No Longer For The “Select Few”: Stiff Competition Forces DStv Kenya To Slash Prices Significantly

MultiChoice Kenya’s Digital Satellite Television (DStv) has announced plan to lower its monthly subscriptions charges at a time when its rivals, mainly online streaming service producers such as Netflix, Showmax and Youtube are increasingly affordable, available and convenient for many users.

This move is seen as part of its strategy to counter rising competition for pay-TV customers from new Internet-based streaming entrants whose demand have been boosted by available home internet connections from providers like Safaricom.

Beginning September 1st, the firm said that it will slash its monthly payments by between five and 30 percent, the South African firm last revised its prices in 2017.

Under the new packages, the Premium customers will now pay Sh7500, from Sh7900, with a total of 127 world TV channels while Compact Plus subscribers will be charged Sh4500 down from Sh5200.

Customers using Compact, Family, and Access will pay Sh2500,1200 and Sh900 respectively and they will have access to 104,86 and 69 channels respectively.

“Our aim is to make great entertainment accessible to more consumers in Kenya and we believe this move will grant more of our customers access to the complete world of exciting entertainment channels at a lower price,” said MultiChoice Kenya in a statement.

Early 2019, MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela said that the firm had lost more than 100,000 subscribers to Netflix in the 2017/18 financial year, and an additional 40,000 in the new financial year in South Africa.

Featured Image Courtesy: CIO East Africa