NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1 – Canal+, which recently acquired MultiChoice Group, plans to lower the cost of acquiring equipment as part of efforts to grow its subscriber base.
In an update, the French-owned firm also announced plans to hire more than 1,000 salespeople across markets where MultiChoice operates to boost customer numbers.
“The Group will accelerate subscriber growth by lowering entry costs through equipment subsidies, expanding its distribution network and reinforcing its commercial organisation with the recruitment of more than 1,000 salespeople on the ground across MultiChoice markets,” CANAL+ said.
In recent years, MultiChoice—operator of DStv and GOtv in Kenya—has experienced a sharp decline in subscribers due to frequent price hikes and competition from illegal streaming platforms offering cheaper alternatives.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows active DStv subscribers in the country dropped sharply from 1.19 million in mid-2024 to 188,824 by June 2025.
Meanwhile, GOtv subscribers fell to 314,520 over the same period, down from about 2.8 million.
In Kenya, the cost of acquiring DStv equipment ranges between Sh2,500 and Sh8,000, a price considered costly for many households.
“At the same time, CANAL+ will initiate a voluntary severance plan at MultiChoice throughout support functions. It will also launch a restructuring programme at IRDETO, MultiChoice’s technology and cyber-security company,” the French firm added.
In September 2025, CANAL+ acquired MultiChoice Group for about $2 billion, giving it control of Africa’s largest pay-TV business.
