High-definition channels will no longer be the exclusive preserve of DStv Premium, MultiChoice’s high-end bouquet.

The Naspers-owned pay-television broadcaster said on Thursday that it will make HD channels available to all its subscribers.

“Effective immediately, customers who have channels in their package that are also available in HD will see these channels in HD if they have the necessary HD equipment,” MultiChoice said in a statement.

“In future when new channels are added to DStv packages and those channels are available in HD, they will be offered to customers with HD equipment in that format,” it added.

MultiChoice has 20 HD channels in its DStv Premium bouquet. DStv Extra customers will now have access to six HD channels, while DStv Compact customers will be able to watch four HD channels. DStv Family and Select get one HD channel each.

There are currently no HD channels available for customers on DStv Access and EasyView, the company said.

Customers do not need to do anything to get the HD channels. If they have HD decoders and HD-capable TVs, they will see the HD channels that are available on their package in HD within the next week, according to MultiChoice.

“An easy way to tell whether you are seeing the channel in HD is to look for the words HD next to the channel name on the electronic programme guide.”

There are no extra charges for the HD channels.