MultiChoice, Canal+ company, is set to introduce five revamped DStv packages from 5 November, with reduced subscription prices, expanded sports coverage and more targeted entertainment options as the company seeks to address subscriber concerns over affordability, content variety and repeated programming.
The changes follow MultiChoice’s acquisition by Canal+, with Zimbabwe identified as a strategic growth market within the group’s operations across more than 46 countries.
MultiChoice country CEO Edwina Korir said the revamped packages were designed to give subscribers greater choice and improved value while making premium entertainment more accessible.
The new offering will comprise Starter, Select, Sports, Series and Ultimate, replacing the existing package structure with options tailored to different viewing preferences.
Under the revised pricing, DStv Access will cost US$9, down from US$16, while the new Select package, replacing Family, will be priced at US$20.
The Sports package will cost US$30, separating major sporting competitions from the movies and series offering, while the Series package will be priced at US$32. Ultimate, which combines the full range of available content, will drop from US$75 to US$60.
Korir said the changes reflected the company’s intention to respond directly to subscriber feedback.
“Our ambition is to give you more at a cheaper price,” she told the media during the presentation.
The dedicated Sports package will bring together major football competitions, including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Spain’s La Liga, alongside other sporting content such as cricket, WWE and UFC.
The package restructuring is expected to benefit subscribers who previously had to pay for higher-tier subscriptions to access particular sporting competitions.
MultiChoice is also expanding its entry-level offering through SuperSport Kick Off, which will carry selected football matches, while additional channels are expected to broaden access to local and regional entertainment.
The revamped entertainment offering will feature Movies Plus, Stars and Legends, combining film, drama, series and library content. The company also plans to expand its programming through increased investment in African productions and international content.
Addressing concerns over repeated programming, Korir acknowledged that content repetition had been a persistent source of dissatisfaction among subscribers.
She said the acquisition by Canal+ would support an expanded content offering and greater investment in production and distribution, although eliminating repeats entirely would not be possible.
The company would instead take deliberate steps to reduce repetition and provide a wider variety of programmes, she said.
Beyond pricing and content, MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, plans to introduce further technological and operational changes over the next 18 months as it gradually transitions towards a more unified brand identity under Canal+.
The company has indicated that established channel brands such as M-Net and SuperSport will remain, while their offerings will be strengthened through additional content and new channels.
Korir cautioned that implementation could involve some technical adjustments as existing subscribers are migrated to the new packages, but said the company was working towards making the new offering available from 5 November.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, MultiChoice said the revised packages were part of a broader strategy to improve access to entertainment and sport while strengthening its investment in African storytelling.
The company reiterated its commitment to combining locally relevant programming with international entertainment and premium sporting content, positioning the changes as the beginning of a longer-term transformation of its business.
