MultiChoice considers weekly DStv subscriptions — here’s what it means for you as a subscriber
Multichoice Nigeria faces a major regulatory storm as it grapples with a ₦766m data privacy fine amid dwindling subscriber numbers and rising consumer discontent.
As rising inflation, economic hardship, and consumer discontent continue to challenge the African pay-TV market, MultiChoice—the company behind DStv and GOtv—is exploring a bold shift: weekly subscription plans. After piloting the model in Uganda, the pay-TV giant has hinted at plans to roll it out to other African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The move follows widespread backlash against repeated price hikes, especially in Nigeria, and comes on the heels of MultiChoice reporting a sharp drop in subscriber numbers and a substantial financial loss. Now, with the weekly model under review, questions are swirling: Will it offer true relief for customers, or is it just a repackaged survival tactic for a company fighting to remain relevant in the streaming age?
This report breaks down the pilot program, what led to it, what it could mean for both consumers and MultiChoice, and the potential roadblocks ahead.
What Prompted the Shift? Rising Costs and Falling Numbers
In the fiscal year ending March 2025, MultiChoice reported a headline loss of R800 million, citing foreign exchange losses and declining subscriber revenue outside of South Africa. According to its financials, the Rest of Africa business segment lost 1.8 million subscribers, with Nigeria alone accounting for 1.4 million of the losses.
These challenges were intensified by repeated price hikes in multiple countries, including Nigeria and Kenya, which triggered outrage from consumers and intervention by regulatory bodies. In Nigeria, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) filed a case against MultiChoice for ignoring court orders and increasing prices despite court rulings.
The Weekly Subscription Model: How It Works
The idea is simple: instead of paying for an entire month, subscribers can opt for a 7-day access period. In Uganda, this was branded “Ka Weekie,” allowing viewers on selected packages to pay a small fee for weekly access. The intention, according to MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela, is to align with the income patterns of many African households, where wages and earnings are not always monthly.
This model would enable customers to access DStv content only when they can afford to, making pay-TV more flexible, like mobile airtime top-ups or daily data bundles.
What This Means for Subscribers
Greater Flexibility
For millions of viewers living paycheck to paycheck, weekly subscriptions offer short-term affordability, helping them avoid service disconnections due to unpaid monthly bills. For example, a family that only wants to watch football on weekends may subscribe only for that week—paying a fraction of the monthly cost.
Potential Cost Implications
However, there’s a catch: if priced incorrectly, weekly plans could end up being more expensive over the course of a month. For example, a ₦1,500 weekly plan amounts to ₦6,000 monthly—potentially more than the standard monthly package. Without transparent pricing and consumer education, subscribers may feel shortchanged.
Content Control and Customization
MultiChoice may introduce more modular pricing, allowing customers to pay only for certain types of content (e.g., sports, kids’ shows, or news). This would help subscribers avoid paying for channels they don’t watch, a long-standing complaint in the African pay-TV space.
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What It Means for MultiChoice as a Company
Regaining Market Share
This move may help MultiChoice win back customers who migrated to streaming platforms or abandoned pay-TV altogether due to high costs. By offering more accessible payment structures, it hopes to slow the decline in subscribers—especially in Nigeria, its largest non-SA market.
Cash Flow Strategy
From a business perspective, weekly payments may help stabilize cash flow, even if average revenue per user (ARPU) drops. Smaller, frequent transactions could offset seasonal or economic dips—especially in countries experiencing currency volatility.
Market Adaptation
The shift also signals that MultiChoice is adapting to regional realities. In markets like Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya, informal economies dominate, and daily or weekly incomes are common. Weekly subscriptions could reflect a deeper localization of business models.
Challenges and Potential Risks
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Operational Complexity: Weekly billing, user authentication, and activation may stretch MultiChoice’s infrastructure—especially in areas with poor digital literacy.
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Consumer Trust: After years of backlash over pricing and limited customization, MultiChoice must be transparent about how weekly plans compare to monthly options.
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Regulatory Pressure: With several African regulators already scrutinizing MultiChoice’s pricing model, this new strategy may come under fresh legal review—especially if viewed as exploitative.
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The Bigger Picture: Survival in a Streaming Era
MultiChoice is under pressure not only from economic hardship but also from streaming competition like Netflix, YouTube, and illegal IPTV services. Weekly DStv subscriptions may be part of a broader strategy to retain users by becoming more like streaming platforms—offering convenience, flexibility, and modular pricing.
The success of this model will depend on execution, pricing integrity, consumer awareness, and the ability to scale without alienating loyal customers.
A Step in the Right Direction—If Done Right
The introduction of weekly DStv subscriptions has the potential to democratize access to pay-TV in Africa, making it more responsive to the lived realities of millions. For consumers, it could be a long-overdue reprieve from rigid billing. For MultiChoice, it’s a high-stakes bet to stay competitive in a changing digital economy.
But unless it is rolled out transparently, fairly, and with robust support systems, it risks being seen as just another short-term fix for a long-term problem.
