MultiChoice, Africa’s leading pay-TV operator, has ruled out introducing pay-per-view (PPV) options for sporting events, even as it battles a sharp decline in subscriber numbers across South Africa and the rest of the continent.
In a recent interview with TechCentral, Byron du Plessis, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, confirmed that there are no plans to allow users to pay for individual sports matches without an active DStv subscription.
“It’s a strange one. It would change the SuperSport brand. We have always positioned SuperSport as the brand that brings you everything,” Du Plessis said.
“Unless you are willing to do it at scale, it’s really difficult to get a return when it only lasts for two hours. You need hundreds of thousands of people paying… It’s not on our radar.”
SuperSport to Remain All-Inclusive
SuperSport, MultiChoice’s flagship sports broadcaster, is known for offering comprehensive coverage of major global sports events—from football to rugby, cricket, and more. Du Plessis emphasized that introducing PPV would undermine the brand’s value proposition, which is “all-access, all-the-time”.
Market Shifts and Streaming Competition
The decision comes at a time when MultiChoice is losing subscribers at an accelerated rate, driven by rising costs, growing access to streaming platforms, and a shift in viewing habits—especially among younger audiences.
The subscriber decline has been evenly split between South Africa and the rest of Africa, according to recent company data.
To combat this trend, the company is planning a major overhaul of its DStv packages, with a focus on content bundles tailored to younger viewers. Many Gen Z and Millennial users now prefer platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok, prompting MultiChoice to rethink how it delivers entertainment.
“We are working on a new product structure, but it has to be financially viable and based on customer feedback,” Du Plessis noted.
Conclusion
While viewers may continue to call for a flexible, pay-as-you-watch model, MultiChoice remains committed to its traditional all-in-one subscription format, at least for now. As the company pivots to regain lost ground, all eyes will be on how its upcoming DStv revamp competes with the growing wave of affordable, on-demand content.