DStv general entertainment subscriptions without SuperSport channels included may soon be available to consumers.
As DStv continues to lose pay-TV subscribers, MultiChoice Group is speeding up its inquiry into whether it should unbundle SuperSport from the broadcaster.
Group CEO Calvo Mawela told TechCentral in an interview on Thursday after the broadcaster’s results for the year ending March 31, 2025, were released on Wednesday that if the investigation’s findings are favourable, customers might soon be able to select a DStv general entertainment subscription without SuperSport channels.
Customers would then be able to add the sports packages they desire, whether they are centred on rugby, soccer, or other sports, or all the sports that are available, according to this model, which is employed by other pay-TV providers worldwide, including Sky in the UK.
By the end of the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2026, MultiChoice hopes to have finished its inquiry into what would essentially amount to a significant change in its economic model, according to Mawela.
“As soon as we have decided on a course of action for this fiscal year, we should be able to provide you with an update,” he stated.
However, he emphasized that unbundling SuperSport from DStv must increase group revenue and profits rather than worsen the financial situation.
According to Mawela, MultiChoice also has no intentions to offer SuperSport bundles to other broadcasters. “Our main point of differentiation is sport. Stickiness is fueled by it. We must maintain it exclusive [to us] since it attracts subscribers and promotes [customer] acquisition.
As customers under duress, MultiChoice continues to claim to be losing customers in South Africa and other African markets where it operates, the decision was made to expedite the probe. In the last year, the company lost 1.2 million paying DStv subscribers, it announced on Thursday.
The company blamed “unprecedented headwinds” for the disappointing annual results, citing pressure from streaming competitors like Netflix and YouTube Premium as well as a particularly bad consumer spending environment in its operational markets.
“Difficult macroeconomic factors have caused significant financial disruption for economies, corporations, and consumers throughout sub-Saharan Africa over the past two fiscal years,” the statement stated.
“This has significantly impacted MultiChoice Group’s overall performance, especially when combined with the effects of structural industry changes in the video entertainment sector, such as the growth of piracy, streaming services, and social media.”
Despite the difficulties, Mawela stated that the economic situation that customers have found themselves in has been the primary cause of subscriber losses rather than issues with the group’s strategy. People are making decisions about whether to purchase food or amusement since their finances are tight. Naturally, food will always come first, followed by school fees and everything else, before paying for television.
Consequently, he stated that MultiChoice is attempting to make DStv more accessible and economical for consumers, including a test project to provide weekly DStv packages. If the approach proves effective, the pilot, which is already underway in Uganda and will continue for several months, will be extended to other markets, including South Africa.
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