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CANAL+ and MultiChoice have announced a major restructuring of DStv subscription packages across several African markets, reducing subscription tiers to four and introducing lower prices in countries including, Nigeria Ghana and Kenya.
The new packages, scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, form part of the companies’ “Expect More” campaign, aimed at improving affordability and attracting subscribers amid growing competition in Africa’s pay-TV market.
Under the new structure, DStv subscribers in several markets will transition to Starter, Select, Sports and Ultimate packages, with the existing Premium offering rebranded as Ultimate.
However, Nigeria will retain Premium as its highest subscription tier, while South Africa and Botswana will maintain five packages.
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Speaking at the launch in Nairobi, MultiChoice Kenya CEO Nzola Miranda said the restructuring reflects a shift in the company’s strategy towards increasing subscriber numbers rather than relying 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.
- “Our focus is on giving subscribers better value and access to the entertainment they love,” said Kemi Omotosho, CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, “The strength of our platform is the combination of African entertainment, leading international content and unrivalled live sports in one place. We’ve reimagined our packages to better reflect how customers watch today, with tailored options specifically for general entertainment and sports fans.”
New DStv subscription prices across Africa
The restructuring introduces significant price reductions in selected markets, particularly Kenya and Ghana.
- 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.
- Kenya: Starter will cost KES750, Select KES1,500, Sports KES3,000 and Ultimate KES7,300, down from KES11,700 for the previous highest-tier package.
- Uganda: Subscription prices have been set at Shs25,000, Shs60,000, Shs100,000 and Shs185,000 across the four packages.
- Nigeria: DStv Starter will cost N6,000, Select N11,000, Sports N21,000 monthly, and premium N44,500 monthly
The new Sports package will provide access to every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League match, alongside WWE and UFC programming.
Ultimate subscribers will receive additional sporting content, including Formula 1, MotoGP, cricket, rugby, tennis and golf, depending on the market.
MultiChoice Battles Declining African Subscribers
The restructuring comes amid efforts by CANAL+ to revive MultiChoice’s subscriber base following years of declining subscriptions and repeated price increases across several African markets.
- In June 2025, Nairametrics reported that MultiChoice Nigeria lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025, accounting for 77% of subscriber losses across the group’s Rest of Africa operations. The company attributed the decline to inflation, fuel scarcity and other economic pressures.
- Following the subscriber losses, MultiChoice Nigeria reduced its DStv decoder price by 50% from N20,000 to N10,000 in June 2025, alongside promotional subscription upgrades aimed at attracting customers.
- In September 2025, Nairametrics reported that MultiChoice Ghana agreed to reduce DStv subscription prices following pressure from the Ghanaian government, which had demanded a 30% reduction over concerns about affordability.
- More recently, CANAL+ announced a €100 million investment plan in March 2026 to revive MultiChoice’s growth following declining subscribers and revenue across its African operations.
The latest restructuring also follows CANAL+’s $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice, which was finalised in September 2025, giving the French media group control of the African pay-TV operator.
