MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, is slashing DStv decoder prices by up to 40% starting from Sunday, November 1, 2025, in South Africa and others key African markets as part of a strategy to win back millions of subscribers lost to streaming platforms.
The price reduction marks Canal+’s first significant adjustment since its acquisition of MultiChoice, targeting affordability and the return of middle-income households that have shifted to cheaper, on-demand streaming alternatives.
The move comes after MultiChoice lost about 2.8 million subscribers across Africa, reflecting growing instability in the pay-TV market.
Factors such as rising subscription fees, evolving viewer preferences, and intense competition from over 560 streaming platforms have weakened DStv’s long-standing dominance.
While MultiChoice has not specified whether the discounts will apply uniformly across its markets, analysts expect the most pronounced effects in Nigeria and Kenya, two of its largest and most competitive regions.
According to TechCabal, if MultiChoice replicates the 40% online and 30% retail decoder discounts in Nigeria and Kenya, it could spark renewed consumer interest but may also expose the company to exchange rate and pricing risks.
The initiative is designed to attract new customers and bring back inactive ones.
To increase user engagement, DStv will run an ‘open time weekend’ from November 7 to 9, granting all active users free access to premium content.
Additionally, premium subscribers will be allowed to stream on up to four devices simultaneously until December, adding more value amid intensifying competition.
These measures represent Canal+’s first major strategic move since finalising its takeover of MultiChoice, underscoring its commitment to making satellite TV more affordable across Africa.
Despite the revised pricing, South Africa will continue to have the highest decoder costs, followed by Kenya and Nigeria.
Experts, however, believe the bold price cuts could ignite a continent-wide pricing battle in the television industry benefiting viewers while increasing competition between pay-TV operators and streaming services.
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