DStv Compact fuels MultiChoice subscriber growth; pay TV operator now has 3,2 million South African subscribers.

Naspers which released its half year financial results, states that it revenue from its pay TV business MultiChoice has increased by 20% to R10,2 billion in a large part thanks to the growth across the African continent of an additional 498 000 DStv subscribers.

MultiChoice now has a record pay TV subscriber base on the Africa continent standing at 4,4 million households but admits pressure due to ''sport content costs'' - a big driver of pay TV service uptake and retention.

Of the 498 000 new DStv subscribers in the first six months of 2010 until the end of September, 363 000 are new South African DStv subscribers, the growth fuelled by the cheaper DStv Compact bouquet which added several additional channels this without a monthly subscription increase. MultiChoice now has 3,2 million South African DStv subscribers.