DStv subscription fees to go up this April

Corporate News

A painter works on a sign at the site where Multichoice Africa is constructing its new regional headquarters in Nairobi. PHOTO | COURTESY 

By BDAfrica.com REPORTER

In Summary

• Citing inflation, satellite lease and programming costs, the firm will now charge between $10 and $90 a month for its services, up from $10 to $84.

Subscribers to Multichoice Kenya’s DStv service can expect to pay more for access to the pay TV firm’s different bouquets from April 1 this year.

This comes as it emerges they are already paying much higher rates than subscribers in other parts of Africa for the same services.

Citing inflation, satellite lease and programming costs as factors affecting the annual increase, the firm will now charge between $10 and $90 a month for its services, up from $10 to $84.

The largest increases are to the Premium and Compact Plus bouquets, which will now set back subscribers Sh8,200 and Sh5,550 respectively.

The Compact, Family and Access bouquets will see smaller increases of $3 (Sh270) or less to bill at Sh3,250, Sh1,890 and Sh930 respectively.

PVR access fees have also risen to $11 (Sh1,020) a month.

At $90, Kenya’s new rate for Premium access is significantly higher than the amounts charged in Zimbabwe ($77), Ghana ($78) and Zambia ($81). Subscribers in all three countries are expected to continue paying less than Kenyans even after this year’s increase.

“Each country operates as a separate business, with local shareholders, agents or franchises and differing cost and tax structures,” Multichoice officials asked about the discrepancies last month said.

Meanwhile, Multichoice Kenya broke ground Tuesday on the construction of a new regional headquarters in Nairobi’s Lavington suburb.

The building is expected to cost “close to Sh1 billion”, according to regional director Steve Isaboke.