Canal+ and MultiChoice have unveiled a sweeping overhaul of DStv’s subscription structure across Sub-Saharan Africa, streamlining package offerings, revising pricing arrangements and rebranding the flagship DStv Premium bouquet as DStv Ultimate.
The restructuring, introduced under the “Expect More” campaign, will see most markets transition from six subscription packages to four, in a strategic recalibration aimed at enhancing affordability, broadening content accessibility and reversing subscriber attrition.
Under the revised arrangement, subscribers in most Sub-Saharan African countries will have access to DStv Starter, DStv Select, DStv Sports and DStv Ultimate.
South Africa and Botswana, however, will retain five packages, reflecting variations in the bouquet structures adopted across individual markets.
One of the most consequential changes is the inclusion of all Premier League matches in the mid-tier DStv Sports package, potentially widening access to comprehensive coverage of English football without compelling subscribers to purchase the most expensive bouquet.
The revamp comes as the pay-TV operator confronts intensifying competition, mounting affordability concerns and persistent subscriber losses across key African markets.
Ghana Secures Agreement for Cheaper DStv Subscriptions
In Ghana, the government has announced an agreement with Canal+ and MultiChoice Ghana to introduce more affordable DStv subscription packages, following engagements centred on consumer protection and equitable access to television entertainment.
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the arrangement was informed by the government’s determination to alleviate the financial burden of pay-TV subscriptions on Ghanaian households.
The initiative is also intended to discourage the proliferation of pirated broadcasting services and illegal television decoders commonly known as “ghost boxes”.
Sam George emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that subscription-based entertainment remains accessible to ordinary Ghanaians, emphasising that consumer affordability had been central to negotiations with the operators.
“The Ghanaian consumer is our ultimate interest,” he stated.
The development constitutes an important intervention in the continuing debate over pay-TV affordability in Ghana. However, the precise subscription prices and implementation timelines for the Ghanaian market should be confirmed separately from the revised tariffs announced in other jurisdictions.
Kenya Introduces Four-Tier DStv Structure
In Kenya, the restructured packages are scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, with the operator consolidating its existing six-tier arrangement into four principal bouquets.
The announced monthly subscription rates are as follows:
- DStv Starter: KES 750
- DStv Select: KES 1,500
- DStv Sports: KES 3,000
- DStv Ultimate: KES 7,300
The revised tariffs will also apply to subscriptions through the DStv Stream application.
DStv Starter will comprise 116 television channels, including Maisha Magic Plus, Maisha Magic Loko, Cartoon Network, Disney Junior, La Liga and Novela+. The entry-level bouquet will also feature SuperSport Kickoff, a channel expected to broadcast selected live fixtures from major football competitions, including the Premier League.
DStv Select, priced at KES 1,500 monthly, will offer 149 channels spanning films, local and international series, selected football competitions, other sporting events, lifestyle programming and children’s entertainment.
The DStv Sports bouquet, costing KES 3,000, will provide 159 channels, including all Premier League matches, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. Subscribers will also have access to WWE, UFC and general entertainment programming available through DStv Select.
At the apex of the revised structure, DStv Ultimate will offer 180 channels for KES 7,300 monthly, encompassing premium sporting properties such as Formula 1, MotoGP, cricket, rugby, ATP tennis and major golf tournaments.
Unlike South Africa, Kenya will not have a standalone Movies and Series package, as the relevant content will be incorporated into DStv Ultimate.
The new Ultimate tariff represents a reduction of KES 4,400 from the previous monthly subscription fee of KES 11,700, a substantial price adjustment intended to enhance the package’s competitiveness.
Premier League Coverage Extended to Mid-Tier Subscribers
The decision to incorporate every Premier League match into DStv Sports represents one of the most consequential elements of the restructuring, particularly for football enthusiasts who have traditionally required more expensive subscriptions to access comprehensive coverage.
The package will also accommodate coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
By positioning these competitions within a mid-tier bouquet, Canal+ and MultiChoice are seeking to broaden the commercial reach of their sports offering while accommodating subscribers whose purchasing power may not support premium-tier subscriptions.
The introduction of SuperSport Swahili will further reinforce the broadcaster’s regional localisation strategy, providing East African audiences with additional language-oriented sports content.
MultiChoice Seeks Subscriber Recovery Amid Mounting Losses
The restructuring comes against the backdrop of persistent subscriber attrition in Kenya, one of MultiChoice’s major markets on the continent.
According to figures reported by Africa Business Communities, MultiChoice lost another 57,000 DStv and GOtv subscribers in Kenya during the first half of 2026, leaving its combined subscriber base at 653,066.
The contraction has intensified pressure on the company to reassess its pricing architecture and deliver a more compelling proposition to consumers.
Speaking at the launch of the revised packages at the Radisson Blu hotel in Nairobi, MultiChoice Kenya CEO Nzola Miranda described the changes as a comprehensive reassessment of the company’s commercial offering.
He acknowledged that the operator needed to recalibrate its approach to pricing and customer acquisition following substantial subscriber losses in recent years.
“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.
He explained that the company’s revised philosophy prioritised broader content accessibility and a larger subscriber base rather than restricting premium entertainment to a narrower segment of consumers.
“Increasing prices without adding content or value is worthless. That is why some of our customers left us, and we hope from November they start coming back,” he added.
Miranda further reaffirmed the company’s commitment to indigenous content production, citing the Kenyan drama series Chamaa, which will be available on Maisha Magic Plus through the entry-level DStv Starter package.
The decision is intended to broaden the programme’s audience and strengthen the visibility of locally produced entertainment.
Uganda Announces Revised DStv Subscription Tariffs
MultiChoice Uganda has similarly announced a four-package DStv structure, with the following monthly subscription prices:
- DStv Starter: UGX 25,000
- DStv Select: UGX 60,000
- DStv Sports: UGX 100,000
- DStv Ultimate: UGX 185,000
MultiChoice Uganda CEO Hassan Saleh said the restructuring was designed to enhance value for subscribers and expand access to the company’s entertainment portfolio.
“Our focus is on giving subscribers better value and access to the entertainment they love,” Saleh stated during the launch at the company’s head office in Kampala.
The announcement underscores the broader regional shift towards a more consolidated subscription structure, with package differentiation centred on content preferences and affordability.
South Africa and Botswana Retain Five Bouquets
Despite the four-package transition across most Sub-Saharan African markets, South Africa and Botswana will maintain five DStv bouquets.
South Africa’s revised structure comprises DStv Starter, DStv Select, DStv Sports, Movies and Series, and DStv Ultimate.
Within the reconfigured line-up, Movies and Series replaces the former DStv Compact Plus offering, while DStv Premium assumes the new DStv Ultimate designation.
Botswana will likewise retain five packages, with its top-tier bouquet also rebranded as DStv Ultimate.
The divergence in package structures reflects a market-specific approach, allowing the operator to streamline its portfolio while accommodating differences in content distribution and commercial positioning.
Can Canal+ and MultiChoice Reverse DStv’s Subscriber Decline?
The restructuring represents a calculated attempt by Canal+ and MultiChoice to revitalise DStv’s appeal amid intensifying competition from streaming platforms, escalating household expenditure and the proliferation of unauthorised broadcasting services.
The combination of reduced subscription costs in selected markets, simplified package options and broader access to premium football coverage signals a departure from a predominantly price-driven strategy towards one centred on accessibility and subscriber expansion.
For Ghana, the government’s engagement with the operator places affordability at the forefront of discussions about the future of pay television, although the specific local tariffs and implementation details remain crucial to determining the practical benefits for consumers.
Ultimately, the success of the overhaul will depend on whether the revised packages deliver sufficient value to retain existing subscribers, attract new customers and restore confidence in DStv’s pricing proposition.
For an industry grappling with changing viewing habits and heightened competition, the transition from DStv Premium to DStv Ultimate represents more than a rebranding exercise; it forms part of a broader commercial recalibration designed to preserve the platform’s relevance across Africa’s evolving entertainment landscape.