A few days after we reported that MultiChoice Uganda reduced its monthly subscription rates, DStv Kenya has followed suit and responded to increased competition for pay-TV customers from new Internet-based streaming entrants like ShowMax and Netflix.
DStv Kenya’s move is seen as its latest a way to protect its huge customer base as stiff and increasing competition with home Internet connections from providers such as Wananchi Group and Safaricom push up demand for mobile streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix and MultiChoice’s Showmax.
In statement, MultiChoice DStv Kenya said;
Our aim is to make great entertainment accessible to more consumers in Kenya and we believe this move will grant more of our customers access to the complete world of exciting entertainment channels at a lower price.
DStv Kenya’s price changes
The most expensive tariff plan which is Premium will now pay $75 down from $79 per month, which is a five per cent drop.
Compact Plus subscriber rate has been reduced by 13.46 percent and will now part with $45 a month down from $52.
The Compact plan is now at $7 or 21 percent drop in monthly charges from $32 to $25 while those on the Family bouquet will pay $12, from $19 representing a decrease of $7 or 36.84 per cent.
The cheapest package, Access will get a 5 percent drop in subscription fees with a drop by $0.5 to $9 per month from $9.5.
All the above changes will take effect starting 1st September 2019. Showmax is already available on DStv which has been banking on exclusive local content to ward off competition in the Kenyan market by its biggest rival Netflix.
DStv Kenya’s biggest value proposition is the English Premier League which it has exclusive rights to air something which on-demand streaming companies like Netflix lack. Many people as using Android-based TV set-top boxes — which connect to the Internet, to enjoy more western content. There is also illegal streaming of content like the English Premier League, that deeply eats into DStv Kenya’s dominance locally.
