South Africa’s Pay-TV Market Loses Subscribers as Streaming Gains Ground

The pay-television industry in South Africa is experiencing a significant downturn, with subscriber numbers falling below 7 million for the first time in at least five years. According to the latest report from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), subscriptions dropped to 6.7 million by September 2025—a 9.6% decline from the previous year.

Over the past five years, the industry has lost a staggering 1.6 million subscribers, representing an annual compound decline of 5.2%. This trend is impacting broadcaster finances, with total revenue falling 4.6% to ZAR 33 billion (USD 1.95 billion) in 2024.

Factors Driving the Decline

The slump can be attributed to several converging factors:

• Rise of streaming services: Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer on-demand content with greater flexibility, attracting viewers away from traditional pay-TV.
• Economic pressures: Rising costs and household budgets are forcing consumers to seek cheaper entertainment options.
• Content challenges: Broadcasters struggle to compete with the depth and variety of programming available through streaming services

Impact on Major Players

The subscriber losses have particularly affected MultiChoice, the dominant operator behind DStv. The company lost 589,000 South African subscribers in its latest financial year across all market segments.

Following its acquisition of MultiChoice by Canal+, strategic changes are underway:

• The annual price increase for DStv has been scrapped.
• Showmax, the struggling in-house streaming platform, is being shut down.
• Canal+ executives have cited currency devaluation in Nigeria and unreliable power infrastructure as additional challenges

A Changing Landscape

While pay-TV subscriptions are declining, television viewing overall isn’t necessarily shrinking. Free-to-air services like eMedia’s Openview added over 300,000 subscribers in 2025, surpassing 3.8 million activations.

Industry analysts suggest viewers aren’t abandoning TV entirely but rather seeking more affordable and flexible options—a trend that presents both challenges and opportunities for broadcasters adapting to the digital era.