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Zambia Urges MultiChoice to Slash Subscription Prices Amid Rising Consumer Demands
MultiChoice, a major satellite TV company, faces growing pressure from African governments to cut its subscription prices. This push comes as people in Sub-Saharan Africa struggle with tough economic times. Citizens are turning to their leaders for help, asking them to step in and make TV services more affordable.
In Zambia, the government has directly called on MultiChoice to lower its local prices. Thabo Kawana, the Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Information and Media, made this clear during a special event. He spoke at the signing ceremony where Zambia News and Information Services Television (ZANIS TV) joined MultiChoice’s DStv platform. Kawana told the crowd that the government hears the people’s complaints about high costs.
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DStv monthly subscriptions in Zambia start at K165, which is about US$8.67 for the basic DStv Lite package. At the top end, the Premium package costs K1,670, or around $87.76. These prices feel too high for many families facing money troubles.
Zambia is the second country in just two weeks to make this demand. Malawi’s government spoke out first. Kawana promised Zambians that officials are pushing MultiChoice hard. “While we celebrate this milestone, the onboarding of ZANIS TV, we have also heard your concerns,” he said. During the event, he urged the company to fix high fees, cut down on repeated shows, and keep ZNBC TV as a free-to-air channel. ZNBC is Zambia’s national broadcaster, available without payment.
This call for change happens as MultiChoice gets ready for big shifts under its new owner, Canal+. Canal+ plans to grow its business and use its size as Africa’s top satellite TV provider to make things better. Still, Kawana called the new partnership with ZANIS TV a “game-changer” for Zambia’s media world. It will help spread Zambian news and stories wider.
Media analyst Mwando Moono praised the move. He said adding ZANIS TV to DStv is a good step to boost Zambia’s media voice at home and abroad. “It is equally encouraging to hear that concerns about subscription costs, content repetition, and free-to-air access were raised,” Moono noted. “Sustainable media growth must balance accessibility, affordability, and quality content.”
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MultiChoice employs 350 people in Zambia, but it lost 300,000 subscribers there in 2024. This drop is part of a bigger problem across Africa. More people now use digital streaming services, thanks to better internet connections. On top of that, the economy hurts the company. Weak local currencies, high inflation, low spending power, and frequent power cuts make it hard for families to pay bills, let alone TV fees.
The pressure on MultiChoice shows how economic hardships affect daily life in Africa. Governments like Zambia’s want to protect consumers while supporting local media growth. As Canal+ takes control, all eyes are on whether the company will respond by making DStv cheaper and better. For now, Zambians hope their voices lead to real change, blending celebration of new partnerships with demands for fair prices.
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