DStv Slashes Subscription Prices, Introduces Four Packages Across African Markets

CANAL+ and MultiChoice have announced a major restructuring of DStv subscription packages across several African markets, introducing lower prices and reducing the number of packages to four in a bid to attract subscribers and improve affordability.

The new pricing structure, scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, will introduce Starter, Select, Sports and Ultimate packages in several countries under the companies’ “Expect More” campaign.

Nigeria, however, will retain Premium as its highest subscription tier, while South Africa and Botswana will continue to operate five packages.

Under the new arrangement, DStv subscribers in Nigeria will pay ₦6,000 monthly for Starter, ₦11,000 for Select, ₦21,000 for Sports and ₦44,500 for Premium, according to a report by Nairametrics published on Tuesday.

The restructuring comes as the pay-TV operator faces mounting pressure to reverse subscriber losses amid economic challenges and growing competition across the continent.

Speaking at the launch in Nairobi, Kenya, MultiChoice Kenya Chief Executive Officer, Nzola Miranda, said the company was shifting its strategy towards expanding its subscriber base rather than depending primarily on higher subscription fees.

“You either increase prices, you get more money from fewer people, or you increase the number of customers, even if they pay less,” Miranda said.

The Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, said the revised packages were designed to provide subscribers with greater value and options suited to their viewing preferences.

She noted that the platform combines African entertainment, international content and live sports, adding that the new structure would better accommodate general entertainment and sports enthusiasts.

New DStv Prices Across African Markets

The revised pricing structure includes significant reductions in selected markets, particularly Kenya and Ghana.

In Ghana, the four packages will cost GH¢50, GH¢100, GH¢250 and GH¢570 monthly, following discussions between the government and MultiChoice over subscription affordability.

In Kenya, subscribers will pay KES750 for Starter, KES1,500 for Select, KES3,000 for Sports and KES7,300 for Ultimate. The new Ultimate price represents a reduction from the previous highest-tier subscription of KES11,700.

In Uganda, the four packages will cost Shs25,000, Shs60,000, Shs100,000 and Shs185,000 monthly.

The new Sports package will provide access to English Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches, alongside WWE and UFC programming.

Ultimate subscribers will have access to additional sporting content, including Formula 1, MotoGP, cricket, rugby, tennis and golf, depending on the market.

MultiChoice Moves To Reverse Subscriber Losses

The restructuring follows years of subscriber losses and repeated subscription price increases across several African markets, prompting CANAL+ to pursue measures aimed at restoring growth.

In June 2025, Nairametrics reported that MultiChoice Nigeria lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025, accounting for 77 per cent of subscriber losses across the group’s Rest of Africa operations.

The company attributed the decline to economic pressures, including inflation and fuel scarcity, which affected consumers’ purchasing power.

In response, MultiChoice Nigeria reduced the price of its DStv decoder by 50 per cent, from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000, in June 2025, alongside promotional subscription upgrades intended to attract customers.

MultiChoice Ghana also agreed to reduce subscription prices in September 2025 following pressure from the Ghanaian government, which had demanded a 30 per cent reduction over affordability concerns.

In March 2026, CANAL+ announced a €100 million investment plan to revive MultiChoice’s growth amid declining subscriptions and revenue across its African operations.

The latest restructuring follows CANAL+’s $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice, finalised in September 2025, which gave the French media group control of the African pay-TV operator.

With the new packages and lower prices, the companies are seeking to make DStv more accessible to households while increasing subscriber numbers in a highly competitive entertainment market.