MultiChoice has announced major price cuts on its HD DStv decoders, with discounts of up to 40% available through its new online store and 30% in retail outlets starting November 1, 2025. However, the reduction will not apply to Nigeria, one of the company’s largest markets.
According to a report by TechCrunch, the new pricing has been confirmed for South Africa, but MultiChoice has not clarified whether similar discounts will be extended to Nigeria or Kenya, its other key markets.
The decision follows strategic changes under Canal+, MultiChoice’s new majority owner, as the pay-TV giant works to win back millions of lost subscribers across Africa. Reports indicate that the company’s active subscriber base dropped by 2.8 million this year, including 1.2 million losses in South Africa alone—an 8% year-on-year decline.
Industry analysts attribute the slump to the rapidly evolving television landscape, characterized by rising subscription fees, changing viewing habits, and the proliferation of over 560 streaming services now competing for African audiences.
As part of the November rollout, DStv will host an “Open Time Weekend” from November 7 to 9, giving all users temporary access to Premium content. Premium subscribers will also enjoy two additional device streams—allowing up to four simultaneous views—until the end of December.
While South Africans continue to pay more for new decoders than users in Nigeria and Kenya, the latest price cuts reflect Canal+’s renewed push to make satellite television competitive amid intensifying digital competition across the continent.
