MultiChoice, operator of the DStv pay-TV system, has lost almost 500,000 subscribers in South Africa. The latest interim financial results show that the loss at the end of September placed the operator’s total subscriber numbers (90-day active) at 8.629 million, or 486,000 less than the 9.115 million at the same point last year. MultiChoice says […]

BBC Studios’ multi-genre channel, BBC UKTV, will expand to DStv’s compact package in South Africa and BBC Lifestyle will join DStv Family from September 1st. BBC Studios’ will also extend the DStv catch-up window on BBC owned content across channel portfolio from 30 days to 60 days from September, providing DStv audiences further access to […]

South Africa based satellite TV provider, MultiChoice, will no longer accept new DStv subscriptions or reconnections in Malawi after it declared it will no longer provide the service in the country. This move comes after MultiChoice Malawi revealed plans to raise DStv rates in the Southeastern African country. However, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) […]

MultiChoice’s DStv streaming service has been relaunched as Stream and comes with several enhancements over the previous DStv Now platform. “From the initial launch of the first decoder to pioneering digital satellite TV and now with DStv Stream, what drives innovation for us, is providing our customers with the content they love, in the way […]

France’s Canal+ Group has again upped its stake in South Africa’s MultiChoice pay-TV operation. Canal+ now owns 31.7 per cent of MultiChoice which is itself listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. MultiChoice operates the DStv, SuperSport and Showmax pay-TV options for African viewers. Canal+ is itself controlled by Vivendi. The new stake is up from […]

South Africa’s pay-TV operator MultiChoice Group, working with local police and customs, says it has destroyed 5,000 counterfeit DStv remote controls and promised it would maintain a “firm stand” against illegally imported fake goods. In a statement on February 28th, MultiChoice said it takes all attempts at piracy “very seriously” and will continue “protecting its […]

MultiChoice, as expected, has announced its pay-TV prices for 2023, effective April 1st, for DStv subscribers in South Africa. Prices are rising, but not as much in previous years. However, inevitably with some changes in the DStv packages it is not easy comparing bundles. For example, DStv Premium subscribers’ monthly bouquet price has an increase […]

South Africa’s public broadcaster, already suffering from a lack of licence fee income and a downturn in advertising, is facing a controversial arbitration over its ‘must carry’ obligations towards pay-TV operator MultiChoice. South Africa broadcasting regulator ICASA has admitted that its negotiations with DStv and SABC have reached an impasse. SABC COO Ian Plaatjes has […]

South African pay-TV giant DStv has lost 3 per cent of its ‘Premium’ subscriber base in South Africa according to the latest half-year financial results from parent MultiChoice. Multichoice said that the impact of the football off-season was exacerbated by an extremely challenging consumer climate. Generating additional revenue streams continues to be a main focus […]

In years past there have been African and Middle East broadcasters who have happily stolen pay-TV’s exclusive coverage of key sporting events. DStv has now issued a clear warning to broadcasters in Africa saying, in essence, ‘hands off our signals’. The most blatant thefts of football signals occurred during the Saudi Arabian beoutQ transmissions of […]