MultiChoice announces new DStv and GOtv prices– here’s what customers will pay

MultiChoice, the leading pay-TV provider in Kenya and owner of DStv and GOtv, has released new subscription prices effective August 1, 2025.

The latest pricing update includes a 4% to 7% increase in most DStv and GOtv packages, while Showmax subscribers will benefit from reduced rates. The company said this is part of its annual review to balance affordability with access to premium local and international entertainment.

Revised DStv Residential Prices

Under the new structure, the updated prices for DStv residential users are as follows:

• DStv Lite – Ksh 750

• DStv Access – Ksh 1,450

• DStv Family – Ksh 2,250

• DStv Compact – Ksh 4,200

  
  
  

• DStv Compact Plus – Ksh 7,300

• DStv Premium – Ksh 11,700

• DStv XtraView – Ksh 1,700

Customers were notified via SMS of the new pricing.

New GOtv Prices

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Updated DStv Business Subscription Rates

Stay Package

• Ultra – Ksh 3,370

  
  
  

• Essential – Ksh 2,510

• Basic – Ksh 1,580

Play Package

• Ultra – Ksh 15,650

• Essential – Ksh 9,950

• Basic – Ksh 5,700

Work Package

• Ultra – Ksh 5,850

• Essential – Ksh 2,050

Add-ons

• Asia / European / French – Ksh 500 each

Showmax Price Drops

• GE Plan – Ksh 550 (from 650)

• GE Mobile – Ksh 200 (from 300)

• PL Mobile – Ksh 450 (from 500)

• GE Mobile + PL – Ksh 520 (from 700)

• GE + PL – Ksh 800 (from 1,000)

MultiChoice Kenya Reports 15% Subscriber Decline

MultiChoice Kenya revealed a 15% drop in subscribers as of March 2025, largely driven by economic pressure, cheaper free-to-air options, and content piracy due to improved internet access. Yet, a favorable exchange rate and strategic cost control saw profits rise by 61%, with Kenya contributing 10% of the group’s non-South African revenue.

Regional Outlook: Challenges Beyond Kenya

MultiChoice is facing similar challenges across Nigeria, South Africa, and other African markets:

• In Nigeria, the company also recently increased prices due to forex instability and rising inflation. However, this led to public backlash and a court order temporarily halting the hike.

• In South Africa, MultiChoice lost significant subscribers on DStv Premium and Compact tiers but saw gains in streaming via Showmax and growth in its advertising revenue.

• Across Southern and Eastern Africa, competitive pressure from streaming platforms, piracy, and digital migration has forced the company to rely more on localized pricing strategies and promotions like “We’ve Got You” to retain customers.

Despite the turbulent environment, MultiChoice continues to invest in local content, sports rights, and platform improvements, banking on long-term digital growth and subscription recovery.

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Why MultiChoice’s price hike strategy in Kenya may backfire — like in Nigeria

As MultiChoice pushes forward with new price increases across Kenya and other African markets, warning signs from past subscriber revolts are resurfacing. The move, aimed at boosting revenue, may ultimately deepen the company’s struggles.

From Nigeria’s regulatory backlash and mass cancellations to growing discontent in Kenya, the pay-TV giant could be on a collision course with its own customers.

Nigeria: Where Price Hikes Sparked Protests

Kenya’s price hike echoes Nigeria’s ill-fated 2025 increase—announced in March despite a regulator’s halt. MultiChoice Nigeria was promptly sued by the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for defiance. Subsequently, the Nigerian House of Representatives ordered an investigation, calling the move “exploitative” and discriminatory.

Even worse, the Competition & Consumer Protection Tribunal fined the company ₦150 million and granted one month of free service. Despite its justification citing inflation and forex pressure, these blatant regulatory confrontations have seriously damaged MultiChoice’s reputation.

Subscriber Exodus: Nigeria Bleeds 1.4 Million

The fallout in Nigeria was stark: 1.4 million subscribers abandoned pay-TV over two years, accounting for 77% of the region’s total losses. Half of that exodus—243,000 users—occurred between April and September 2024, right after a 21% price increase. Revenue plunged by 44% even after hikes—confirming higher prices failed to offset mass cancellations . Consumer groups accused MultiChoice of treating Nigerians like “second-class subscribers,” pointing out that South African customers received price cuts and added value—a disparity that inflamed public outrage.

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RoA Decline: Satellite TV Under Siege Across Africa

Nigeria’s experience isn’t isolated. Across Rest of Africa (RoA), MultiChoice lost 1.8 million subscribers between 2023 and 2025. Zambia, Angola, and Kenya saw sharp downturns due to economic instability, energy shortages, and fierce competition from streaming services.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, it recorded a ZAR 706 million pre-tax loss, with a 9% drop in subscribers, especially for its core DSTV packages . Even though streaming services like Showmax gained over 16%, satellite declines were steeper.

Pay-TV in Decline: Streaming’s Scissors Approach

MultiChoice’s satellite-led model is becoming increasingly untenable. As more Africans embrace streaming alternatives, appetite for long-term satellite contracts is waning. Kenya’s dip in pay-TV usage preceded a rise in internet-based services like Showmax, where subscriber growth exceeded 50% year-over-year. But streaming revenue isn’t enough yet to compensate—digital ARPU remains lower, and satellite still accounts for most video revenues.

Potential Backfire: Control vs. Choice

The backlash over price hikes exposes a dangerous paradox: by chasing higher ARPU through satellite, MultiChoice risks losing more subscribers—and undervaluing its future stream-focused ecosystem. Kenyan viewers may be next in line to revolt, as affordability becomes the decisive battleground. Regulatory spotlight is intensifying: Nigerian authorities deployed fines, legal action, and price controls to defend consumers. If Kenya or other countries follow suit, MultiChoice could face severe compliance burdens.

What Lies Ahead for MultiChoice?

1. Price Adjustments – The company may have to suspend or soften hikes in Kenya under consumer pressure.

2. Product Repositioning – Stronger push needed for standalone streaming, prepaid packs, and flexible bundles.

3. Regulatory Threats – New oversight in Kenya, Ghana, or elsewhere could limit price strategies.

4. Brand Perception – Multi-country disparity in policies fuels accusations of economic discrimination.

What Next?

MultiChoice’s price-hike strategy, once seen as necessary, is now triggering subscriber backlash, legal actions, and shifting consumer behavior. Nigeria’s revolt offers a roadmap of the dangers: enforcement fines, customer loss, and tarnished reputations. With streaming gaining momentum but profits lagging, MultiChoice faces a crossroads. To survive, it must re-balance pricing, enhance digital offerings, and align value with affordability—or risk unraveling in its core markets.