By Our Reporter
Less than six months after implementing an increase in subscriber tariffs, Multichoice Uganda, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, has announced another adjustment to its monthly subscription fees. Effective April 1, subscribers can expect changes to their bills.
Sources within the company have confirmed that this latest increment is driven by rising operational costs across Africa. Multichoice Uganda, a subsidiary of the South African-based Multichoice Group, operates in 16 of the continent’s 54 countries, primarily in East, Central, and Southern Africa.
The planned fee increase varies, with adjustments ranging from Shs3,000 to Shs15,000. Subscribers have already started receiving SMS notifications regarding these changes.
Despite the company’s rationale, some DSTv and Gotv customers have expressed dissatisfaction. They argue that while prices are increasing, the quality of services is declining. Multichoice will need to address these concerns to maintain customer satisfaction.
Multichoice cited two key factors for the tariff adjustment:
- Currency Exchange: The company purchases content in US dollars, and the appreciation of the dollar against the Uganda shilling has impacted costs.
- Inflation and Exchange Rate: Core inflation increased from 4.5 percent to 5 percent, and the shilling depreciated from Shs3,685 in 2023 to Shs3,850.
As subscribers brace for the upcoming changes, Multichoice faces the challenge of balancing affordability with maintaining service quality.
In addition to Multichoice Uganda’s recent tariff adjustments, StarTimes Uganda has also revealed plans to raise its subscription fees. Mr. Aldrine Nsubuga, the company’s vice president, cited increased operational costs as the driving force behind this decision.
“In the new year, we’ve witnessed changes, and we remain committed to providing our customers with top-quality content,” said Mr. Nsubuga. “As a result, subscribers should anticipate a slight increase in their bills in the coming month.”
Revised Package Costs
Here are the updated package costs for both DStv and GOtv:
DStv Packages:
DStv Premium: Shs290,000 (up from Shs275,000)
DStv Compact Plus: Shs170,000 (up from Shs160,000)
DStv Compact: Shs110,000 (up from Shs104,000)
DStv Family: Shs69,000 (up from Shs64,000)
DStv Access: Shs45,000 (up from Shs43,000)
DStv Lumba: Shs16,000 (up from Shs15,000)
GOtv Packages:
GOtv Supa: Shs69,000 (up from Shs58,000)
GOtv Max: Shs52,000 (up from Shs49,000)
GOtv Plus: Remains at Shs33,000
GOtv Value: Remains at Shs21,000
GOtv Lite: Remains at Shs15,000
New Package: GOtv Supa Plus introduced at Shs110,000
