Thinus Ferreira
South Africa's DStv subscribers will once again have to pay more with the pay-TV operator increasing its prices for consumers in 2025 from 1 April, and an extra 0.5% VAT also being added from May.
DStv Premium is increasing by R50 from R929 to R979 (5.3%), DStv Compact Plus is increasing by R40 from R619 to R659 (6.4%), DStv Premium Compact is increasing by R10 from R469 to R479 (2.1%), DStv Family is increasing 3.03% and R10 from R329 to R339, DStv Access is increasing R11 (7.9%) from R139 to R150, while DStv EasyView is increasing by R1 (3.44%) from R29 to R30.
The DStv Access fee of R120 is increased by R5 (4.1%) to R125, while the basic Showmax monthly subscription fee remains at R99, although its Premier League and mobile packages are getting increases.
These are the prices from 1 April, however, the "final" price for DStv for 2025 will be higher, since another 0.5% VAT increase will come into effect from 1 May 2025.
MultiChoice usually announces its annual DStv price increase during mid-February.
In a statement, Byron Du Plessis, MultiChoice SA CEO, says "Recognising the financial pressures faced by South African households, MultiChoice has implemented considered adjustments, focusing on enhancing value across its packages, with certain products receiving no increase including all DStv Stream packages, Box Office movies and Showmax Entertainment with the ADD Movies premium movie bolt on being reduced to just R49pm, a 38% price reduction."
The Randburg-based pay-TV operator was this year forced to scupper its price announcement and move it to this month after the unexpected postponement from February to last week of the budget speech of the minister of finance, Enoch Godongwana.
MultiChoice waited with baited breath to first see the outcome of the government's planned 2% VAT increase - which last week didn't happen - and ultimately has an influence on the total cost to consumers companies calculate they're going to pass on.
Because of rampant inflation, weakening local currencies and worsening economic conditions, MultiChoice had already announced DStv price hikes for multiple other African countries ranging from 6% to over 22%.
Last year this time MultiChoice's percentage increases were 5.7% for DStv Premium, 6.9% for DStv Compact Plus, 4.5% for DStv Compact, 3.1% for DStv Family, and a whopping 7.8% for DStv Access.
