MultiChoice Zambia hikes DStv fees by up to over 18% from April 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zambia will hike DStv and GOtv monthly subscription fees by up to over 18% from April 2025.

From April, MultiChoice Zambia is hiking DStv Premium by 17.6% from K1420 to K1670, while DStv Compact Plus subscribers is getting a massive increase of 18.4% from K920 to K1090.

DStv Compact is increased 18% from K610 to K720, with DStv Family increased 18.3% from K410 to K485.

DStv Access is increased 16% from K220 to K255, with DStv Lite increased 17.8% from K140 to K165.

GOtv Supa+ is increased 18% from K610 to K720, GOtv Supa is increased 16% from K375 to K435, while GOtv Max is increased 18.3% from K300 to K355.

Zambia and Nigeria are MultiChoice Africa's two biggest problem markets where worsening economic conditions, coupled with weakened currencies and rampant inflation have seen an increase in churn and subscriber losses.

MultiChoice Zambia shuts shops and service centre outlets as over 100 staffers lose their jobs.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zambia is shutting several shops and service centre outlets across Zambia at the end of the month that will see over 100 people lose their jobs.

MultiChoice in response to a media query confirmed to TVwithThinus that it is shuttering branches across Lusaka and Kitwe at the end of June as part of "a business optimisation process" with others elsewhere in the country to follow.

Over 100 people working in Eastpark Mall in Lusaka, the ECL Mall and others will close down at the end of this month. 

"MultiChoice Zambia will be implementing a business optimisation process and to this effect, we will be restructuring our branches and migrating service to our full-service centre agencies The impacted branches are ECL Kitwe, Ndola Rekays, East Park and Manda Hill," MultiChoice Zambia says in a holding statement.

"The objective is to optimise and integrate customer experience in line with the mission to deliver value to customers by making great entertainment more accessible through cutting-edge technology. The business is optimising its operations to align with an advanced customer service delivery model, whilst increasing agility amidst challenging economic conditions," the company says.

"Operating in an industry driven by advancing technologies, the business must continue to drive efficiencies, whilst being responsive to evolving customer needs to ensure that the business remains relevant, competitive and sustainable in a challenging macro-economic environment," says Leah Kooma, MultiChoice Zambia managing director.

"As a responsible corporate citizen, we have worked hard to minimise the impact of this change on our people and remain committed to supporting all staff that will be affected. The process is guided by the labour laws of Zambia."

MultiChoice Zambia the latest in Africa to announce a DStv and GOtv price hike of up to 9% from August 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zambia is the latest to announce a DStv price hike from August 2023, following after DStv and GOtv price increases since March this year ranging from South Africa to Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, from July in Tanzania and even a shocking second price hike within months in Kenya.

MultiChoice Zambia says an "extreme global economic climate" is to blame for increasing DStv and GOtv prices in the African country from 1 August 2023. 

MultiChoice's cheapest pay-TV offering in the country, GOtv Value, is seeing a shocking 9% price hike from next month.

Leah Kooma, MultiChoice Zambia managing director, says "MultiChoice has adjusted the prices of some of its packages on DStv and GOtv" and that it is "due to the impact of the extreme global economic climate".

According to MultiChoice Africa, DStv Compact Plus in Zambia is increasing 2.6% from K750 to K770; DStv Compact is increasing 4% from K500 to K520, DStv Family is increasing 6.1% from K325 to K345, and DStv Access is increasing 5.5% from K180 to K190.

MultiChoice Africa is hiking Zambia's GOtv prices by 2% for GOtv Max from K250 to K255, 2.7% for GOtv Plus going from K185 to K190 from August, while GOtv Value in increasing 9% from K110 to K120.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya to do second DStv price hike by up to 6% from August; second price hike in a year comes just four months after the last 10% increase in April.

ALSO READ: DStv Liberia announces massive subscription fee price drop from July 2023 and says reduction is its way to thanks DStv subscribers for their loyalty.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Tanzania increases DStv prices by up to 8.8% from July 2023 as the latest African country getting a DStv price hike.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana hiked fees by 19% in 2023, blames country's deteriorating economy as well as currency devaluation and fuel costs.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv prices again from May 2023 by up to 22.2% with cheapest GOtv bouquet seeing biggest price hike.

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

ALSO READ: Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

ALSO READ: MultiChoice: Here is the pay-TV company's DStv pricing from April 2023.

MultiChoice appoints Kobus Bezuidenhout as MultiChoice Africa Southern region director, Leah Kooma as MultiChoice Zambia managing director.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has promoted Kobus Bezuidenhout to the position of MultiChoice Africa Southern region director, with Leah Kooma who has been moved into his former position and has been appointed as new MultiChoice Zambia managing director from August.

Kobus Bezuidenhout served as MultiChoice Zambia managing director for just over the past two years since April 2019 before which he was also a MultiChoice regional director for West Africa based in Ghana, and worked for MultiChoice Nigeria for 8 years as general manager.

Leah Kooma has been MultiChoice Zambia's chief customer officer until now. She joined MultiChoice in 2017 as GOtv Zambia commercial general manager.

Leah Kooma holds a degree in development studies and economics from the University of Zambia and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Wales.

Kobus Bezuidenhout in a statement, speaking about Leah Kooma'sappointment, says "We firmly believe that Leah will be instrumental in propelling the business to the next level. Leah has already contributed immensely to the many achievements and success of the Zambia team and I have no doubt she will excel in this new position".

"As MultiChoice we are managed and run by local talent and strive to provide all our employees with new opportunities to enhance and increase expertise. Leah Kooma brings a wealth of experience to her new role of providing strategic leadership to the team and strategies aligned with driving the growth of MultiChoice Zambia."

Leah Kooma says "I couldn't be more honoured to have been chosen to lead the Zambia business. I look forward to leading this team and to driving our digital and customer-first strategies to the next level".

MultiChoice Zambia hikes DStv subscription fees by up to 10% from 1 April 2019 due to inflation and rising programming costs.

MultiChoice Zambia will hike DStv subscriptions by 10% in Zambia from 1 April 2019 due to inflation and rising programming and operational costs.

In an SMS message to DStv subscribers, MultiChoice Zambia told customers to: "Please note the price adjustment effective 1st April 2019. DStv Access K115, DStv Family K210, DStv Compact K330, DStv Compact Plus K490, DStv Premium K850, DStv Access Fee K110".

The last time MultiChoice Zambia adjusted DStv subscription fees was in September 2017 when monthly fees were lowered.

In a statement, MultiChoice Zambia says that in the past 3 years it has made an effort to freeze or decrease DStv subscription fees, barring factors such as the devaluation of Zambia's currency or other macro-economic headwinds.

"Unfortunately, because of inflation which stands at 8.10% in Zambia and the rising programming and operational costs, we've had to review our pricing for us to remain sustainable as a business and continue bringing our valued customers the quality video entertainment content they love – anytime, anywhere."

"We appreciate your continued support and for sharing your quality-time with us as we entertained you this past year," says MultiChoice Zambia.

'Gay' reality show Lusaka Hustle back on MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel on DStv after shocking censorship.

The "gay" reality show, Lusaka Hustle, following three Zambian socialites are back on MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel on DStv in Southern Africa after Zambia's censorship-prone broadcasting regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) lifted its idiotic and irrational ban and the suspension of the show.

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries about the controversial decision to order a ban on Lusaka Hustle, ordering its removal from the DStv airwaves in Zambia and multiple countries across Southern Africa.

Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) refused to admit it was wrong in banning and censoring Lusaka Hustle, only for the wayward regulator to then lift the ban this week without any changes or sanction.

The IBA has been silent on exactly why it banned Lusaka Hustle in the first place and what censorship laws the Zambian programme broke.

Interestingly, in a shocking dereliction of duty but not uncommon for a country with an underdeveloped TV and broadcasting industry and problems with freedom of speech, Zambia's incompetent IBA also ordered the ban before and without ever even watching Lusaka Hustle - simply censoring local TV content without actually seeing it, screening it, or providing specific reasons for where and how the show crossed Zambia's censors.

M-Net and MultiChoice showed a new episode of Lusaka Hustle on Thursday night, 21 February on Zambezi Magic.

Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

Lusaka Hustle was yanked off the air, unwillingly, by MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel to comply with the head-scratching order from Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

MultiChoice Africa and M-Net said that it was proud of Lusaka Hustle and was "still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law".

Zambia's information ministry that apparently has direct censorship power of what Zambian citizens can and can't see, then also weighed in and also ordered MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net to edit the Lusaka Hustle before it would be allowed back on Zambezi Magic.

Chanda Kasolo, Zambia's information and broadcasting services secretary in an interview on QTV News, reportedly said that MultiChoice and M-Net must censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle and must censor the alleged gayness away.

Chanda Kasolo said that this is the medium-term solution that Zambia's homophobic government has agreed upon with MultiChoice Zambia.

Chanda Kasolo in the interview that Zambia's government in the long-term will decide what restrictions exiting laws impose in terms of censorship of TV programming in Zambia, and that the promotion and practice of homosexuality through television programming is illegal in Zambia.

MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net were asked whether it agreed to edit, make changes and censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle as has been reportedly demanded by the Zambian government but MultiChoice Zambia didn't answer the specific question put to it by TVwithThinus in a media enquiry.

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus only says "MultiChoice Zambia is thankful to the IBA board for convening a multi-stakeholder forum to assess concerns about the Lusaka Hustle show."

"We are pleased to confirm the immediate lifting of the suspension and the board’s confirmation that upcoming episodes contain no controversial elements that violate any Zambian law. MultiChoice Zambia has engaged Zambezi Magic to resume the scheduling of the show on Thursday, 21 February 2019."

M-Net's Zambezi Magic in a statement says "Zambezi Magic is delighted to advise fans of Lusaka Hustle that their favourite reality show will resume on DStv on Thursday, 21 February 2019. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wish to thank the viewers for their patience and understanding during this process."

Growing authoritarian censorship threat for TV content in Africa

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

Zambia's latest TV censorship is not just raising questions around the clampdown of freedom of speech and freedom of expression in the country, but is also worrying Zambian TV and film producers who don't feel that their local work is valued in their own country, with more and more producers looking across borders and outside of Zambia to pitch their projects.

The biggest concern around the ban that was emposed on Lusaka Hustle, however, revolves around how draconian censorship of TV content in just one African country will once again that the censored show will become unavailable to millions of viewers and DStv subscribers in multiple other countries.

Similar to a growing and ongoing trend of recent TV censorship in Nigeria and Kenya ranging from lifestyle and reality shows to even kids animation programming on the Disney Channel and Viacom Africa's Nickelodeon, shows on channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform ordered blocked there by local regulators in one country, means that when these shows are removed, they are censored for everyone.

MultiChoice carries only one channel feed for Africa - in some cases two - from a channel distributor, meaning that content on a channel - for instance E! Entertainment (DStv 124) or Disney Channel (DStv 303)  - ordered to be censored and dumped in for instance Kenya, makes it unavailable in South Africa and a range of other African countries outside of where the censorship takes place.

Censor out the gay from the Lusaka Hustle reality show before its allowed back on Zambezi Magic, Zambia's information ministry tells MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net.

Censor out the gay and re-edit the Lusaka Hustle reality show before it's allowed back on the Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel, Zambia's information ministry is telling MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net in the growing, controversial and latest Africa TV censorship brouhaha that has erupted in the homophobic country.

Lusaka Hustle has been yanked off the air, unwillingly, by MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel to comply with the head-scratching order from Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

Now Zambia's information ministry also wants the apparent gayness censored out of Lusaka Hustle before MultiChoice and M-Net can put the show back on Zambezi Magic for viewers in that country and multiple other pan-African nations.

Removing the show from Zambezi Magic - that has only one channel feed - means that Lusaka Hustle has been removed not just for DStv subscribers in Zambia but for MultiChoice's customers across the whole of Southern Africa in multiple countries except for South Africa where the channel isn't available.

In an interview on Zambia's QTV News, Chanda Kasolo, Zambia's information and broadcasting services secretary, reportedly said that MultiChoice and M-Net must censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle and get rid of the purported gayness portrayed.

Chanda Kasolo said that this is the medium-term solution that Zambia's homophobic government has agreed upon with MultiChoice Zambia. It's not immediately clear if MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic packaged channel indeed agreed to self-censorship of its own artistic TV work.

Chanda Kasolo in the QTV News interview, said Zambia's government in the long-term will decide what restrictions exiting laws impose in terms of censorship of TV programming in Zambia, and that the promotion and practice of homosexuality through television programming is illegal in Zambia.


Zambezi Magic: Still unclear what show parts violate law
Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

On Friday Timothy Okwaro, head of Zambezi Magic, in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus said that "Zambezi Magic wishes to inform viewers of our decision to temporarily suspend scheduling the show Lusaka Hustle".

"We are proud to be associated with the show, which aimed to bring great reality television to Zambia audiences."

"All our programming is rigorously checked, and we are still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wishes to thank our viewers for all their support and we look forward to returning to our normal scheduling soon."

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus on Friday said that "with regret MultiChoice Zambia has engaged channel provider Zambezi Magic, to suspend scheduling of the Lusaka Hustle show until further notice".

"MultiChoice Zambia received a formal directive from the IBA on 12 February 2019 to suspend the show, with immediate effect, for promoting 'ideas and a lifestyle that the authority doesn't want Zambians to be exposed to' ".

"We are facilitating compliance with the directive but will follow the appeal procedure set out in the Independent  Broadcasting Authority Act to get clarity on the correct interpretation of the law. We remain committed to the promotion of local content and respect for the law."

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries.

M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel and MultiChoice Zambia pull Lusaka Hustle show as ordered by Zambia's regulator for allegedly promoting 'gay tendencies'; pay-TV operator says it's still unclear about what in the show contravenes Zambian law.

M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel has now - begrudingly - removed the controversial Lusaka Hustle reality show from its schedule, as ordered by Zambia's broadcasting regulator over allegedly promoting "gay tendencies", with the pay-TV operator saying it will appeal and that it is still unclear about what in the TV show contravenes Zambian law.

The removal of Lusaka Hustle is effectively censoring and barring the programme for DStv subscribers in countries across the entire Southern Africa region, not just Zambia.

It's the latest example of Africa's encroaching television censorship creep, with the latest TV ban coming from Zambia's broadcasting regulator,  the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

MultiChoice carries only one channel feed for Africa - in some cases two - from a channel distributor, meaning that content on a channel - for instance E! Entertainment (DStv 124) or Disney Channel (DStv 303)  - ordered to be censored and dumped in for instance Kenya, makes it unavailable in South Africa and a range of other African countries outside of where the censorship takes place.

With Lusaka Hustle now removed on Zambezi Magic for Zambia's DStv subscribers, it becomes unavailable for viewers in every other country where Zambezi Magic is carried since it's the same single channel feed viewed in all the countries.

Timothy Okwaro, head of Zambezi Magic, in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus on Friday morning said that "Zambezi Magic wishes to inform viewers of our decision to temporarily suspend scheduling the show Lusaka Hustle".

"We are proud to be associated with the show, which aimed to bring great reality television to Zambia audiences."

"All our programming is rigorously checked, and we are still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wishes to thank our viewers for all their support and we look forward to returning to our normal scheduling soon."

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus says that "with regret MultiChoice Zambia has engaged channel provider Zambezi Magic, to suspend scheduling of the Lusaka Hustle show until further notice".

"MultiChoice Zambia received a formal directive from the IBA on 12 February 2019 to suspend the show, with immediate effect, for promoting 'ideas and a lifestyle that the authority doesn't want Zambians to be exposed to' ".

"We are facilitating compliance with the directive but will follow the appeal procedure set out in the Independent  Broadcasting Authority Act to get clarity on the correct interpretation of the law. We remain committed to the promotion of local content and respect for the law."

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries.

Scandal hits M-Net's Date My Family Zambia spin-off on DStv's Zambezi Magic channel as multiple participants are exposed as frauds; MultiChoice Zambia admits proper pre-checks were never done and says it will now ensure 'a stricter vetting process'.

M-Net's Zambian spin-off version of Date My Family Zambia, following after the hugely successful South African version on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), has been hit by scandal following revelations over fake participants used in the show.

MultiChoice Africa and M-Net broadcast the Zambia version of Date My Family on M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel in Southern Africa, excluding South Africa.

Looking to cash in on the immense popularity of the show's format in South Africa, M-Net greenlit a spin-off version for Zambezi Magic, but the fake spin-off version somehow failed to adhere to the strict production values and guidelines followed by the South African version.

The producers of Date My Family Zambia failed to properly vet the participants beforehand, resulting in a faked show as viewers discovered.

Date My Family Zambia is executive produced by Catherine Phiri, Mary Phiri and Natasha Phiri and produced by Media365.

The Date my Family Zambia scandal has compromising the integrity of the show, M-Net and Zambezi Magic where Mosibudi Pheeda is the channel head, after shocking revelations that several couples who have appeared on the show have cheated by having known each other already, and that in several cases they had already been in established romantic relationships before they "met" in episodes.

M-Net and Date My Family Zambia moved their burden to pre-check contestants, to viewers.

Viewers quickly started pointing out, using simply social media platforms that can be easily reached and used by anyone, that participants have known each other before and have already been in romantic relationships.

The embarrassing revelations damaged the reputation of Date My Family Zambia and M-Net and DStv's Zambezi Magic channel over putting an entertainment reality dating show on the air that isn't quite so true.

There's no way that DStv subscribers watching the show on Zambezi Magic can trust that what they're seeing in Date My Family Zambia is actually real and whether the so-called single people looking for love are really single or haven't already met and dated each other. 

Weirdly MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net are now trying to distance themselves from the mistakes with blame-shifting, saying the producers on Date My Family Zambia relies on the participants and the information they provide to the show.

Banks, hospitals, courts, schools and other institutions of course don't just rely on the information provided by people and actually carry out checks to verify the accuracy and authenticity.

"For this purpose, our show producers rely heavily on the honesty of the applicants and full disclosure thereof," says MultiChoice Zambia in a statement, not explaining why proper vetting of contestants on a M-Net reality show didn't take place before viewers started spotted the truth and called the show out publicly.

"However, due to misrepresentation by several participants of recent episodes, we have endeavoured to ensure a stricter vetting process so that our valued DStv customers can continue to enjoy an authentic entertainment experience with real honest conversations," says MultiChoice Zambia.

MultiChoice Zambia abruptly drops lawsuit against StarTimes, ZNBC and the Zambian government in its fight over the removal of free-to-air channels from GOtv Zambia.

In a surprising move, MultiChoice Zambia has abruptly dropped its lawsuit against the Zambian government, China's StarTimes and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation over the removal of free-to-air channels from MultiChoice's GOtv digital terrestrial TV (DTT) platform.

At issue was and is the shocking removal of free-to-air TV channels, supplied by Zambia's state broadcaster, to pay-TV operators - and specifically to MultiChoice (and its GOtv Zambia offering).

It happened because China's StarTimes took a 60% shareholding in the new digital terrestrial television (DTT) joint venture, TopStar Limited, created between Zambia's state-run broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and China's StarTimes.

TopStar with its 60% stake in ZNBC as a supposedly national broadcaster, gets to collect all ZNBC advertising revenue as well as digital terrestrial tower rental revenue for a whopping 25 years in the highly controversial deal.

Because China's StarTimes as a commercial company suddenly had this massive corporate interest in Zambia's national broadcaster, the ZNBC yanked its free-to-air channels off of MultiChoice to rather give it to StarTimes for its DTT set-top box (STB).

Hilariously, the Zambian government and the ZNBC still claimed that the media lied about a private "take-over"of Zambia's national broadcaster, although that is exactly what has been happening after over 400 000 GOtv pay-TV subscribers in Zambia overnight lost access to several free-to-air channels.

MultiChoice Zambia through its GOtv Zambia entity decided to take the Zambia government, TopStar (meaning StarTimes) and the ZNBC to court to get the free-to-air channels restored.

Now MultiChoice Zambia decided to end the court action - after it first sought an urgent interdict in the Lusaka High Court earlier in 2017 to block ZNBC from removing its free-to-air channels from GOtv, and after the court found that the court case must proceed since MultiChoice Zambia showed sufficient grounds for a court case to proceed.

TopStar (meaning StarTimes and ZNBC) wanted the case dismissed and MultiChoice Zambia now wants to find a way to settle the case out of court. It's not clear why.

Talk with Kwangu producer confirms DStv Zambia yanked the show off Zambezi Magic after government interference; part of 'scary reality about censorship on the continent'.

As the MultiChoice and Zambia TV censorship scandal continues, the Talk with Kwangu producer Tarryn Lee Crossman confirms that the Zambian government interfered with DStv Zambia and M-Net in Zambia and ordered the show off the air, as she opened up about "scary reality about censorship on the continent".

MultiChoice and M-Net, Africa's largest TV platform, has a growing free speech and censorship problem as more and more African nations and authorities that doesn't support democracy and free speech are ordering content off the air.

The latest shocking MultiChoice Africa censorship debacle revolves around the show Talk with Kwangu that has seen its content forced off the air on M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel on DStv, a channel available in Zambia and some other Southern African nations outside of South Africa. 

Zambia's information minister Kampamba Mulenga initially claimed no Zambian government interference, but she blatantly lied. Now she claims blissful ignorance of not really knowing what's going on.

Talk with Kwangu producer Tarryn Lee Crossman is however speaking out about what really happened while Kampamba Mulenga now says her people were "misinformed" on the issue.

In a facebook posting Tarryn Lee Crossman says Talk with Kwangu that had UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s wife, Mutinta, among others on the show, did indeed upset the Zambian government.

The show was therefore ordered off DStv Zambia's Zambezi Magic channel.

"We produced a talk show for Zambezi Magic, Talk with Kwangu Wa Liwewe. It was a current affairs show that highlighted where Zambia is 53 years after independence," says Tarryn Lee Crossman.

"Two of the 9 shows were slightly controversial, looking at issues of press freedom and police brutality."

"In one show we featured Hakainde Hichilema's wife, speaking about his arrest. This has made the Zambian government very upset and the show has subsequently been pulled by DStv."

"I am sure this was a very hard decision for them to make, but it is also a scary reality about censorship on the continent," says Tarryn Lee Crossman.

Ngoza Kasunga Matakala, MultiChoice Zambia managing director, says "M-Net commissions a variety of producers across Africa to produce programming for its entertainment channels, however, not all of the programming goes on air."

"With regard to the Zambezi Magic schedules, at no stage has there been any engagement with government regarding content on Zambezi Magic," says Ngoza Kasunga Matakala.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 15 November 2017

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net censor Talk with Kwangu on the Zambezi Magic channel on DStv.
MultiChoice scramble to remove all marketing for Talk with Kwangu and a rebroadcast of the episode on DStv Zambia's platform after an episode in which a woman details Zambian government and police brutality and Kwangu talks about how media plurality in Zambia is non-existent.
- Meanwhile Zambia's information minister (Zambia still has something like an "information minister") denies that the government threatened DStv.


■ MultiChoice and M-Net, Africa's largest TV platform, has a growing free speech and censorship problem.


■ Lowly-paid reporters at ANN7 (DStv 405) feel traumatised.
- ANN7 workers complaining of "exploitation" by Indian senior editors in particular say they're told they can't be paid more "because of the structure of the company".
- Almost all black ANN7 anchors have considered quitting.
- Have the words "permanent trainee" inserted into contracts in order to justify low pay.
- Owner Mzwanele "Jimmy" Manyi refuses to answer media questions and puts the phone down in a reporter's ear.

■ Zimbabwe woman Rumbidzai Evelyn Sibanda guilty and fined
for illegally selling DStv decoders in Zimbabwe that have been registered with South African addresses to give Zimbabwe viewers access to DStv South African content and making as if she's a MultiChoice agent.

■ The BBC will now have to reveal how many complaints it gets from viewers every two weeks.
Angry BBC not happy about having to reveal the number of complaints it receives every 2 weeks, having to identify the shows that received more than 100 complaints, and having to explain the editorial issues raised by the complaints.

■ Watching too much TV is bad for you, even if you exercise.

■ The latest channels list of TStv in Nigeria.
Which channels are being pirated illegally?

■ I want to love Star Trek: Discovery but it's an absolute mess.

■ How The Good Doctor seen on M-Net (DStv 101) became the new TV season's breakout hit.

MultiChoice in Kenya, Zambia, Ghana announces DStv price cuts for all DStv subscriptions from September.

MultiChoice is lowering DStv subscription prices for DStv subscribers in Zambia, Kenya, Ghana - and possibly in more African countries - for all DStv bouquets from 1 September 2017.

No price reduction has been announced for DStv in South Africa.

"This substantial price reduction across our DStv packages reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our customers receive the best possible access to great entertainment and outstanding value," says Kobus Bezuidenhout, regional director for MultiChoice Investment Holdings (MIH) West & Central Africa.


In Kenya DStv Premium will be cut by 3.42% to Sh7,900 and DStv Compact Plus by 4.15% Sh5,200.

DStv Compact is reduced to Sh3,200 and DStv Access by 9.52% to Sh950.

MultiChoice Africa said the DStv price reduction in Kenya is due to the strengthening of the Kenyan shilling against the American dollar. MultiChoice Africa's GOtv subscriptions for its digital terrestrial TV service will remain unchanged.

According to Eric Odipo, MultiChoice Kenya managing director, the MultiChoice Kenya price cut is as a result of the improving Kenya Shilling against the dollar.

"The majority of our input costs are in US dollars and we hope we will not experience any further currency devaluations or other unexpected increases in costs for the remainder of the year. It is also a way of rewarding our customers for their loyalty and support," says Eric Odipo.


In Zambia DStv Premium is reduced by 3.42% to K790, DStv Compact Plus is cut a whopping 16.04% to K450, DStv Compact is reduced by 6.54% to K300, DStv Family is going down 2.43% to K200 and DStv Access is reduced by 7.4% to K100.

According to Ngoza Kasunga, MultiChoice Zambia acting managing director, the reduction in that country isn't based on currencies like fluctiations in the value of the Kwacha, but on a value proposition.

"MultiChoice continuously reviews its packages ans price points in the dynamic market conditions with the interests of our customers at heart and with one objective in mind – to delight customers by constantly offering them more value," said Ngoza Kasunga.

"We are delivering more value to our customers by giving them access to amazing local and international content at a price they can afford."

"The business recognizes that we are living in changing economic times and wants to reward customers for their ongoing loyalty and support. In April 2016, we had a 'no price increases' or price lock on all packages in order to provide relief to our customers in the current tough economic conditions."

Ngoza Kasunga at a breakfast press briefing held on Tuesday in Lusaka, said MultiChoice Zambia "doesn't price based on what competitors are doing".

Should Zambia's Kwacha not depreciate and production costs remain the same, the new MultiChoice Zambia prices for DStv subscriptions will remain in place until MultiChoice Zambia holds its next price review in April of 2018.


In Ghana Cecil Sunka-Mills, MultiChoice Ghana general manager in a statement said MultiChoice Ghana is lowering DStv subscription fees to make DStv more affordable.

"We want to do our bit by adjusting the price of their DStv packages to make them more affordable while adding more value."

"The majority of our input costs are in US dollars and we hope we won't experience any further currency devaluations or other unexpected increases in costs for the remainder of the year."