Multichoice lost 2.3 million 90-day active DStv subscribers over the last year, which included 614,000 in South Africa and 1,73 million in the rest of Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was revealed in Multichoice\u2019s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, released on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company\u2019s finances are a mess. Revenue declined by 9% to R50.8 billion, primarily due to an 11% drop in subscription revenue. Trading profit decreased to R4.0 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was particularly concerning was that most metrics were down. Revenue declined in Multichoice\u2019s South Africa, the Rest of Africa, and Showmax businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trading profits declined in Multichoice\u2019s technology, Rest of Africa, and Showmax businesses, and there were very few signs indicating a recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest story is the continued decline in DStv subscribers, which followed the same trend as last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In South Africa, Multichoice\u2019s 90-day active DStv subscribers declined from 8.551 million to 7.937 million over the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Rest of Africa, Multichoice\u2019s 90-day active DStv subscribers declined from 12.383 million to 10.655 million over the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This resulted in 90-day active DStv subscribers across the group decline from 20.934 million in 2024 to 18.592 million in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
90-day active DStv subscribers are defined as all subscribers that have an active primary subscription within the 90 days on or before the reporting date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In South Africa, Multichoice lost subscribers across all DStv segments. It lost 10% of premium subscribers, 6% of mid-market clients, and 7% of mass-market subscribers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Rest of Africa, it lost 13% of premium subscribers, 12% of mid-market clients, and 14% of mass-market subscribers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The different DStv packages and GOtv in the rest of Africa are explained below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Premium:<\/strong> Premium and Compact Plus packages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Mid-market:<\/strong> Compact, Commercial and GOtv Supa Plus packages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Mass market:<\/strong> Family Plus, Family, Access, Lite, GOtv Supa, GOtv Max, GOtv Plus, GOtv Value and GOtv Lite packages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Multichoice said the decline in DStv subscribers indicates ongoing broad-based pressure across the group\u2019s entire customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It explained that high unemployment, low economic growth, and the ongoing effect of load reductions put South African consumers under significant financial pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This negatively affected businesses like Multichoice that provide discretionary products and services like DStv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ongoing cost-of-living crisis has meant that households are struggling to make ends meet, and many have no choice but to give up their DStv subscription,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The South African market has also been affected by the shift in video consumption towards cheaper streaming services, social media video, and free or pirated video services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe negative trend was evident across all three market segments, suggesting that economic hardship and affordability remain a challenge across the board,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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