MultiChoice’s DStv has recorded one of its steepest subscriber declines in Kenya, plunging 80% between July 2024 and June 2025, according to data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
- Active subscribers dropped from 1.19 million in July 2024 to just 188,824 by June 2025.
- CA defines an active account as one with at least one subscription in the past 90 days.
Zoom out
The decline isn’t unique to DStv. Kenya’s entire pay-TV market shed 76.9% of subscribers in the same period.
- Azam TV lost 63.1%, falling to 30,095 subscribers.
- Zuku TV saw a modest 1.6% dip to 252,051 subscribers.
The shift
CA attributed the sharp drop to consumer migration from pay-TV to digital streaming and short-form content.
- Platforms like Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Reels are pulling viewers away.
Driving the news
MultiChoice’s repeated subscription price hikes worsened the churn.
- November 2024: Premium rose from $82 → $86, Compact Plus from $51 → $53.
- August 2025: Premium jumped again to $91–95, Compact Plus to $56–60, Family to $17–18, and Access to $11–12. The Lite package stayed at $6.
What they’re saying
MultiChoice defended the increases as part of its annual subscription review:
“These changes are conducted with great care to ensure customers receive the best of both local and international content. The company aims to keep these adjustments sustainable while continuing to provide quality services,” the company said in July.
Why it matters
The sharp subscriber losses highlight the growing dominance of streaming in Africa’s entertainment landscape — and signal tougher times ahead for traditional pay-TV operators like MultiChoice.
Source: TechNext
