Canal+ intends to significantly reduce the cost of the top DStv package in a large part of English-speaking Africa, offering discounts of up to 42%. These changes are occurring against the backdrop of updates and the introduction of new packages following the September restructuring in South Africa.
DStv has confirmed that in Kenya, the new top package has replaced the Premium package. However, the extent of the price reduction varies greatly from one country to another; for example, in Nigeria, the top price remains unchanged.
On Tuesday, TechCentral checked DStv websites in various countries. Nine markets outside of South Africa now display updated lineups of four or five packages. Below is a comparison of each new premium package with the current Premium price on the respective comparison page in each country.
Package Updates and Market Reaction
The launch in South Africa on September 17 did not lead to changes in the prices of existing packages. When Canal+ presented its third-quarter reports last week, CEO Maxim Saada stated that the launch in South Africa provided subscribers with 'more content, more choice' and 'better value at the same price.' He also noted that these changes would 'continue in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa in the coming months.'
South Africa is an area of increased pressure. Canal+ reported that MultiChoice revenue fell by 3% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026, driven by declining subscription income in South Africa, although this decline slowed to 2% in the third quarter. Higher revenues in most other English-speaking MultiChoice markets partially offset this downturn.
Namibia, whose currency is pegged to the rand, now aligns with South African satellite prices: N$979, N$500, N$479, N$339, and N$150 for five packages. Its top package is 6% cheaper than the current Namibian Premium.
In response to TechCentral's inquiries, Canal+ confirmed that DStv is updating its packages 'in several African markets to simplify the lineup, provide customers with clearer choices, and improve access to the content they value.'
The company specified that 'changes are being implemented in phases, and the package structure, pricing, and implementation dates are tailored to individual markets.' It was noted that 'Kenya is one of several markets implementing the updated offering, while South Africa has its own updated package lineup presented in September 2026.'
Canal+ added that 'customers will be notified of the packages and prices applicable to their respective markets before implementation begins.'
Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, and Nigeria receive four packages. Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia receive five, like South Africa when it added the Movies & Series package.
In Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, the new top package costs exactly the same as the current Compact Plus, a level below Premium. In the other six markets, it is more expensive than Compact Plus. The DStv websites of different countries do not indicate where Compact Plus subscribers will move, and the new package page in Nigeria still offers Compact Plus at the price of ₦30,000 under the 'Other decoder viewing options' section.
According to the DStv website in Kenya, the new packages 'will launch in most African markets on November 5, 2026.' The DStv website in Tanzania states that 'something new is coming in November,' and that DStv 'is implementing a simplified package lineup,' but does not provide prices. The websites of Mozambique, Angola, and Rwanda do not yet show the new lineup.
Kenya: The Clearest Picture
In Kenya, the DStv announcement involves a direct replacement: Starter replaces Access, Select replaces Family, Sports replaces Compact, and the 'former DStv Premium package is now called DStv Ultimate.' When compared to the prices on the Kenyan DStv comparison page, this means a 38% reduction for Premium subscribers, 29% for Compact, 33% for Family, and 48% for Access.
The new prices correspond to existing tiers. Ultimate costs KSh7,300, which is equivalent to Compact Plus, meaning current Compact Plus subscribers can purchase the former Premium package. Starter, priced at KSh750, costs the same as the cheapest current DStv package in Kenya.
At an exchange rate of KSh7.86 to the rand, DStv Ultimate is about R930 per month. This is lower than the South African satellite Premium price of R979, but higher than R799, which it costs on DStv Stream or with a two-year contract. However, exchange rates only explain part of the picture: according to the World Bank, South Africa's GDP per capita in 2025 was $6,598, almost three times more than the $2,363 in Kenya.
The price reduction in Kenya occurs against the backdrop of growing DStv subscribers in the country. According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, direct satellite subscriptions grew by 4.4%, reaching 259,047 in the three months leading up to June.
