MultiChoice and its DStv services are doing well in terms of subscribers, up some 600,000 (7 per cent) active pay-TV homes in South Africa, for example. But ARPU in South Africa fell by 5 per cent as consumers shifted to lower-value bundles.

MultiChoice reported higher core earnings on November 11^th, but admitted it is struggling to make profits outside of South Africa where currency challenges have increased the cost of buying international content.  Half-year profits rose 22 per cent.

Core earnings rose 24 per cent, to Rand 1.9 billion in the six-months to the end of September.

The broadcaster, which was spun-off into a stand-alone business in February this year by majority owner Naspers, reported that overall customer numbers rose 7 per cent to 18.9 million ‘active’ (90-day) subscribers across its 50 African country distribution.

The subscriber base is split 8.2 million in South Africa and 10.7 in the international nations.

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