by Thinus Ferreira
In its most politically problematic market in Africa, Canal+ and MultiChoice on Monday had to grovel behind the scenes and resort to Ghana's show pony minister to make the pay-TV operator's announcement that it is reducing its DStv packages from 6 to just 4 as part of the continent-wide restructuring of DStv bouquets that came into effect on 17 September in South Africa.
Ghana's ministry of communications, digital technology and innovation has long been a thorn in the side of MultiChoice - and now also Canal+ - with the pay-TV company that behind the scenes agreed to hold a "joint press conference" on Monday to announce MultiChoice's DStv package changes.
Minister Sam George has been on a protracted feud with MultiChoice, threatening to shut down the pay-TV service in the country.
While what a private commercial company does or doesn't do has nothing to do with a government minister, Canal+ and MultiChoice played nice to prop a microphone in front of Ghana's blabbermouth minister to hog some limelight and feel appeased.
Similar to Canal+ and MultiChoice's press event on Monday in Kenya in East Africa, the company and minister announced in Ghana in West Africa that the DStv packages will be simplified to just four.
MultiChoice Ghana CEO Alex Okyere confirmed that also in West Africa MultiChoice's packages will now be DStv Starter, Select, Sports and Ultimate, and also here come into effect on 5 November.
Premium (which is kept in South Africa), is also being rebranded as Ultimate in Ghana, similar to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa.
DStv Starter will cost GH₵50 with 90 TV channels. Select will cost GH₵100 for 123 TV channels. Sports will cost GH₵250 per month, while Ultimate will be priced at GH₵570 per month and includes premium sports content and entertainment.
Sam George wanted to make as if it were due to him that DStv prices are being reduced in Ghana - although in reality it's Canal+ and MultiChoice that made a macro decision for the entire Africa that has nothing to do with just Ghana.
Speaking at the press conference, Sam George announced that the DStv Sports package would be cheaper than what DStv Compact was before at GH₵875
"Any family that was paying GH₵850 or GH₵250875 when the ministry came into office and is going to pay GH₵250 now, will be saving GH₵500. That's more than a 60% reduction," he said.
