MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, has begun piloting weekly subscription plans in Uganda, which will launch in other markets soon if the trial proves successful.

MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela, disclosed that the pay-TV company introduced weekly subscriptions seven weeks ago and that it should have a good idea of the trial's success in the next six months.

According to reports, the trial wants to align subscription periods with customers’ cash flows.

If successful, the company will consider offering weekly subscriptions in other markets such as Nigeria, its biggest market in Africa.

“It’s a big change and we think when people are struggling, as we have seen, offering them weekly passes will help in the same way cellphone prepaid has changed the mobile industry,” said Mawela. Regarding bundle offerings, Mawela said that MultiChoice does not believe such a structure is viable.

He, however, said the firm was researching an offering where customers could get a base product and add channels to it.

1.4 million subscribers disconnect from DStv, GOtv

Legit.ng reported that MultiChoice recorded a 1.4 million subscriber loss in Nigeria in the last two years.

Also, the firm reported a financial decline for the year ended March 31, 2025. Reports say much of the financial loss was due to MultiChoice’s sale of a 60% stake in its insurance business to Sanlam in November last year.

MultiChoice’s revenue for the review period dipped 9% per year, which it said was due to an 11% decline in subscription revenues. However, MultiChoice South Africa’s revenue increased yearly to 41.73 billion rand in the review period.

MultiChoice revenue for the Rest of Africa and Showmax operations dived during the period. The company hopes to retain customers in key markets such as Nigeria by offering weekly subscriptions. Its 2024/2025 financial year showed declines in 90-day active subscribers and the overall subscriber base.

Subscribers declined eight per cent from 15.69 million as of March 31, 2025, to 14.51 million, while 90-day active subscribers thinned by 11% to 18.59 million in the review period.