Last month we looked at DStv EasyView in South Africa and its equivalent, DStv Lite, in other African countries. The goal was to understand how packaging differs across markets. One clear example was Cartoon Network, which has often been treated as a more premium channel outside South Africa. It was more widely available on GOtv, and MultiChoice now plans to mirror that approach for DStv customers in Kenya by placing it on the new entry-level package.
Below is the new structure MultiChoice plans to roll out in Kenya. Similar changes are expected across other African markets, with some useful comparisons.
DStv Starter
“A taste of the best DStv has to offer. Great entertainment and select live sport at an incredible price.”
DStv Starter will replace DStv Lite. It will include La Liga and selected Premier League matches. Customers will get channels such as Telemundo, Novelas+, Zee World, Africa Magic Epic, M Movies Legends, Cartoon Network, SuperSport KickOff, Pearl Magic, Maisha Magic POA, Maisha Magic Loko (replacing Maisha Magic East), ROK2 and Maisha Magic Plus.
It is a little surprising that Lite is being elevated in this way. In South Africa the equivalent EasyView package was largely left to the side. The Kenyan version of Starter closely mirrors the one already seen in Zimbabwe, which also features a stronger line-up of first-run programming.
Price: DStv Lite currently costs KSh 750 and will stay the same under DStv Starter.
DStv Select
“Home of Africa Magic favourites and entertainment the whole family can enjoy, at a price that fits.”
DStv Select will replace DStv Access. Customers will gain access to M Movies Stars, Africa Magic Showcase, ROK, CNN, Star Life and Nickelodeon. Reports also suggest M Movies+ (normally a higher-tier channel) may be included, though that is still worth taking with a pinch of salt.
MultiChoice made a similar move in South Africa with movie channels on the Sports package before later adjusting the branding around M Movies Stars. If the Kenya line-up holds, it would mean customers get access to all three M-Net movie channels — a notable upgrade.
Price: DStv Access currently costs KSh 1,450. Under DStv Select it will rise slightly to KSh 1,500.
DStv Sports
“All football, international blockbuster movies and news.”
DStv Sports will replace both DStv Compact and DStv Family. It will give customers access to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Premier League. Expected channels include ESPN 2, BBC Brit, Studio Universal and the new SuperSport Swahili channel.
Compared with South Africa, the Kenyan Sports package may feel more limited. The South African version includes cricket and selected rugby. In Kenya it is being positioned more as a strong football package, with ESPN 2 helping to broaden the offering. That makes sense given the different market preferences — cricket has a much smaller following in Kenya. MultiChoice has also historically restricted certain football competitions (such as the PSL) in markets outside South Africa.
Price: DStv Compact currently costs KSh 4,200 and DStv Family costs KSh 3,250. Under DStv Sports the price will drop to KSh 3,000.
DStv Ultimate
“The best value for all sports and entertainment.”
DStv Ultimate will replace DStv Premium. There is not a dramatic change in content. Customers will still get M-Net, Comedy Central and the full SuperSport suite, including MotoGP, Formula 1, World Rugby, the PGA Tour and ATP tennis. In essence it is the familiar Premium package under a new name.
With Compact+ being discontinued, the rebrand appears to position Ultimate as the clearer top-tier option. Former Compact+ customers move closer to full premium entertainment, while existing Premium customers largely continue as before.
Price: DStv Premium currently costs KSh 11,700 and Compact+ costs KSh 7,300. Under DStv Ultimate customers will pay KSh 7,300.
Other developments
If current information is accurate, MultiChoice is keeping the dedicated Movies & Series package exclusive to South Africa for now and is not rolling it out elsewhere. The company has only advertised four main packages for the other African markets, while South Africa has five.
MultiChoice has described these new packages as just the first stage of the refreshed DStv offering. In South Africa, for example, some Select customers have been given a free week of the Sports package. Future phases could bring Movies & Series to more countries and further strengthen the Sports package outside South Africa.
In Kenya, many DStv customers will end up paying less while gaining more channels. In South Africa the company applied a price freeze for existing customers and currently has separate pricing for DStv Stream and decoder subscriptions. MultiChoice is working to align those prices. Based on the Kenyan structure, it looks as if decoder customers will move to the same rates currently used for the streaming plans.
The overall direction is clear: simpler packages, lower prices at several levels, and an attempt to give customers better value after the Canal+ takeover. Of course, it remains unclear what is to become of the GOtv service in these markets following the closure of GOtv Stream.
No comments:
Post a Comment