DStv Kenya has experienced one of its steepest subscriber declines in recent years after losing more than 80% of its customers within a year.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) shows that the satellite television service dropped from 1.19 million active users in June 2024 to only 188,824 by June 2025.
The sharp decline has been closely linked to a series of price increases that have hit households hard. MultiChoice, the company behind DStv, has reviewed its prices several times since 2024.
The most recent adjustment came last month, when some packages rose by as much as KES 700. This followed earlier increases in November 2024 and April of the same year.
For premium subscribers, monthly charges climbed from KES 11,000 to KES 11,700. Compact Plus rose from KES 6,800 to KES 7,300, while the Compact bouquet moved from KES 3,900 to KES 4,200.
Even lower tiers, such as Family, saw increments that pushed costs beyond what many households could comfortably afford.
MultiChoice has defended the changes, describing them as part of regular reviews meant to sustain operations and ensure access to a wide range of local and international programmes.
The company argues that content acquisition and production costs continue to rise, forcing adjustments that keep the business viable.
“These changes are part of MultiChoice’s annual subscription review, which is conducted with great care to ensure customers receive the best of both local and international content,” MultiChoice had said in a statement.
“The company aims to keep these adjustments sustainable while continuing to provide quality services to its customers.”
However, the figures reveal how sensitive Kenyan consumers are to subscription costs, especially at a time when disposable incomes are under pressure.
With internet connectivity improving and cheaper options available, many households appear to have shifted to streaming services or even free-to-air platforms.
For younger viewers, smartphones and on-demand content have become more attractive than traditional satellite television.
This turbulence comes at a time of major change for MultiChoice itself. The company has recently been taken over by French media giant Canal+, a move that indicates an effort to consolidate pay TV services across Africa and strengthen competitiveness against global streaming platforms.
Although Canal+ brings a host of resources and content partnerships, the takeover also places pressure on MultiChoice to stabilize its regional operations, including Kenya, where the 84% subscriber drop proves the urgent need for new strategies.
