MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv, has announced a major price slash on its HD decoders, reducing costs by 30 to 40 percent across key African markets. The move is part of the company’s strategy to regain subscribers amid rising competition from streaming platforms and economic pressure on consumers.
In South Africa, where the reduction takes effect first, the price of a standard HD decoder has dropped from R999 to R599, representing a 40 percent cut. Similar adjustments are expected to roll out in Nigeria and Kenya in the coming weeks.
The initiative follows the growing influence of Canal+, which recently acquired a 45 percent stake in MultiChoice, reshaping the company’s operational strategy and market focus.
MultiChoice has faced a steep decline in subscribers across the continent. In Nigeria, DStv and GOtv lost about 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025, with revenue plunging 44 percent year-on-year — from $355.9 million in 2024 to $197.7 million in 2025. Across Africa, over 2 million users have left the platform in recent years, largely due to inflation, rising subscription costs, and currency depreciation.
Despite the decoder price cuts, subscription rates remain unchanged — a sore point for many users. In Nigeria, DStv’s entry-level Padi package costs ₦4,400 monthly, while Compact and Compact Plus go for ₦19,000 and ₦30,000, respectively. The Premium package stands at ₦29,000, reflecting recent hikes due to naira devaluation.
In South Africa, packages range from R479 for Compact to R979 for Premium, following increases earlier in 2025.
Industry analysts say the decoder discount may attract new users in the short term, but without subscription relief, customer retention could remain a challenge.
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