DStva��s stiffest challenge yet?

Bruce Ndlovu
DStv, as the largest subscription service provider in sub-Saharan Africa, has been untouchable over the last three decades or so.

In the last two decades in particular, demand for DStva��s subscription services has soared, with local broadcasters struggling to match the entertainment buffet that it provides on its impressive list of channels.

From sport to reality TV, music and wildlife programming, DStv has for the most part covered all key bases.

However, despite this dominance, it is clear now more than ever that Africaa��s TV service provider of choice is facing its stiffest challenge as the consumption and dissemination methods change.

DStv rose over all challengers because it could steam roll past largely ineffective local broadcasters, many of whom have remained stuck in the past as the world of television broadcast has undergone some drastic changes in the last few decades. With neither the financial muscle nor the leadership to shrug off DStva��s encroachment on their markets, most local stations hardly put up a fight against DStva��s advance.

Fast forward a few years later, and despite the fact that DStv is still far and away the biggest giant on the broadcast scene, things are beginning to change.

The biggest and most obvious threat to DStv has been the emergence of Kwese Sports. Sport is a big draw card on the continent and Kwesea��s strategy to challenge DStv for the rights of some of the biggest sporting packages from around the globe has seen it soar despite the fact that the station is in its infancy.

For the first time in a while, it looks as if DStva��s monopoly will be broken by a broadcast entity that packs as much muscle as it does.

The emergence of streaming services is also another threat to the future dominance of Multichoicea��s flagship service.

In the United States, streaming services like Netflix and Showmax have changed the way that TV is consumed, and it remains to be seen if they will have a similar revolutionary effect in content hungry Africa.

One of the ways such services are seeking to do this is to offer content that is tailored to the unique tastes of whatever country they are operating in. This is DStva��s Achilles heel, as over the years they have paid too much to Nigeria and South Africa and neglected content from smaller, though vital markets.

a�?It is a public secret that DStv puts millions of rands into the South African film and television industry every year.

This generosity must also cascade to Zimbabwe. Now that we know how much DStv is taking from Zimbabwe the company must be seen to take a lead in developing local content producers,a�? said local arts practitioner Raisedon Baya.

Neglecting the content coming from Zimbabwe and other countries has meant that DStv is vulnerable to other service providers that pay attention to the needs of local audiences.

However, it seems that even Multichoice is aware of the changing times, as this week they announced that they will not be raising prices in Zimbabwe.

a�?Therea��ve been a number of external economic factors that have challenged MultiChoice Africa from falling commodity and oil prices which affected economies and exchange rates; and the ever-rising cost of satellite usage.

a�?However, it had been recognised that wea��re not the only ones feeling the pinch and that customers are also suffering, so the relief provided by not increasing the price of subscriptions is great news for Zimbabwean subscribers in particular,a�? said Multichoice Zimbabwea��s managing director Lovemore Mangwende this week.

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