DStv struggles as 1.2 million subscribers cut ties
MultiChoice lost almost 1.2 million subscribers in the financial year ending 31 March 2025, reporting a sharp drop in its user base.
Pay-TV operator MultiChoice reported that it lost nearly 1.2 million subscribers across its markets during the financial year ending 31 March 2025.
This 8% year-on-year decline reduced its total subscriber base to 14.5 million.
According to the company’s latest annual results, it lost 589 000 subscribers in South Africa and a further 591 000 across the Rest of Africa segment.
MultiChoice now counts 7 million subscribers in South Africa and 7.5 million across the Rest of Africa.
Its 90-day active subscriber metric reveals an even more troubling trend. The company’s active user base dropped from 20.9 million in 2024 to 18.6 million in 2025, reflecting an 11% decline.
South Africa alone shed 614 000 active subscribers based on this metric.
Revenue impact
The subscriber losses translated directly into lower revenues.
MultiChoice reported a 3% drop in its blended average revenue per user (ARPU), which fell from R229 to R222 per subscriber.
However, the trend varied by region. In South Africa, ARPU rose by 4% to R292, following a 5.7% increase in DStv package prices.
In contrast, ARPU in the Rest of Africa dropped by 14% to R148, even though prices in local currencies rose by more than 30%.
Currency depreciation and weak consumer spending were cited as major contributing factors.
Across the 90-day active subscriber base, ARPU remained flat at R170. This masked a 12% drop in the Rest of Africa and a 5% increase in South Africa.
Decline across market segments
MultiChoice lost subscribers across all service tiers.
The premium segment (DStv Premium and Compact Plus) shed 100,000 customers, and the mid-market segment (Compact and Commercial) experienced the same decline.
The mass-market segment—including Family, Access, and EasyView packages—suffered the biggest drop, losing 400,000 subscribers.
South Africa’s subscriber base, which peaked at 9 million in 2022, has now declined to 7 million.
Since 2019, the premium subscriber base alone has fallen from 1.6 million to just 900 000 in 2025.
Strategic response and future plans
Despite the downturn, MultiChoice has taken steps to stem the decline, focusing heavily on retention and win-back campaigns over the past year.
Measures included the reintroduction of a second concurrent streaming option at no extra cost and a price reduction on its DStv ADD Movies add-on, from R79 to R49.
The group also entered into strategic partnerships with local brands such as Capitec, MTN, and PEP in an effort to expand its distribution footprint and accessibility.
While acknowledging the tough operating environment, MultiChoice expressed optimism about stabilising its core video business through customer-focused innovations.
The company also intends to expand its efforts in interactive entertainment, financial services, and insurance to diversify its revenue streams.
Although the rate of subscriber loss has begun to slow, the group recognises that restoring sustainable growth will require continued adaptation to shifting consumer habits and economic pressures.