DStv has introduced new subscription packages in Kenya, effective November 5, with prices ranging from KES 750 to KES 7,300 per month. The four packages, Starter, Select, Sports, and Ultimate, offer a range of channels and content, including Kenyan programming, telenovelas, and sports. The changes aim to attract subscribers who dropped DStv due to high costs, with the new packages offering more affordable options.
The Starter package, priced at KES 750 per month, offers over 116 channels, including La Liga football and a Match of the Week. This package appears to be targeted at households that previously dropped DStv due to the combined cost of a decoder and monthly subscription. The Select package, priced at KES 1,500, offers over 149 channels, including news, movies, series, and Serie A.
The Sports package, priced at KES 3,000, offers over 159 channels, including the English Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. This package also debuts SuperSport Swahili, a Swahili sports channel that caters to viewers who prefer to watch sports in their native language. The price of this package is KES 1,200 lower than the previous Premier League coverage.
The Ultimate package, priced at KES 7,300, offers over 180 channels, including Formula 1, MotoGP, rugby, tennis, and golf. This package represents a significant price cut of KES 4,400 compared to the previous Premium package. The changes reflect a shift in strategy by DStv's new owner, Canal+, which has been pushing for a simpler product structure across its subscriber base.
DStv's subscriber numbers in Kenya had been declining, with an 8.3% drop in subscribers between 2025 and March. The company's decoder base fell from 270,503 to 248,053 during this period. However, a subsequent report showed DStv's subscriptions increasing to 259,047, with a year-on-year growth of 37.2%. The wider market, however, declined by 1.8% to 1.55 million subscribers.
The changes in DStv's packages and pricing reflect the competitive pressure in the Kenyan pay-TV market, with viewers increasingly opting for internet-based TV and set-top box prices making new sign-ups more challenging. The introduction of a Swahili sports channel is seen as a local gesture by Canal+, which has been pushing for a more global strategy. The new packages and pricing aim to attract subscribers who are looking for more affordable options without compromising on content.
The new packages and pricing in Kenya echo the five-tier streaming lineup introduced in South Africa, with similar pricing and content offerings. The football content at the center of the two middle packages is secure until 2027 and 2028, providing DStv with a stable base to price around. The changes aim to keep the cheaper packages lighter to run, allowing DStv to compete with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Key points
- DStv has introduced new subscription packages in Kenya with prices ranging from KES 750 to KES 7,300 per month.
- The changes aim to attract subscribers who dropped DStv due to high costs, with a focus on more affordable options and local content.
- The new packages and pricing reflect the competitive pressure in the Kenyan pay-TV market and the shift in strategy by DStv's new owner, Canal+.
