NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 26 – Kenyan pay-TV companies are reeling from a sharp decline in customer subscriptions amid rising monthly costs and the proliferation of pirated content online.
Latest data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) shows that GOtv suffered the biggest hit, with its customer base dropping by 88.7 percent to 314,520 in June 2025, down from 2.9 million in the same month last year.
DStv usage likewise fell by 84.2 percent to 188,824, from 1.2 million in the review period.
Other players also recorded significant drops: CTN (MSA) by 76.6 percent, Star Times (70.9 percent), and Azam (63.1 percent).
The decline comes as pay-TV companies increase charges while battling challenges such as piracy, which continues to erode user numbers.
MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, in March last year raised the cost of DStv’s Lite package by Sh50 to Sh700 per month, increased the Compact package by Sh150 to Sh2,000, and raised Premium bouquet prices by Sh600 to Sh10,500, making it costly for subscribers amid tough economic conditions.
GOtv packages also saw notable price increases. The cost of Lite, Value, Max, Supa, and Supa Plus packages rose by Sh220, Sh669, Sh1,499, Sh1,999, and Sh3,700, respectively.
Despite a court directive compelling internet service providers (ISPs) to block pirate sports websites infringing on copyrighted material, illegal streaming continues through numerous platforms.
Pay-TV channels have also been hit by the rise of cheap broadband services, which offer users a wider range of entertainment compared to cable television that provides limited programming.
