MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv, will reduce prices on HD decoders by 30 percent to 40 percent according to reports. The cuts apply to online sales and retail outlets across key African markets, including South Africa and subsequently Nigeria and Kenya.
A standard HD decoder will drop from R999 to R599 online in South Africa, a 40 percent reduction.
This follows the recent takeover by Canal+, which now controls 45 percent of MultiChoice and influences strategy.The move addresses sharp subscriber declines driven by economic challenges and competition from streaming services. In Nigeria, DStv and sister brand GOtv lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025.
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Revenue in Nigeria fell 44 percent year-on-year, from $355.93 million in 2024 to $197.74 million in 2025. Across Africa, MultiChoice reported over 2 million subscriber losses in recent years, with 2.8 million exiting in 2024 alone amid inflation and currency depreciation.
In South Africa, the largest market accounting for 60 percent of revenue, subscriber growth slowed but remained stable compared to other regions. The company lost 1.2 million linear pay-TV subscribers group-wide in the last financial year.
Subscription fees, unchanged by the decoder promotion, remain a point of contention. In Nigeria, entry-level DStv Padi costs N4,400 monthly, while Compact is N19,000 and Compact Plus N30,000. Premium packages reach N29,000, up from hikes in March 2025 due to naira weakness. In South Africa, DStv Compact starts at R479 monthly, Compact Plus at R659, and Premium at R979, following April and May 2025 increases.
With these prices, users in Nigeria, facing harsh economic conditions despite the 18 percent inflation rate, have shifted to streaming services like YouTube, Netflix and others.
Read also: Ghana orders MultiChoice to cut DStv prices or face suspension
Public response on X highlights frustration. A post by @NigeriaStories
garnered over 300 replies, with users calling the decoder cut “too little” without subscription relief. “Cut the monthly fees first,” one commenter wrote, echoing demands for affordability.
MultiChoice aims to boost decoder uptake to reverse churn. The promotion coincides with “Open Time” on November 7-9, offering free Premium channel access to active subscribers.
techcentral.co.za
Canal+ integration may bring further changes, but analysts note subscription pricing must adapt to retain the 60 percent market share in Nigeria and stabilize South Africa.As pay-TV competes with over-the-top platforms, this hardware discount tests whether lower entry barriers can stem outflows. MultiChoice reported 18 million subscribers continent-wide at the end of 2024, down from prior peaks.