DStv subscribers in South Africa will not face a price increase on April 1, the company has confirmed, breaking with its annual tradition of adjusting subscription fees at the start of the new financial year.
The announcement follows comments made by Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot in February, who indicated the company had no immediate plans to raise DStv package prices. MultiChoice, the owner of DStv, clarified to MyBroadband that whereas no increase is planned for April 1, future price adjustments remain a possibility later in 2026.
This temporary freeze comes as Canal+ integrates MultiChoice following its completed $3 billion acquisition of the South African pay-TV group in July 2025, a deal finalized after approval from the South African Competition Tribunal. The acquisition, which saw Canal+ take full ownership of DStv, GOtv, and Showmax, marked a significant shift in the African broadcasting landscape, as reported by Crispng.
Canal+ has outlined a strategic plan to revitalize MultiChoice’s operations and reverse a decline in subscriber numbers. MultiChoice had reached a peak of approximately 23.5 million subscribers in the 2023 financial year. The French broadcaster intends to leverage its scale and resources to restore growth.
Initial steps include forging new content partnerships, renegotiating hardware costs, and optimizing MultiChoice’s technology and infrastructure. For consumers, Canal+ has introduced options like bill splitting and promises expanded content access through the Canal+ library. The company also aims to achieve cost synergies estimated at €8.0 billion (approximately R150 billion).
According to Canal+, actions taken since gaining control of MultiChoice in September 2025 have already yielded free-cash flow benefits exceeding €80 million (R1.5 billion). These actions include the aforementioned content partnerships and infrastructure optimizations, as well as the refinancing of MultiChoice’s long-term debt.
The decision to hold prices steady arrives as South African households prepare for a series of anticipated cost increases in April, coinciding with the start of the government’s new financial year. These include potential adjustments to tax brackets, a possible fuel levy hike, and increased electricity tariffs from Eskom, with municipal customers following in July 2026. Eskom’s tariff increase is expected to be close to 9% following a recent allowance from energy regulator Nersa to collect additional revenue.
Further details regarding Canal+’s strategic plan for MultiChoice markets are expected to be released alongside Canal+’s full-year results.
