For anyone who’s ever complained that DStv is too expensive, MultiChoice is finally making moves that feel like they were actually listening. In a quiet but significant update, the company has introduced shared payment options and permanently reduced decoder prices, making its pay-TV service more accessible to households feeling the squeeze of rising living costs.
It’s not a dramatic rebrand or a flashy marketing campaign, but it’s the kind of practical change many subscribers have been asking for over the years.The most interesting shift is the new shared payments feature. With this update, DStv subscribers can now split their subscription payments with another person. Instead of one individual carrying the full monthly cost, a family member or friend can contribute directly toward the bill.
In simple terms, it allows people to share responsibility in the same way they already share electricity, rent, or internet costs. It’s a small tweak to the payment system, but one that reflects how people actually live.For many Nigerians, this could be a genuine game changer. Entertainment is rarely enjoyed alone in most homes. T
The TV is usually for everyone — parents, siblings, roommates, even neighbors during big football matches. Yet the financial burden has almost always fallen on one person. Allowing people to split payments makes subscriptions feel more realistic, especially at a time when many households are carefully prioritizing essentials and cutting back on anything that feels optional.
Alongside shared payments, MultiChoice has also permanently lowered the prices of its DStv decoders. This is another important shift. In the past, decoder price cuts often felt temporary, tied to short-term promotions that disappeared as quickly as they arrived.
By making these reductions permanent, MultiChoice is clearly trying to lower the entry barrier for new customers and give former subscribers a reason to reconsider.The upfront cost of a decoder has long been one of the biggest obstacles for people thinking about DStv. Even before monthly subscriptions come into play, that initial payment alone has discouraged many potential customers. Cheaper decoders mean less pressure at the start, and when combined with shared monthly payments, the entire experience suddenly feels less intimidating from a financial standpoint.
These changes didn’t happen in isolation. MultiChoice has been facing growing pressure from multiple angles. Inflation has reduced disposable income, while streaming platforms continue to reshape how people consume content. Services like Netflix, YouTube, and other on-demand platforms offer flexibility that traditional pay-TV hasn’t always matched. Many viewers now expect to pay less, pay flexibly, or cancel easily when money is tight.
Rather than trying to compete directly with streaming platforms on content volume or pricing alone, MultiChoice seems to be adjusting its model to better fit current realities. Shared payments embrace the way people already divide costs, while cheaper decoders acknowledge that affordability matters more than ever. It’s a subtle but smart pivot.
Of course, this doesn’t mean DStv has suddenly become cheap or that everyone will rush back overnight. Subscription fees still exist, and users still need to meet payment requirements. Not everyone will find the new options sufficient, especially those who have already fully moved on to streaming. But compared to how things worked before, this feels like meaningful progress.
More importantly, it sends a message. MultiChoice appears to be saying that retaining customers matters and that adapting is no longer optional. In a crowded entertainment market where attention and loyalty are hard to keep, small improvements can go a long way.
For viewers, the takeaway is simple. DStv may not be perfect, but watching it just became a little easier on the wallet — and for many households, that difference matters.
