MultiChoice has introduced sweeping reforms to stabilize DStv after losing thousands of subscribers, with a record high of 589,000 South African subscribers lost in the financial year 2025.

The South Africa pay-tv operator has seen a reduced number of subscribers due to rising living costs and competition from global streaming rivals. Competition from platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video has reshaped viewing habits, with many households switching to lower-cost alternatives.

The measure comes months after French media group Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in late 2025, ushering in a turnaround strategy backed by an investment of roughly $106 million, R2billion.

DSTV for the first time in decades didn’t increase their subscription fees on 1 April 2026, emphasizing they are now focusing on affordability and flexibility of their customers.

Willington Ngwepe, Multichoice CEO, noted, “We will not be having an inflation adjustment to pricing. So we’ll keep the prices flat again in appreciation of the circumstances that we are in.”

Read Also: South Africa Approves Canal+ Bid to Acquire MultiChoice

Steps Towards Affordability!

In an effort to ensure affordability and maybe attract the lost and more subscribers , the company has introduced a bill-splitting feature, allowing two users to share subscription costs via the MyDStv app. The initiative reflects changing household dynamics and aims to make premium content more accessible.

Hardware pricing has also been aggressively reduced. Entry-level HD decoders are now priced at about $27, converted from R499. Higher-end Explora devices have seen discounts of up to 57%, lowering barriers to entry for new customers and encouraging upgrades among existing users.

“What matters now is how DStv fits into people’s lives and budgets month after month,” Ngwepe said. “We want customers to have options that make it easier to stay connected, even when budgets are tight.”

Content is Key for MultiChoice!

MultiChoice shut down its streaming platform, Showmax on 30 April 2026 due to sustained losses. The company is migrating Showmax Originals and other titles to the DStv Stream app at no additional cost for certain subscribers

Additionally, enhancements to entry-level packages, including new music and entertainment channels, aim to strengthen value perception among price-sensitive users.

MultiChoice is also leveraging its loyalty ecosystem. It has a DStv Rewards programme, which includes the DStv Coins system launched in October 2025. This allows customers to offset subscription costs. More than 20 million coins have already been redeemed, highlighting strong uptake.

For MultiChoice, the challenge now is whether affordability and bundled content can reverse subscriber declines in an increasingly fragmented global media landscape.