In what has become an annual tradition, Multichoice Uganda has yet again hiked the subscriber tariffs, not long since the last increment. Multichoice cites the depreciation of the shilling and core inflation. Content is paid for in dollars after all, and any changes affect the amount subscribers pay.
DStv and GOtv is experiencing an uphill task to retain subscribers and onboard new viewers. Sports channels being their biggest draw and quite honestly their bread and butter. Sports channels, especially Supersport channels which screen the English Premier League, dictate subscriptions. However, amidst the allure of sports, subscribers have voiced frustrations over the overall content offering.
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It’s no secret that the entertainment department comprises rather dated titles and overly syndicated shows, which keep getting rotation to the chagrin of the subscribers like myself. This staleness in content has left many feeling disenchanted with the service. American streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video are giving DSTV and GOtv a run for their money by offering a wider catalogue at a cheaper price.
The latest price increase further complicates the landscape for Multichoice Uganda. Let’s take a closer look at how the prices have changed over the past couple of years:
DSTV Price change 2022~2024
| Package | April 2024 Price (Shs) | April 2023 Price (Shs) | April 2022 Price (Shs) | Price Change (2024 vs. 2022) |
| Premium | 290,000 | 275,000 | 255,000 | 35,000 |
| Compact Plus | 170,000 | 160,000 | 150,000 | 20,000 |
| Compact | 110,000 | 104,000 | 95,000 | 15,000 |
| Family | 69,000 | 64,000 | 59,000 | 10,000 |
| Access | 45,000 | 43,000 | 39,000 | 6,000 |
| XtraView | N/A | 53,000 | 50,000 | 3,000 |
| Lite/Lumba | 16,000 | 16,000 | 15,000 | 1,000 |
DStv will see price hikes across most packages. The Premium package will increase by Shs15,000, going from Shs275,000 to Shs290,000. Compact Plus and Compact packages will see Shs10,000 and Shs6,000 increases, respectively. Family, Access, and XtraView will also experience price bumps ranging from Shs2,000 to Shs5,000. The Lite/Lumba package will be the only DStv offering to remain unchanged at Shs16,000
GOtv Price changes 2022~2024
| Package | April 2024 Price (Shs) | April 2023 Price (Shs) | April 2022 Price (Shs) | Price Change (2024 vs. 2022) |
| Supa | 69,000 | 65,000 | 58,000 | 11,000 |
| Max | 52,000 | 49,000 | 45,000 | 7,000 |
| Plus | 33,000 | 33,000 | 31,000 | 2,000 |
| Value | 21,000 | 21,000 | 19,000 | 2,000 |
| Lite | 15,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 | 1,000 |
GOtv subscribers will also face price adjustments. The Supa package will see the most significant increase, jumping from Shs65,000 to Shs69,000. Max will experience a Shs3,000 rise, while Plus, Value, and Lite will maintain their current pricing.