How to watch OpenView TV shows for free without the decoder

Garikai Dzoma Avatar
OPenView HD, Openview TV, OpenView On-demand, licence

At the beginning of March I moved to a new home and unlike in times past the settling routine was different in one big way. I tossed away my satellite dish and LNB. I am not joking here, I literary threw my antenna dish into the rubbish bin where it was fished out by my rather amused new landlord.

It was long overdue, to be honest. I haven’t switched on my power guzzling decoder in close to four years. It now serves as a handy paperweight in my new office. I have nothing against DStv, in fact, I do occasionally watch DStv shows and channels. I just do it online. I already pay close to a US$100 to my internet service provider there is no way I am forking out $30 more for satellite TV.

Keeping the soapie gang happy

Moving away from traditional TV creates some voids which international streaming platforms like Netflix simply cannot fill. For example, while I have only a mild passing interest in South African soapies, there are those in my family who will not react well to be being denied their daily dose of contrived drama.

I subscribed to Showmax for that and for the most part, it does a good job of filling the gap but unfortunately, not everyone has access to Showmax. A lot of people out there have OpenView HD free to air decoders on which they watch other shows that are not on Showmax. This creates peer pressure that has led to those other very important members demanding that I find a way to make sure they get to watch these shows too. FOMO if you ask me.

You do not need a decoder to watch OpenView TV shows

If I was not clear I have quite the aversion to decoders and the habit of having to wait for shows to air. I am more of an on-demand kind of guy. So the first thing that I did was to try and find out if OpenView has its own version of catchup and the good news is that it does. The bad news is that it’s poorly kept up to date.

However, there are plenty of shows there and I figured it’s a good starting point and so far I am right. Accessing the library includes a little bit of fiddling but the process is quite trivial. All one needs is a South African IP. This is not Netflix so they aren’t even blocking VPN IPs.

To watch OpenView shows on demand follow these steps:

  • Get a South African VPN. I already have a premium VPN that allows me to connect to a South African server. If you don’t have one you can try and use Hola Free but it comes with interruptions. There could be better solutions out there, if you know one just leave a comment below
  • Visit OpenView’s on-demand page. https://www.openview.co.za/on-demand
  • Select a show you watch and start watching.

It’s really that simple. You can also cast using Chrome although I find the video quality when using casting to be below my refined tastes, but it’s watchable. The biggest drawback seems to be that, for some reason, OpenView is no longer updating its on-demand content. The content on their site is old. Like really old.

39 comments

  1. Anonymous

    Please try to get straight to the point in your articles. Thank you

    1. Garikai Dzoma

      I am such a narcissist. I apogise, I promise brevity from now on. This reminds of the time when i was in High School. There was this tall lanky failure called Taurai who had mad.football skills. I swear when he played it was like his feet were glued to the ball. Football wasn’t his only skill though. He revlled in story telling but getting to the point was never his strongest suit. It used to drive me nuts how he would.drone on and on. All I am saying is I hear you

      1. Anonymous

        Wait…so the narcissist footballer used Nord VPN to access Netflix how? Sorry, my mind wandered off.

  2. Knarf

    How to watch open view shows without a decoder then next thing the shows are really old. Are you guys really serious or you wanted to while up time with this article

  3. Sonia

    I have Wi-Fi and want to watch ovhd etv and extra on my fone..PLEASE help me with it

  4. Anonymous

    Great info. Thanks. But I guess you have to consider how the majority of Zimbabweans can’t afford to buy data for US$100 or anything near that which would allow for use for streaming for entertainment. Please consider the normal man in the street when you think the headings for your articles or choose to link the article in a way as if this is a really viable option for everyone to consider.

  5. Eileen halm

    Can I buy open view connect instead of getting smart TV box

  6. Madzibaba

    Crazy stuff are you for real here in Zim majority dnt afford $100 a month for internet like you of coz just to watch Isidingo online

  7. Florence

    Starlife is the best , I need to watch it.

  8. Lorraine Covey

    Openview is like Eskom …. you get cut off oh so often then everything freezes. Status excuse is “bad weather”. Why does it not happen with DSTV/Stars etc. One would assume in this technological age they would be able to overcome this. Their Whatsapp is just as useless. Nobody ever responds to your problem they have to jack up their service !!!

    1. No

      I want to watch openview without a signal pole???

  9. Melodee Gedney

    A great post for anyone following a plant based diet. It’s very easy to think you don’t need to supplement with B12, because it takes such a long time to actually develop a deficiency. Our body is very good at “recycling” B12 as an enzyme cofactor – I think something like 95 or higher gets recycled. But by the time you have symptoms of a B12 deficiency, you could be doing yourself great harm. And for vegan/vegetarian females wanting to have children it’s even more critical, because your child will be getting their B12 stores from your breast milk.

  10. Mishti

    I WANT TO WATCH STAR LIFE ,GLOW TV,ZEE ONE, eEXTRA,COLORS TV, ZEE WORLD

    1. Elite chikambure

      Please l want to watch all channels

  11. Thoko Nyoni

    I want star life, zee one, extra and zee world

  12. makamba tadiwa

    l want to watch open view shows without a decoder

  13. Julien Stuurman

    hi i want tu watch open view without a decoder please

  14. Priyanshu ff 2.0

    Priyanshu ff 2.0 par video dalna hai

  15. Tanaka

    I want to watch open view series with out a decoder

  16. Martins Will

    All chanels

  17. Anupama

    I was unable to search other open view movies

  18. Marcelle

    How do I get the open view app on my phone as I’m struggling please can someone contact or email me marcellebrink04@gmail.com

  19. Taxie

    Isitha the enemy

  20. Anonymous

    How do i watch open view on my phone

    1. Anonymous

      How do watch open view tv on my phone

      1. Angela

        How get open view tv on my please help. martinangela800@gmail.com

        1. onneile mapungwa

          i want to watch open view channels online

  21. Maryann

    I have Wi-Fi and I want too watch openview online tell me what must I do

  22. Vincent
  23. Katlego

    Your are good

  24. Badboy

    I want to stream

    1. Brian

      Can you register my phone

  25. Francois Maans

    I want to look the open view on my fone please

  26. mpi\

    Very good man you helped me. Now I will spend my time watching e TV. movies free.

    Big Up.
    Shoo Cool.

  27. Bootah4lyf

    Sho man cool I watch e TV movies free now.

  28. Letlhogonolo

    I want open view on my phone

  29. Henry Daniels

    How do u plug a open view with no installation

  30. Rands

    I need a VPN

  31. Lawrence Fraser

    How do I watch openview without dish

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