Countries with the highest DSTV subscriptions in Africa

Yesterday, news broke that come April 1, 2022, DSTV will be increasing its subscription in Nigeria for all packages. This means, for example, compact plus users have to pay #14,250 instead of the previous #12,400. That announcement caused an uproar on Nigeria’s Twitter that DSTV is cheating us in Nigeria. So, therefore, this prompted me to do a survey and check the subscriptions rates of DSTV across the countries in Africa and I found something very interesting. Would you like to know what it is? Keep reading!

Despite the implementation of a 7.5 per cent value-added tax, Nigeria’s Multichoice bouquet rate is the lowest in Africa. E shock you? Not only that, it also has the highest number of channels too. So this got me wondering where the “DStv is cheating us in Nigeria” phrase comes from.

There are more expensive subscriptions rates in other African countries, particularly South Africa, where the service provider is based.

According to the study’s findings, the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($105 per month) pays the highest DStv subscriptions rates among other countries in Africa, closely followed by Zimbabwe ($75 per month).

Why aren’t DStv subscription prices uniform around the globe?

DSTV is one of the major television broadcasters on the globe. DStv, or Digital Satellite Television, is an African multichoice digital satellite television service that offers a number of bouquets covering a variety of genres, including films, music, lifestyle and culture, sports, documentaries, news, and religion.

Customers who wish to use DStv’s services must subscribe to one of the bouquets available, which vary by country. Subscription fees for DStv bouquets vary by the nation due to a variety of reasons such as the cost of doing business, the availability of infrastructure, and the cost of providing the service in that country.

Price differentials between countries may also be a function of a country’s capacity to accept diverse tax regimes and operational cost structures. More crucially, economies of scale that a country may or may not have can affect these expenses.

For instance, DStv subscription fees vary between South Africa and Zambia due to the two countries operating in distinct markets with distinct pricing structures.

DStv tariffs are market-driven, and the firm now operates in three markets: South Africa, Nigeria, and the rest of the world. As a result, South Africa has the lowest tax burden in the area.

According to DStv, the price of pay television in a particular market is determined by factors such as taxation, constitutional law enforcement, and piracy levels, and at the moment, countries such as Zambia and Kenya are classified as general markets, paying US$82 for the premium bouquet, with the exception of Zimbabwe, which pays US$77 excluding VAT.

The depreciation of major African currencies (including Nigeria) against the US dollar, as well as satellite and channel fees, have been cited as reasons for the increase in DStv subscription rates in Nigeria.

Do the subscription rates reflect the service’s value?

Each country in Africa receives a unique – yet distinct – set of DStv premium selections. The number of channels varies by country, and some are available only in certain countries.

As a result, there is no reason to believe that the value of entertainment is related to subscription prices.

How many nations is DStv Available in?

Digital Satellite Television, or DStv, is an African entertainment powerhouse that serves 46 African countries with affordable entertainment. MultiChoice Africa launched DStv in 1995 and has developed into Africa’s leading supplier of digital satellite television.

Although the majority of customers are from South Africa, the corporation also services Nigeria, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, Namibia, Ethiopia, Gabon and Lesotho.

Countries with the highest DSTV subscriptions in Africa

After doing my survey, here is a list of the countries with the highest DSTV subscriptions in Africa and how much they pay

#1 Democratic Republic of Congo ($105 monthly)

The Democratic Republic of Congo pays $105 on their premium package, according to the Multichoice website.

The Democratic Republic of Congo presently boasts Africa’s highest rates of Dstv subscriptions. There are 140 channels available on DStv premium at this price in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

#2 Zimbabwe ($75 per month)

The premium plan in Zimbabwe costs $75 per month. For that money, you get 115 channels.

#3 Malawi ($74 per month).

Malawi pays $74 per month in USD for DStv premium. The local rate is MWK 57,000. Converting MWK 57,000 get You to get $74 using the current MWK 771.22 to dollar conversion rate.
There are 120 channels available for DStv premium at this price in Malawi.

#4 Kenya ($72 per month)

Kenya’s premium package is KES 7,900 per year. When converted to dollars at a rate of KES 109.79 per dollar, the result is $72. At this pricing point, the DStv premium package in Kenya has 175 channels.

#5 Mauritius ($68 per month)

Dstv premium costs MUR 2,700 per month in Mauritius and contains 140 channels. The subscription fee is $68 at a conversion rate of $39.71 per MUR.

#6 Ethiopia ($65 per month)

Ethiopia is the next country in line. Their premium package was priced at ETB 2,600. A monthly rate of $65 is derived at an exchange rate of ETB 39.55 per dollar. Ethiopians who pay for the Dstv premium receive 170 channels.

#7 Uganda ($62 per month).

One of those countries, with an unfathomably high exchange rate of UGX 3661.64 per dollar. The premium bundle is UGX 227,000 ($62) per month. This bundle will be largely used by enterprises, based on their exchange rates.

In Uganda, a premium member receives 140 channels at this amount.

#8 Tanzania ($60 monthly charge)

The premium package costs TZS 139,000 (about $60) in Tanzania. The package includes 150 channels.

#9 Ghana ($60 per month).

Subscribers in Ghana pay GHS 350 for the premium bundle. This equates to approximately $60 per month when converted. In Ghana, this fee entitles you to 90 channels on Dstv premium.

#10 South Africa ($54 per month)

This is the country responsible for the distribution of DStv throughout Africa. South Africans subscribe to DStv premium for R829 per month, which covers 159 channels. This equates to $54 per month at the current currency rate of R15.04 to the dollar.

#11 Namibia ($54 per month)

Namibia, like South Africa, pays $54 for the premium package, based on a currency conversion rate of NAD 14.96 to the dollar. This equates to a monthly payment of NAD 809 in their native currency.

This price includes 125 channels.

#12 Eswatini ($54 per month)

Eswatini (often referred to as Swaziland) charges the same $54 per person as South Africa and Namibia. Eswatinians pay a monthly premium of SZL 809 at a rate of $15.05 per dollar. Nigeria ($46 per month) is an African country.

#13 Nigeria ($46 per month)

Nigeria offers the most affordable DStv subscription rates on the list, with a premium package costing just $46 per month. According to a study conducted by TheCable, packages are not the most expensive option.

How does the DSTV app work?

The DStv app enables you to watch all of the programming included in your bundle from anywhere and at any time. You may watch catch-up television as well as live television stations.

Additionally, you’ll find a sampling of stuff to enjoy if you’re not yet a subscriber. Create profiles, create a Catch-Up watchlist, download content (on specified devices), plan your viewing with the TV Guide, and even control what your children watch with our app’s fun area for children.

With a DStv subscription, you can only stream on one device at a time. To use the app, you’ll need internet and data connectivity. The software is compatible with a wide variety of devices, including Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, game consoles, smart televisions, media players, and your laptop.

The small star behind each site serves as a reminder that while you can watch DStv on the beach, in your car, or while waiting in line, there are some restrictions. Is the content of the DStv app identical in all countries?

No, the content is controlled by your subscription package and your location.

How can I restore my DStv stations?

Restoring your DStv channels is not a technical operation; you can do so by scrolling through the interface. You will not require the intervention of a DStv technician, and you may resolve the issue using only your remote.

One way for reinstating your channels is to rescan your DStv decoder. So select the rapid setup option to begin the operation.

Numerous experts recommend using the manual setup technique since it provides greater flexibility and allows you to pick and choose which process components to use.

One of these variables is the country in which your satellite is located, which affects which channels appear on your decoder. Select the scanning option from the menu, and your decoder will begin searching for available channels.

Those that are discovered will be kept and restored to your channel list. You may now view them, and if they were previously unavailable, they will be restored. “How can I regain access to my DStv channels?” Will no longer be your concern.