MultiChoice, now under the ownership of French media giant Canal+, has announced a sweeping price reduction on its DStv decoders as part of efforts to revive its dwindling subscriber base across Africa.
Beginning November 1, 2025, the company will slash decoder prices by up to 40% when purchased online and by 30% in retail outlets. In Nigeria, the HD decoder kit will now sell for ₦17,000—down from the previous ₦28,000 to ₦30,000 range.
The move comes after the pay-TV operator lost about 2.8 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025, including 1.4 million in Nigeria alone. Analysts say the steep decline was driven by rising subscription costs, economic hardship, and increasing competition from streaming services such as Netflix, Showmax, and other regional platforms.
While many Nigerian users on social media have dismissed the decoder discount as “cosmetic,” arguing that high monthly fees and uninspiring content are the real issues, industry watchers believe the company is determined to reassert its dominance in key markets like Nigeria and Kenya.
To further entice users, MultiChoice is also introducing a three-day “Open Time Weekend” from November 7 to 9, during which all subscribers can access Premium channels for free. Premium customers will also enjoy two extra device streams until December, allowing up to four simultaneous views.
The company’s aggressive turnaround strategy follows its recent $2 billion acquisition by Canal+, which has already led to the creation of a new entity designed to comply with South Africa’s foreign ownership restrictions.
Whether this bold discount campaign can help DStv reclaim its lost ground in an increasingly streaming-driven landscape remains to be seen—but it marks MultiChoice’s most daring push yet to make satellite television relevant again.