MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela announced plans to fast-track an investigation into unbundling SuperSport from DStv packages by March 2026. The move, mirroring models like Sky UK, would let subscribers pay separately for sports content. This comes as MultiChoice lost 1.2 million subscribers in 2025, citing economic pressures and streaming competition.
• Potential shift would allow à la carte sports purchases (rugby, soccer, etc.) alongside base entertainment packages
• Decision hinges on proving revenue growth; SuperSport remains exclusive to DStv
• Weekly subscription pilot launched in Uganda may expand to South Africa
Is this too little, too late? MultiChoice’s rigid bundling fueled piracy and subscriber flight, yet its "exclusive sports" mantra persists. The real test: Can a 20th-century pay-TV giant adapt fast enough to compete with Netflix’s flexibility and YouTube’s affordability? For African consumers, unbundling might ease budgets, but only if prices reflect reality.
