Millions of households and sports enthusiasts across Africa depend on DStv for news, sports, and entertainment, making any update on its subscription models closely watched in Canal+’s takeover. As MultiChoice transitions to new ownership under French media giant Canal+, attention is turning to what this shift could mean for viewers in key markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana, where DStv remains the dominant pay-TV service.
In South Africa, MultiChoice raised prices in April 2025, with a second increase for some packages in May. Now it has cut prices for HD decoders, signalling a push to strengthen its hold on the market and fend off growing competition from streaming platforms like Netflix.
As inflation continues to squeeze household budgets across Africa, many price-sensitive viewers have turned to cheaper streaming alternatives or pirated sites to access content, a trend that MultiChoice has been fighting against over the years. The trend has hit MultiChoice hard. In recent years, DStv has lost more than 2 million subscribers, highlighting the mounting pressure on the pay-TV giant to reassess its pricing strategy and adapt to shifting consumer preferences.
Here’s a look at how DStv prices currently compare across Africa’s major markets.
South Africa
South Africa remains MultiChoice’s biggest and most reliable market, accounting for nearly 60% of the group’s subscription revenue in 2024. DStv continues to dominate pay-TV in the country, driven by strong demand for local content and live sports.
While subscriber growth has slowed, the market’s stability has helped offset weaker performance in other regions, making it the financial backbone of MultiChoice’s African operations.
Nigeria
In Nigeria, MultiChoice remains the leading pay-TV provider with a roughly 60% market share, but its dominance is no longer as secure as it once was. Over the past two years, DStv and GOtv have lost around 1.4 million subscribers as rising inflation, fuel shortages, and repeated price hikes have made pay-TV harder to afford.
Its most recent price hike was in March, due to high inflation and currency depreciation. With streaming platforms gaining ground and piracy eroding viewership, MultiChoice faces an uphill battle to stay ahead in one of Africa’s largest television markets.
Ghana
In Ghana, DStv remains a popular choice for TV viewers, offering packages tailored to various needs. However, the service has encountered difficulties with regulators, who in August 2025 requested that MultiChoice reduce prices by 30% due to economic pressures and the weakening cedi.
MultiChoice pushed back, saying such cuts could affect service and jobs. The National Communications Authority has even warned that it could suspend the licence if the issue isn’t resolved, highlighting the delicate balance between keeping TV affordable and running the business.
Uganda
DStv has seen its subscriber base fall sharply, dropping from around 2.4 million in early 2023 to about 1.1 million by late 2024 in Uganda. Rising subscription costs, economic pressures, and competition from streaming platforms have all contributed to the decline.
Kenya
In Kenya, DStv subscribers started paying higher rates from August 1, after MultiChoice increased prices by between 4% and 7%, — the latest in a string of hikes over the past five years. The Premium package now costs KES 11,700 ($91), while the Compact Plus and Compact packages cost KES 7,300 ($57) and KES 4,200 ($33), respectively.
At the same time, the company has cut prices on some of its mobile and digital plans, including Showmax’s entry-level mobile bundles, to keep budget-conscious viewers from leaving. The company has lost roughly 180,000 subscribers in Kenya.
