PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Uganda increases subscription fees by 6% from September 2021, cites Uganda's weak currency and inflation that are increasing content and operation costs.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Uganda has announced a big price hike of 6% for DStv Uganda and GOtv Uganda subscribers from September 2021, with the pay-TV operator that says it must increase monthly subscription fees because of the tough economic climate in the country and Uganda's weaker local currency and high inflation that has led to increased content costs and operation costs. 

MultiChoice Uganda is hiking its subscription fees similar to MultiChoice Kenya that also announced a price hike for DStv Kenya and GOtv Kenya subscribers from September 2021, as well as MultiChoice Tanzania hiking prices for DStv Tanzania and GOtv Tanzania subscribers.

MultiChoice Ghana is also hiking prices for DStv Ghana and GOtv subscribers in the West Africa country from September by up to over 6%.

MultiChoice Uganda says that its price increase has been approved by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

"MultiChoice Uganda has sought to endeavour that these prices are as low as possible, as well as accessible for Ugandans," says Joan Semanda Kizza, MultiChoice Uganda PR and communication manager.

"The updated fee schedule sees adjustments of an average of 6% for the DStv and GOtv customers. DStv and GOtv acknowledge their Ugandan customers, and consumers in general, remain under extreme pressure and have endeavoured to keep increases below inflation where possible."

"MultiChoice Uganda through its platforms DStv and GOtv has over the past year absorbed increased content costs and foreign exchange impacts, due to high inflation and operation costs while working tirelessly to ensure we provide an unrivalled bouquet of channels to watch and platforms to view them on," says Joan Semanda Kizza.

Colin Asiimwe, MultiChoice Uganda head of marketing, says "When we decide on pricing, we consider our costs like our satellites and distribution equipment; buying shows, movies, and channels; decoders; our infrastructure like playout facilities, monitoring services and customer touchpoints".

"We have structured our packages for affordability so that one package does not subsidize another. The same applies to all our other content. We charge customers on each package with a fair value for the channels they're getting."

"Some channels are superior and carry exclusive, first-run content which is very expensive, which is why specific shows are only included on our slightly higher-priced packages."

DStv Premium in Uganda is increasing from shs227 000 (R951) to shs239 000 (R1002), while DStv Compact Plus is increasing from shs135 000 to shs142 000. DStv Compact's monthly fee is climbing from shs84 000 to shs89 000.

DStv Family is increasing from shs52 000 to shs55 000, and DStv Access now at shs35 000 will cost shs37 000 from September 2021.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Kenya increases subscription fees by up to over 8% from September 2021, cites weakening of Kenyan shilling and pay-TV operator's increase in content costs.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana increases DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana subscription fees by up to over 6% from September 2021.

MultiChoice Africa cuts DStv subscription across East Africa in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique after rival StarTimes lowers prices and as pay-TV consumers struggle in tough African economies.

MultiChoice Africa will be cutting monthly DStv and GOtv subscription fees across East Africa with DStv and GOtv consumers who will be seeing a decrease in the monthly payments in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and some Mozambique packages.

MultiChoice East Africa's decision to lower fees comes after rival StarTimes lowered prices in Kenya in April 2019 and as pay-TV consumers struggle in tough African economies.

After China's StarTimes Kenya restructured the tiered-offering of its pay-TV services in Africa's largest pay-TV market in the east of the African continent, MultiChoice is following 5 months later and is now also lowering fees.

In response to a media enquiry MultiChoice Africa confirmed to TVwithThinus that it's adjusting and lowering the monthly bill of DStv and GOtv subscribers in Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania.

MultiChoice will also implement a price decrease in Mozambique from September on the DStv Portuguese packages that include DStv Bue, DStv Grande+, DStv Grande and DStv Facil, although DStv Business as well as GOtv Plus and GOtv Lite subscription fees in Mozambique will increase.

In Malawi also in East Africa, MultiChoice Malawi will be increasing fees for the DStv Family and DStv Access packages only.

"Not all markets where MultiChoice Africa operates will have the same price changes as each country has different cost structures influenced by local dynamics such as inflation, content costs, foreign exchange rates, local taxes and overheads required for each business," says Reatile Tekateka, MultiChoice Africa's group executive head of corporate affairs, told TVwithThinus.

"These are taken into account when setting prices for DStv and GOtv packages. We've done a lot of research into what pay-TV costs in other parts of the world and we believe that our DStv and GOtv services offer good value for money in the countries in which we operate."

In Uganda, MultiChoice Uganda will be cutting monthly DStv subscription fees by up to a third (30%) for some packages where the price of DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and DStv Family are all being reduced.

Kenya will see an even bigger decrease, ranging between 5% to up to almost 37%.

MultiChoice Kenya in a statement about DStv price reductions from September in that country said that "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 Premium in Kenya will see a monthly price reduction of 5% on the most expensive monthly package, while DStv Compact Plus will decrease by 13.46%, DStv Compact will go down by 21% and DStv Family will see a whopping 36.84% decrease. DStv Access will fall by 5%.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 19 October 2017.

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


■ Where has TStv gone? 18 days after its 1 October launch in Nigeria, TStv is seemingly nowhere.
Biola Kazeem wonders about Nigerian's gullibility and their willingness to accept fake promises like thelies about TV channels TStv says its carrying but isn't allowed to.
- TStv isn't what we need now," says Nigerians. "We actually need an uninterrupted electricity supply".

■ MIPCOM TV market told: Black people are rare as unicorns on prime time TV

■ Australian breakfast show presenter lurks and hides behind her car!
Lisa Wilkingson hides behind her car from the paparazzi after a nasty fight following abreakdown in salary negotiations goes public between a TV star's agent in Australia and the Nine network.

■ China's StarTimes says Uganda is one of the African countries that benefitted from the $2.5 billion contract for digital terrestrial TV migration.
Of course StarTimes itself benefitted commercially too - since it's China's money.
Meanwhile StarTimes has taken 51 journalists from across Africa to Beijing and China for a media tour and to cover the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China but has deliberately excluded South Africa's media.

■ New SABC board Febe Potgieter-Qubule claims:
"I don't see myself compromised". Says her new SABC board position will make her reconsider her role in the ANC going forward.

■ Econet Media officially launches Kwesé TV in Uganda.
Has a media launch event in Kampala where Kwesé TV will now have to battle it out against MultiChoice Uganda's DStv and China's StarTimes for pay-TV viewers.
- Quite inane and non-sensical comments from Herbert Mucunguzi, Kwesé TV Uganda general manager as to what Kwesé TV Uganda offers. You'd think he or the PR people would put in actual effort to come up with non-stock comments not already used before by MultiChoice and StarTimes for their offerings.
- Kwesé TV Zambia's general manager Kapa Kaumba fawning over Zambia's government, likewise talks a lot that means absolutely nothing.


■ Nielsen to measure viewing of shows streaming on Netflix.
The service aiming to measure and find ratings for On Demand video streaming services, will provide data comparable to what Nielsen provides for linear TV, including ratings, reach, frequency and demographics.
- Netflix slams the effort and Nielsen: "The data that Nielsen is reporting is not accurate, not even close, and does not reflect the viewing of these shows on Netflix".

■ Digital TV a massive and expensive flop in Thailand.
Digital terrestrial television migration came too late and audience behaviour had already changed due to technology.

■ Final 4th season of Star Wars Rebels on Disney XD (DStv 304) will be more serialised.
Last season just started in America, no date yet for when it starts in South Africa and Africa, but Dave Filoni says "episodes will be more serialised than you're used to".


■ The actor Javid Iqbal doesn't really exist, Star Trek: Discovery made him up since actor Shazad Latif is apparently playing both Voq who disguises himself to become Ash Tyler.
- Maybe some clarity about the confusing plot points in Star Trek: Discovery.
- Jason Isaacs says Star Trek: Discovery is "of our time, and for our time."
- Klingon Voq can't stay missing for much longer.


■ How big is delayed TV viewing in America?
In some cases it's even bigger than live viewing - in others almost nothing. Here's how some of America's biggest TV shows break down when it comes to viewers who watch it after its been shown.

■ Why competing with Netflix and Amazon is impossible.
MUST WATCH: Barry Diller discusses what makes Netflix and Amazon today's leaders in video.


■ Executive producer of Viacom's The Mist TV drama, Amanda Segel, accuses Harvey Weinstein's brother Bob Weinstein of sexual harassment.
- Variety's TV critic Maureen Ryan says a TV executive sexually assaulted her.
- Hollywood's other open secret: Preying on young boys.
- Inside Harvey Weinstein's horrific history of bullying: "Has never done anything that was consensual".

■ The shamed Roy Price out at Amazon after shocking sexual harassment claims.

■ And a MUST READ: Inside Amazon and the fall of the vulgar exec Roy Price.
As usual Amazon and Roy Price are silent and refused to comment. Amazon insiders reveal Roy Price's "crude sex talk" at gatherings, asked staffers if stars in a TV series would "show their tits";  misogyny of scripts.

■ Fighting the pirates.
How illegal downloads and streaming of TV shows is now impacting the global TV industry.
Netflix says it's pushing to secure global rights and release all originals simultaneously to global members to help address piracy, and "that there's been a notable reduction in piracy in countries where we operate".

■ Lifetime (DStv 131) finally releases a trailer for the delayed 3rd season of UnReal.
The 3rd season will start in America on 26 February 2018 and will this time revolve around a bachelorette looking for Mister Right. No word yet on when the 3rd season will start on Lifetime in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv.

■ The delicate art of the TV series finale.
Ending a TV series properly with a perfect final episode is equal parts craft and philosophy.

■ Next year the Swiss will vote to get rid of TV and radio licence fees.
Switzerland voting in March 2018 on a proposal to scrap the licence fee for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

■ Nigerian presenter of a TV crime show sues over being blocked by Nigerian police.
Aisha Tosan, the presenter of presenter of Crime Fighters, Police and You files papers in Lagos High Court to stop Nigeria's police from blocking her, and impeding her right to give out information.

■ Chelsea Handler's talk show, Chelsea, on Netflix cancelled after 2 seasons.
Went from daily in the first season, to weekly in the second season to cancelled.

■ In a new generation of social media-driven dramas
viewers decide the outcome in the next episode, as part of TV's next big new trend.

High school pupil in Uganda sets his dormitory on fire after the principal decided to ban DStv after learners watched too much soccer and movies.

An angry high school learner in Uganda set his dormitory on fire with petrol out of revenge after the principal of the Masaka Secondary School banned DStv after learners' grades started to slip over watching too much soccer, movies and other television on DStv.

First reported by UGO, a furious Shafiq Bugembe now cooling off behind bars in a Masaka police cell, torched his dormitory after principal Hajj Musa Mukasa Mpungu banned DStv in the dormitory.

He used a bottle of petrol to start a fire at his school's dormitory.

It wasn't the first time that MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV service was banned in Masaka Secondary School, and also not the first time that upset learners plotted to take revenge.

It was however the first time that a destructive arsonist plan was carried out to vandalise the school and its property for not being allowed to watch DStv.

Apparently the pupils at Masaka Secondary School don't see DStv and watching TV as a luxury and a privilege but as a right.

Interestingly, the parents appear to be on the learners' side too and wanted the school and principal to "restore" DStv and lift the ban on watching DStv programming.

The Masaka Secondary School's parent teacher association chairperson Jamil Miwanda said it advised the principal to switch the DStv back on and rather limit the time students are allowed to watch DStv, but the principal was adamant that the TV and DStv must remain switched off completely.

Parents, as well as alumni asked Uganda's education authorities to get rid of the school's principal and to transfer him to another school.

"I switched off the DStv because the students were devoting long periods of time watching soccer, movies and other programmes and it was leading to a drop in performance," principal Hajj Musa Mukasa Mpungu reportedly said.

MultiChoice can't rule out a 2nd price hike in 2015 for DStv subscribers in South Africa due to weak rand; 'hope environment stabilise'.

MultiChoice can't rule out a second price hike for DStv subscribers in South Africa in 2015 due to the weakening rand while MultiChoice just announced that it is increasing prices by another 25% in Uganda and 15% in Kenya due to weakening currencies.

DStv subscribers in Uganda and Kenya are fuming since MultiChoice announced another dramatic price increase for the satellite pay-TV operator's customers in these African countries.

When news leaked in mid-August that MultiChoice in Uganda will increase prices again this year, the pay-TV operator denied it and said its only a "discussion document" - only to announce on Wednesday a dramatic increase of 25%. Since the beginning of the year Uganda's currency has already fell by 32% against the dollar.

MultiChoice Uganda's general manager Charles Hamya says the country's weak economy, especially the falling Uganda shilling is to blame for the DStv price increase and that MultiChoice absorbed losses for several months but can't anymore.

"The revisions are necessary in order to cater for the continuous depreciation of the Shilling against the dollar which has negatively impacted our business - whose input costs such as programming, infrastructure and satellite fees are mainly dollar-based," said Charles Hamya.

"We held off passing on the cost of the depreciation by absorbing the losses for several months, however, this is not a sustainable business strategy; we find ourselves with no alternative but to revise our price rates upwards," said Charles Hamya.

In Kenya news of yet another price hike since the one that happened on 1 April, swiftly led to uproar under DStv subscribers, where the depreciation of the Kenyan shilling against the American dollar is also blamed for the new increase of around 15% from October.

Subscribers across Africa are also fuming after MultiChoice moved the English Premier League (EPL) from a lower SuperSport channel two months ago to a more expensive DStv package.

MultiChoice in Kenya told DStv subscribers that "for months MultiChoice has held off passing through this price increase to DStv subscribers and has absorbed the foreign exchange losses."

"However, it is no longer possible to avoid a price adjustment on DStv subscriptions. The increase is necessitated by foreign exchange rate changes  - similar to other imported services where costs are originated in US dollars."

The increase in Uganda and Kenya - and the reason - is a big warning sign for South Africa.

In response to a media enquiry and asking if DStv subscriptions will increase again in 2015 or whether MultiChoice can rule out more than one price hike per year, MultiChoice in South Africa tells TV with Thinus that it can't rule out a second price increase this year and is hoping that the environment regarding the rand's depreciation against the dollar "will stabilise".

At the end of August the South African rand hit an all-time low against the dollar - mostly over growing concern of the world's number two economy: China.

"We review our prices based on a variety of factors including currency movements and constantly monitor the situation," says MultiChoice. "We hope the environment will stabilise and there will be no need to review the subscription prices".

Uganda government bans NTV Uganda, 'suspends their coverage' after showing president Yoweri Museveni sleeping in parliament.

The Ugandan government is continuing its clampdown on press freedom and the right of freedom of speech  of the media, banning NTV Uganda and "suspending their coverage" after NTV Uganda showed Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni sleeping in parliament.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that NTV Uganda, part of the Nation Media Group is getting banned, with the Ugandan government saying NTV Uganda will be punished.

NTV Uganda showed viewers president Yoweri Museveni sleeping in parliament, and now the president's government says it has "suspended NTV Uganda's coverage of the president". The Uganda government says NTV Uganda "lack professionalism" and has been doing "biased coverage".

The Ugandan government has not remarked on the lack of professionalism of president Yoweri Museveni for sleeping on the job.

"The president has habits, he meditates and they know it," the government spokesperson Dennis Katungi told AFP, saying NTV Uganda will be punished "to make them think".

Yoweri Museveni who is 69 came to power in a coup in 1986 and Uganda's constitution was changed to make limitless presidential terms possible for the parliamentary "meditator".

During Yoweri Museveni's ongoing reign, NTV Uganda has been shut down twice already - the last time in 2006 for "non-compliance".