MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, is slashing DStv decoder prices by up to 40% beginning Sunday, November 1, 2025, in South Africa and other key African markets, as part of a strategy to win back millions of subscribers lost to streaming platforms.
The price cut marks Canal+’s first major adjustment since acquiring MultiChoice, and is aimed at making pay-TV more affordable, especially for middle-income households that have migrated to cheaper on-demand streaming services.The move follows MultiChoice’s loss of about 2.8 million subscribers across Africa, driven by rising subscription costs, shifting viewer habits, and competition from more than 560 streaming platforms. These challenges have weakened DStv’s long-standing dominance in the pay-TV space.
Although MultiChoice has not confirmed whether decoder discounts will be uniform across all markets, analysts predict the most aggressive pricing in Nigeria and Kenya — two of its largest, most competitive regions. TechCabal reports that if MultiChoice extends the same 40% online and 30% retail decoder discounts to those countries, it could boost customer interest, but also expose the company to currency and pricing risks.
The initiative is part of a broader push to attract new users and re-activate dormant accounts. To drive engagement, DStv will host an “open time weekend” from November 7 to 9, giving all active subscribers free access to premium channels. In addition, premium customers will be able to stream on up to four devices simultaneously until December at no extra cost.
Despite the revised decoder prices, South Africa will still have the highest cost, followed by Kenya and Nigeria.Industry observers say the aggressive pricing could trigger a continent-wide battle between satellite TV operators and streaming services — ultimately benefiting viewers through lower prices and better content options. The move also represents Canal+’s first bold attempt to reshape MultiChoice’s market position following its takeover.
Source: https://thestreetjournal.org/
