Disney+ Hikes South African Prices by 12.5% to R179 Per Month

by Thinus Ferreira

Disney+ is increasing prices in South Africa by 12.5% per month to R179 for the video streaming service's monthly premium plan, while the Disney+ annual plan will remain R1 590, and a Disney+ mobile subscription will remain R49 per month.

Disney+ subscribers pay R179 per month from 30 April 2026 as the new price. The annual plan and mobile subscription prices remain unchanged.

Disney+ last increased prices in September 2024 with 14.39% to R159 per month.

According to Disney, all new Disney+ monthly premium plan users on or after 30 April 2026 will be charged the revised subscription price.

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Disney notes that all the existing direct-billed monthly premium users who signed up before 30 April 2026 will be charged at the renewed subscription price on the date of renewal, on and after 4 June 2026. 

"If the payment fails for these users, retries that happen on or after 4 June 2026 will also happen at the new price," says Disney.

According to Disney, existing users who subscribed to Disney+ through a third party like Apple in-app purchase, Google in-app purchase, or a local partner like MultiChoice "should refer to their third-party provider for more information".

MultiChoice Kenya hikes prices for DStv Kenya subscribers again by up to 7%

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Kenya is hiking prices yet again in the East African country for business customers as well as for for business customers in the ican country with the latest price increase which will hit companies subscribing to its service from August 2025.

MultiChoice Kenya is hiking DStv fees by up to 7%.

In November 2024 MultiChoice Kenya hiked prices in the country by up to 5.4%  - the 4th price hike in two years.

From August 2025, DStv Access will increase from KES1,350 to KES1,450, DStv Family is increasing from KES2,100 to KES2,250, while DStv Compact is increasing from KES3,900 to KES4,200.

MultiChoice is increasing DStv Compact Plus from KES6,800 to KES7,300 while DStv Premium is getting more expensive from KES11,000 to KES11,700.

The DStv Lite plan remains unchanged at KES750.

The GOtv Value package is decreased from KES699 to KES599, while the Plus plan remains unchanged.

GOtv Max will be increased from KES1,599 to KES1,699 and GOtv Supa is increased from KES2,099 to KES2,199. MultiChoice is increasing the GOtv Supa Plus plan from KES3,000 to KES3,199. 

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya hikes DStv prices from August 2025 for businesses

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya hikes DStv fees from November 2024 by over 5% with 4th increase in two years as subscribers say they're done and cancelling

MultiChoice Kenya hikes DStv prices from August 2025 for businesses

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Kenya is hiking prices yet again for business customers in the East African country with the latest price increase which will hit companies subscribing to its service from August 2025.

Nzola Miranda, MultiChoice Kenya managing director, informing business subscribers in a letter about the price hike from August, says MultiChoice Kenya will be "making adjustments to its prices" but offers no explanations or reasons for the latest increase.

The DStv Stay package is increasing to Sh3370, DStv Essential is increasing to Sh2510, and DStv Basic is increasing to Sh1580. 

On DStv Play the Basic package is increasing to Sh5700, Essential is increasing to Sh9950, and Ultra will cost Sh15650.

On the DStv Work package, the Essential option will now cost Sh2050, while Ultra will increase to Sh5850. 

To add a foreign language channel will now cost Sh500, while the CNN International (DStv 401) add-on as a TV channel often seen in hotels, will cost Sh465 from August. 

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya hikes DStv fees from November 2024 by over 5% with 4th increase in two years as subscribers say they're done and cancelling

MultiChoice Zimbabwe increasing DStv fees from June 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zimbabwe is increasing monthly DStv subscription fees from 1 June 2025, although the price of DStv Premium will remain unchanged at $75.

From June DStv Compact Plus is increasing from $45 to $46, DStv Compact is increasing from $30 to $32, and DStv Family is getting an increase from $20 to $21.

The DStv Access package is increased from $15 to $16.

The monthly fees for DStv Lite at $9, the Indian add-on package for DStv Premium at $39, the Indian add-on package for $25, the Portuguese add-on package at $45, and the HD PVR service fee of $13 all remain unchanged. 

Netflix South Africa increases prices by up to 20% for subscribers

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa is increasing prices of the streaming service for its South African subscribers with immediate effect by up to 20%, although its R99 per month subscription plan will remain unchanged.

Netflix issued no press statement before the price hike went into effect but in response to a media query from TVwithThinus, confirms that it is increasing subscription prices in South Africa.

Rival MultiChoice just did its annual price increase for DStv subscribers and its Showmax video streaming service from April 2025.

Netflix South Africa in response to the media query, confirms that "Netflix has increased prices in South Africa for both new and existing subscribers".

This is the second price increase for Netflix SA subscribers since the video streaming launched in South Africa and across the African continent in 2016. 

Netflix SA last increased prices in September 2021 which was its first price increase in South Africa since it launched.

Netflix says that "The new prices came into effect on 8 May for new members. For existing members, the exact timing of the change will depend on the specific member's billing cycle".

Asked why Netflix is increasing prices for its South African subscribers, the company told me that "As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will sometimes ask our members to pay more so that we can reinvest to further improve Netflix".

The price changes are as follows for South Africa:

 

Mobile	Basic	Standard	Premium
R49 → R59	R99 (no change)	R159 → R179	R199 → R229

 

Interesting to note is that Netflix is keeping the subscription fee of its Basic package unchanged at R99 per month.

Netflix is increasing its Mobile subscription by a whopping 20% from R49 to R59 per month, while the Standard fee is increased by 13% from R159 to R179 per month. The Premium subscription price is increased 15% from R199 to R229 per month.

All of Netflix SA's price hikes are far above the current South African inflation rate.

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 Namibia is losing 49 subscribers daily who cut the cord over high prices and Netflix as it hikes DStv fees up to 8% from April 2025 and blames inflation

by Thinus Ferreira

As MultiChoice Namibia gets ready to hike prices from April 2025 and blames inflation, Namibia's broadcasting authority has revealed that MultiChoice Nigeria is losing 49 subscribers daily in that country who are cutting the cord due to the high subscription fees and competition like Netflix.

Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN), in its latest sector report, indicates that MultiChoice Namibia has shed a combined 35 578 DStv and GOv subscribers between the start of 2023 and the end of 2024.

This means that MultiChoice Namibia over the past two years has lost 49 subscribers daily.

According to the regulator, MultiChoice Namibia has seen an 11% decline in the satellite pay-TV operator's total subscribers in the country in the 4th quarter of 2024.

"This may be attributed to the recent increase in subscription fees and growing competition from streaming platforms like Netflix," the regulator notes in its Q4 broadcasting sector report.

From April 2025, MultiChoice is hiking DStv fees in Namibia by between 6% and just over 8%.

This is MultiChoice Namibia's second price hike in less than a year, after it hiked prices in September 2024.

MultiChoice Namibia is hiking DStv Premium by 6% from April from N$985 to $1045 - crossing the psychological threshold of $1000 per month for its top-end package for the first time ever. 

MultiChoice Namibia is increasing DStv Compact Plus 5.9% from N$675 to N$715, while DStv Compact is increasing 6% from N$495 to N$525.

DStv Family is increased 6.7% from N$370 to N$395, while DStv Access will increase by 8.5% from N$175 to N$190.

DStv Lite - the cheapest package - is getting a price decrease from N$110 to N$60, making it 45% cheaper.

MultiChoice Nigeria blames inflation in the country for the increase of between 6% and 8%.

"Africa’s much loved storyteller has taken into account the current rate of inflation and economic pressures facing Namibians when considering our price adjustments," says MultiChoice Namibia.

Nigeria's consumer protection agency summons MultiChoice Nigeria CEO to explain looming 22% DStv price hike at urgent 'investigative hearing'

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's consumer protection agency is again summoning MultiChoice Nigeria to appear before it to explain why it wants to hike DStv and GOtv monthly subscriber fees in the West African country by up to over 22% from March 2025.

MultiChoice Nigeria just announced that it's doing another shocking price hike in Nigeria from next week - the second in less than a year in the country since it last announced a price increase in May 2024.

Nigeria claims to have a free market economy where private and commercial companies are free to set and charge whatever fees they want for their commercial services and products, and with consumers who are free to either buy or not buy these.

Companies like MultiChoice have been forced to hike prices as Nigeria's deteriorating economy continues to weaken with massive inflation and the ongoing weakening and devaluation of the local Naira currency.

This has forced MultiChoice to keep increasing subscription fees in Nigeria, which MultiChoice Africa has also done in several other African countries, and in several with more than one price increase per year over the past few years.

Now Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) - which has frequently clashed with MultiChoice in the past - has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria's CEO John Ugbe to an urgent hearing on Friday 27 February to "explain" the latest announced DStv price hike at what it calls an "investigative hearing".

In a statement, the FCCPC says the "investigative hearing" follows "MultiChoice's formal notification of the price adjustment, which raises concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and perceived anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry".

"The FCCPC is deeply concerned that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse."

The agency notes that "should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, it would impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers".

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is once again hiking both monthly DStv and GOtv subscription fees for the second time in a year, with a shocking increase of up to over 22%, in the West African country from March 2025.

Nigeria is MultiChoice's second largest market on the African continent after South Africa.

MultiChoice Nigeria's last DStv price hike was in May 2024.

"Please note that effective 1 March 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages. This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology," MultiChoice Nigeria said in a message sent to customers.

In a press statement MultiChoice Nigeria said "Due to prevalent economic factors leading to increased operational costs, we have unavoidably had to adjust the prices of our DStv and GOtv subscription packages".

"We understand the impact this change may have on our valued partners, and we have only taken this step after careful consideration and in-depth analysis."

From March 2025 DStv Premium is increasing 20.2% from N37,000 to N44,500, with DStv Compact Plus increasing 20% from N25,000 to N30,000, and DStv Compact increasing 21% from N15,700 to N19,000.

DStv Confam will increase a whopping 22.2% from N9,000 to  N11,000, DStv Yanga is increased 17.6% from N5,100 to N6,000, while DStv Padi is increased 22.2% from N3,600 to N4,400.

MultiChoice Nigeria is increasing GOtv by 8.3% from N3,600 to N3,900 and GOtv Plus by 19.5% from N4,850 to N5,800. 

GoTV Max is increased 18% from N7,200 to N8,500 while GOtv Supa is increased 18.7% from N9,600 to N11,400 and GOtv Supa Plus is increasing 7% from N15,700 to N16,800 monthly from March.

GOtv Jolli is increased from N4,850 to N5,800, GOtv Jinja is hiked from N3,300 to N3,900, while GOtv Smallie is increased from N1,575 to N1,900.

Across Africa, MultiChoice is battling slowing subscriber acquisition and subscribers abandoning its pricey pay-TV offering, while the company is the target of an aggressive corporate buyout from France's Canal+.

MultiChoice Africa is having an especially difficult time in African countries outside of South Africa where worsening economic conditions have dampened consumer spending, combined with runaway inflation in several markets like Nigeria, coupled with constantly weakening local currencies like the Naira.

Without warning Netflix does second 2024 price hike in Nigeria, this time by up to 83%.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has just hiked prices in Nigeria for a second time in 2024 and without warning - this time by up to 83% and hitting its lowest-paying subscribers on its mobile-only plan the hardest.

The global streaming service unexpectedly hiked its monthly subscription fees in the West African country in April this year, and has now once again increased fees after just three months.

According to Netflix's website, the streamer's premium plan now suddenly cost N7000 - an increase of 40% from N5000.

Netflix's standard plan has increased 37.5% from N4000 to N5500, while the basic plan got hiked 21% from N2900 to N3500. 

Netflix's cheapest - its mobile plan - was shockingly increased by a whopping 83% from N1200 to N2200.

Netflix hasn't given any explanation for the price hike although Nigeria struggles with rampant inflation and a worsening economy. Netflix gave existing subscribers no warning that another pending price hike would be implemented.

MultiChoice's relaunched Showmax does first price increase from August, pricing of bundled packages remains unchanged.

by Thinus Ferreira

After six months the relaunched Showmax is doing its first price increase since the unveiling of the new version of MultiChoice's video streaming service - although the prices of its two bundled packages will remain unchanged.

From August, Showmax Entertainment will increase 11.2% from R89 to R99, while Showmax Entertainment Mobile is going from R39 to R45 - an increase of 15.4%. Both these increases are above the current inflation rate.

The pricing of the Showmax Premier League package will remain unchanged at R69 a month. 

The pricing of the bundled Showmax Entertainment (all devices) + Premier League (mobile) package remains unchanged at R140 and the pricing of the Showmax Entertainment (mobile) + Premier League (mobile) package also remains unchanged at R99. 

Showmax says its Showmax Entertainment Mobile price of R45 is "at the low end of mobile streaming prices globally". It's the first price hike for Showmax since MultiChoice retooled the streamer in partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal.

Marc Jury, Showmax CEO, says "Pricing is something that all businesses have to review regularly, and we launched with attractive pricing on the new Showmax platform".

"We are thrilled that we've been able to keep Showmax Premier League and bundled Showmax plans unchanged, bringing all 380 Premier League matches to millions of football fans in Africa and continuing to focus on making streaming affordable and effortless."

He says "No other streamer has this range of the best international and local content at an incredible price."

Since its relaunch in February, MultiChoice added 40 Showmax Originals to the streamer, including localised shows produced in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.   

Showmax Entertainment's R99 price from August is its original launch price in 2015.

MultiChoice that is coming off a disastrous financial year for the year ending end of March 2024, is under immense pressure to grow its Showmax subscriber numbers and to also move the streamer towards a position of profitability. MultiChoice told investors last year that it aims to achieve profitability for Showmax in 2027.

Last month when it released its financial results, MultiChoice noted that Showmax's paying subscriber base grew 16% since the relaunch in February to the end of March but continues to decline to provide any subscriber numbers.

 

		Showmax Entertainment  All devices	Showmax Entertainment Mobile	Showmax Premier League    Mobile	Showmax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League Mobile bundle	Showmax Entertainment All devices + Premier League Mobile bundle
All Premier League    live matches + extra Premier League content		-	-	✓	✓	✓
Series, movies, kids’ shows, documentaries incl. Showmax Originals, MultiChoice Originals, Universal Pictures, NBC, Peacock, Sky, DreamWorks Animation, HBO, Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros. Discovery, BBC, ITV, Telemundo, Banijay, eOne, Fremantle and more.		✓	✓	-	✓	✓
Number of concurrent streams		2	1	1	1 stream Entertainment  1 stream Premier League	2 streams Entertainment  1 stream Premier League
Mobile apps		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Smart TV, laptop, Android TV, Apple TV apps		✓	-	-	-	✓  (only for Entertainment content, no access to Sport section)
Maximum video resolution		HD (1080p)	HD (1080p)	HD (1080p)	HD (1080p)	HD (1080p)
Downloads available for offline viewing		✓	✓	✓ (only for VOD content, not live streaming)	✓ (only for VOD content, not live streaming)	✓ (only for VOD content, not live streaming)
Data saving settings		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓