MultiChoice has released its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2024, revealing strong subscriber growth for DStv Stream.
At the same time, its DStv Extra Stream product saw slightly increased uptake over the same period.
MultiChoice relaunched its streaming service — previously DStv Now — and renamed it DStv Stream in July 2023.
Since the relaunch, DStv Stream’s active users have increased by 139%, and MultiChoice says more than 90% are new to the service.
In August 2023, the company re-introduced the ability for users to watch DStv Stream on up to two devices simultaneously.
Dubbed Extra Stream, the product is only available on mobile devices. Since its introduction, Extra Stream subscribers have increased by 13%.
The feature lets viewers stream DStv Stream content concurrently on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop without disrupting the primary stream, which works on any Internet-connected device.
Pricing varies based on the primary package linked to the account as follows:
- DStv Premium Extra Stream — R99 per month
- DStv Compact Plus Extra Stream — R79 per month
- DStv Compact Extra Stream — R49 per month
- DStv Family Extra Stream — R39 per month
- DStv Access Extra Stream — R29 per month
MultiChoice also introduced a streaming-only package for its cheapest bouquet, DStv EasyView, at R29 per month.
However, it doesn’t come with the ability to add another stream.
The change came roughly a year and a half after MultiChoice cut the number of concurrent online streaming feeds from two to one.
Despite facing backlash over its initial announcement, DStv started limiting concurrent streaming to one device on 22 March 2022.
“Each DStv subscription allows you to stream on one app at a time. This means you can use the app on a maximum of four devices, with management of the devices done on the app,” its updated FAQ page says.
The limit on current streams applies to all DStv Stream packages across Africa, but users can still pre-download content to watch while someone else is streaming.
MultiChoice announced its plans to limit streams a month before the change took effect, creating an uproar among subscribers, with some threatening to boycott the service.
Others said they would cancel their subscriptions when the changes kick in.
“I’ve had DStv since 2004, but I’m going to cancel my subscription because you are only allowing one device to stream at a time,” one DStv subscriber said.
“Well, that’s the end of my DStv subscription. DStv content quality is poor, and other streaming services are available at a fraction of the cost,” said another.
DStv’s stream limitations is more restrictive than other major streaming services.
Competitors like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and international sports streaming services offer multiple concurrent streams.
However, Netflix has started limiting concurrent streams to a single household to mitigate password sharing.