Subscription Price Adjustments

NAIROBI, KENYA – As of Tuesday, 18 November 2025, Kenyan subscribers of the satellite television service DStv are navigating a revised pricing structure implemented by parent company MultiChoice. In a move that took effect on Monday, 1 August 2025, the company increased the monthly fees for most of its packages by between 4% and 7%. This marks the fifth price adjustment in less than three years, a decision MultiChoice attributes to rising operational costs and continued investment in content.

In a statement released on Monday, 8 July 2025, MultiChoice detailed the price changes, which affect all but its most basic tier. The DStv Premium package saw the largest increase of KES 700, bringing the monthly cost to KES 11,700. The Compact Plus package rose by KES 500 to KES 7,300, while the Compact package increased by KES 300 to KES 4,200. The DStv Family and Access tiers also saw increases, with their prices rising to KES 2,250 and KES 1,450, respectively. The entry-level DStv Lite package remains unchanged at KES 750 per month.

Updated DStv Kenya Monthly Prices (November 2025)

• DStv Premium: KES 11,700 (Over 160 channels)
• DStv Compact Plus: KES 7,300 (Over 150 channels)
• DStv Compact: KES 4,200 (Over 135 channels)
• DStv Family: KES 2,250 (Over 105 channels)
• DStv Access: KES 1,450 (Over 85 channels)
• DStv Lite: KES 750 (Over 45 channels)

Strategic Pivot Amid Subscriber Decline

The price adjustments come at a challenging time for the traditional pay-TV model. According to its financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, the MultiChoice Group's linear subscriber base across Africa declined by 1.2 million, an 8% year-on-year drop. The company reported a significant 15% decline in subscribers in Kenya alone, citing macroeconomic pressures and stiff competition from free-to-air channels and streaming services.

In a contrasting strategic move, MultiChoice has simultaneously reduced prices for its streaming platform, Showmax. For instance, the Showmax General Entertainment mobile plan was cut from KES 300 to KES 200, while bundled plans saw reductions of up to KES 200. This dual strategy of increasing satellite TV prices while lowering streaming costs highlights a corporate pivot aimed at capturing a growing digital audience. This approach appears to be effective, as the company reported that its active paying Showmax subscribers grew by 44% year-on-year, even as its DStv subscriber base shrank.

The Kenyan market remains a significant one for MultiChoice, accounting for 10% of its subscription revenue outside of South Africa. However, the persistent price hikes for DStv, coupled with the aggressive pricing of streaming alternatives, continue to reshape the entertainment landscape, forcing consumers to re-evaluate their household media budgets.