MultiChoice Allows DStv Users to Split Subscription Payments
MultiChoice has introduced a new shared payment feature that allows DStv subscribers to split the cost of their monthly subscription with another person, in a move aimed at making pay-TV more affordable across Africa.
The feature, which is now live on the MyDStv app, enables a primary account holder to send a payment link to a friend, partner, or family member to contribute toward a single DStv subscription. Each subscription can only be shared between two people.
How the Shared Payment Feature Works
Under the new system, the primary subscriber initiates the payment process and shares a secure payment link with a second contributor. Once both payments are completed, the subscription is renewed automatically.
This update replaces the informal process where subscribers had to manually transfer funds between themselves before making a single payment. By automating the process, MultiChoice says renewals are now faster, simpler, and more reliable.
The feature is particularly suited to:
- Young people and students
- Couples and shared apartments
- Co-living households where entertainment costs are split
By formalising cost-sharing, MultiChoice reduces the risk of missed payments and removes the burden of one person carrying the full bill.
MultiChoice Responds to Streaming Competition
The shared payment option is part of a broader strategy by MultiChoice to compete with fast-growing streaming platforms across Africa. In the last two years, the company has reportedly lost nearly 3 million traditional TV subscribers, as viewers shift toward cheaper and more flexible online streaming services.
To counter this trend, MultiChoice has introduced several affordability-focused measures, including:
- Lower decoder prices in major markets
- Expanded channel offerings on entry-level packages
- Flexible payment and rewards options
Decoder Prices Reduced Across Key Markets
MultiChoice has significantly lowered the upfront cost of subscribing to DStv by cutting decoder prices, particularly in South Africa and Nigeria.
In South Africa:
- The HD decoder price has dropped from about R899 (₦79,500) to approximately R499 (₦44,100)
- The HD decoder with installation now costs around R799 (₦70,700)
- Explora decoders have seen major price reductions, with some online models selling for as low as R999 (₦88,400)
These price cuts are designed to reduce entry barriers for new customers and encourage lapsed subscribers to return.
DStv Coins Gain Traction
MultiChoice is also expanding its rewards-based pricing model through DStv Coins, launched in late 2025. Since its introduction, customers have redeemed over 20 million coins to offset subscription costs. The growing adoption of DStv Coins highlights increasing demand for flexible and modular pricing tools, especially as consumers become more cost-conscious.
Repositioning Pay-TV as a Shared Household Service
By lowering hardware costs, adding more value to entry-level packages, introducing rewards, and enabling subscription splitting, MultiChoice appears to be repositioning DStv as a shared household utility rather than a premium, single-user expense.
As competition from streaming platforms continues to intensify, these changes signal a strategic shift aimed at retaining price-sensitive customers while adapting pay-TV to modern viewing habits.
