DStv Compact Highlights January 2026

News 01 January 2026

BBMzansi S6, Buyela Ekhaya S2, The Real City Makoti and more on DStv Compact in January.

January 2026 is coming in hot and DStv Compact is wasting no time setting the tone for the year.

Leading the charge is the highly anticipated Big Brother Mzansi Season 6, turning up the heat with fresh Housemates and unpredictable twists, alongside the return of Buyela Ekhaya Season 2 and the debut of the brand-new reality series The Real City Makoti.

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If you’re starting the year glued to your screen, DStv Compact has you covered. With DStv Upsize, all Family or Access subscribers get access to every DStv Compact channel until midnight on 31 January.

All you need is an active decoder subscription up to 31 January. If you sign up or reconnect during that time, your subscription will also automatically be Upsized, so here we've hand-picked some highlights to welcome you to the best of DStv.

Unfiltered Mzansi reality

Big Brother Mzansi

Mzansi Magic is turning up the volume with BAZOZWA, the electrifying theme for the new season of Big Brother Mzansi. With fresh game mechanics, Biggie promises nonstop twists that will keep Housemates on edge and viewers guessing. Expect big personalities, bold dreamers and fearless game-changers all chasing the prize and Mzansi’s hearts. The only question is: who will rise?

Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 premieres Sunday, 11 January at 6PM on Mzansi Magic Channel 161.

Spinza Aside

Four couples battling alcohol abuse embark on a life-changing journey to heal their relationships and break free from addiction in the new series Spinza Aside. With expert guidance, they confront their pasts, undergo intense therapy, and face daring relationship challenges that test trust, loyalty and vulnerability. The ultimate question remains: can love survive and thrive sober?

Stream Spinza Aside Season 1 from Tuesday, 27 January at 7PM on Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163.

The Real City Makoti

The Real City Makoti follows four married women living vibrant city lives while staying deeply connected to their rural and traditional roots. As modern makotis, they navigate cultural expectations, family pressures and identity clashes while striving to balance urban ambition with age-old customs. Expect heartfelt moments, bold choices and compelling conversations as they challenge tradition and redefine what it means to be a makoti in today’s world.

Stream The Real City Makoti Season 1 from Friday, 30 January at 6:30PM on Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163.

Buyela Ekhaya

Buyela Ekhaya Season 2 returns to Moja Love, hosted by Yizo Yizo star Innocent Masuku, once again exploring second chances as he hits the streets to meet people living unhoused. Each episode uncovers deeply personal stories of why they feel unable to return home, from shame and fear to conflict and abuse. As families share their side, the Buyela Ekhaya team searches for healing, compassion and reconciliation.

Watch Buyela Ekhaya Season 2 from Saturday, 17 January at 9PM on Moja Love Channel 157.

Utatakho

Utatakho S9 returns with new host Nonkanyiso “LaConco” Conco, following emotional journeys of people raised with uncertainty about their biological fathers as they seek answers, closure, and sometimes reconciliation. In a country where absent fathers, cultural identity, and family disputes remain pressing social issues, Utatakho goes beyond reality TV, reflecting Mzansi society and revealing the pain, hope, and healing that come with uncovering the truth.

Watch Utatakho Season 9 from Monday, 26 January at 7PM on Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163.

Heartwarming drama

The Librarians: The Next Chapter

The Librarians: The Next Chapter S1, a spinoff of the hit series, brings a fresh action-adventure twist with magical artefacts, daring missions, and secret knowledge. A time-travelling librarian from the past finds himself trapped in the present and must lead a new team of librarians to fix the chaos he unleashed, spreading magic across the continent.

Watch The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 from Sunday, 4 January at 6:20PM, with new episodes airing every Sunday in a double bill on Universal TV DStv Channel 117.

All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small S6 returns to Darrowby in May 1945 to find Skeldale House at sixes and sevens. As victory in Europe is declared, there is the promise of peace at last, but James is wishing for a greater sense of peace at the surgery as he juggles vet work with a busy family life and an exceptionally challenging Siegfried. Helen's enjoying time with young Jimmy and Rosie, but has big changes afoot at Heston to contend with. Tristan returns from several years at war and will have to re-adjust to life back home in Darrowby. Meanwhile, Mrs Hall works hard to bring everybody back together and restore harmony at the surgery!

Stream All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 from Sunday, 4 January at 8PM on BBC Brit Channel 120.

Epic stories and feel-good entertainment

The Great American Baking Show

Feast on the sweet yet gripping saga of who will rise to the top in the baking battle… one slice at a time! The international success story of flour flower and soggy bottoms conquers America. Husband and wife duo Nia Vardalos and Ian Gomez host as six amateur bakers compete in 12 challenges for a title that would be the icing on the cake: America's best holiday baker. It's inspirational and addictive in equal measures!

Watch The Great American Baking Show Season 7 from Monday, 5 January at 8PM on BBC Lifestyle DStv Channel 174.

Gladiators: Warriors of the Ancient World

This series chronicles the lives of Rome’s greatest gladiators, from Spartacus’s defiant rebellion to Flamma’s ultimate sacrifice in the arena. Their stories reveal the brutal rise and fall of gladiatorial combat, exposing how bloodsport shaped Roman power, culture, and identity. Through rebellion, spectacle, and survival, these warriors became legends in an empire built on violence and glory.

Watch Gladiators: Warriors of the Ancient World Season 1 from Friday, 30 January at 6:50PM on National Geographic Channel 181.

Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune returns with Graham Norton hosting a brand-new series! Three contestants spin the wheel and solve puzzles for the chance to win up to £50 000. Expect fun, suspense, and plenty of twists as players test their luck and skill in this classic game show.

Watch Wheel of Fortune Season 2 from Wednesday, 21 January at 8PM on BBC Brit DStv Channel 120.

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