute favourite, never miss an episode series. Real life medium Theresa Caputo shares her live experiences, client readings and quirky family time with viewers. She is amazingly accurate and there will be no dry eyes in your house!
• NatGeo #181/182  - As you would expect, this National Geographic documentary channel is full of amazing information and research on animals and plants around the world. 
• BBC Lifestyle #174 - What's not to love?! There are great shows like "Come Dine With Me" & from end September "Come Dine With Me SA" for the critic and voyeur in you. The dry sense of humour that comes with the presenters commentary will have to you in stitches. 
• Food Network #175 - Hello, its food! Recently the Food Network started the local series called "Siba's Table", a super cute black South African woman who shares her cultural cooking insights with us. There's also "Chopped" which is a food cook off type series and "Guy's Big Bite" & "Diners, Drive-in's and Dives", which is an American show that has Guy Fieri taking us all over America with new food discoveries and his own personal recipes. 

I really sound like I'm punting them now but the fact is that DSTV has us hooked and our lives will never be the same. There is something about human nature that just wants to find out more, even if it is at the cost of a beautiful sunny day outside. 

R300 a month could get me a new pair of shoes, a massage or a wash and blow but each month we subscribe to DSTV because it's just too good to quit. I suppose you don't know what you've got until its gone, but in the same breathe you won't know what you're missing until you've tried it!

Until I find the willpower to disconnect permanently I better auto tune my next few days of television entertainment before I miss out, because you only live once right? Riiiight.