Broadcasting
Ghana Govt, DStv Settlement Sets New Regulatory Precedent in Africa
The recent DStv pricing dispute in Ghana has underscored the volatile intersection of consumer protection, political manoeuvring, and multinational business operations.
According to myjoyonline.com, the saga reached its peak after Sam George, communications minister, demanded a price reduction for subscribers, citing public frustration over high fees.
Pointing to the improved performance of the Ghanaian Cedi, the Minister argued that MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv, was exploiting Ghanaian consumers with prices out of step with regional realities.
The Minister’s position resonated with regional calls for fairer pricing, following similar regulatory confrontations MultiChoice has faced in Nigeria and other major markets.
In July 2025, George proposed a 30% reduction, even threatening to suspend DStv’s broadcasting licence.
MultiChoice initially rejected the demand as “untenable,” warning that forced cuts would undermine service quality and jobs.
The standoff ended with a new arrangement announced on Monday, September 29.
From October 1, DStv subscribers in Ghana would automatically receive upgraded packages at no additional cost.
For example, those on the Pady bouquet (GH¢59) were upgraded to the Access bouquet (GH¢99), gaining 35 more channels.
The move offered subscribers an estimated 33% to 50% more value, depending on their package.
While Minister George described the deal as “more services for less,” MultiChoice later confirmed the agreement and apologised for earlier confusion in its communications.
However, the “unprecedented” offer is structured as a three-month promotional package, sparking criticism that it falls short of the promised 30% price cut.
The sharpest criticism came from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose lawmakers dismissed the Minister’s handling of the matter as “arrogant” and ineffective.
Mathew Nyindam, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Communications Committee, accused the Minister of failing to deliver a real price cut and called for his dismissal.
NPP commentators also accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy, pointing to previous periods under Nana Akufo-Addo when DStv tariffs rose with little intervention.
They argued that the Minister’s combative approach was more about scoring political points than securing sustainable consumer relief.
Despite the political disputes, Ghana’s outcome sets a significant precedent in Africa.
MultiChoice has long battled regulators in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda over price hikes, but none have secured an agreement on this scale.
The Ghana deal, which offers subscribers up to 50% more content for the same price, is described by the Minister as “unmatched anywhere else in Africa.”
Analysts suggest the move will put pressure on other governments to demand similar concessions from dominant multinational service providers, potentially reshaping regulatory expectations in the pay-TV industry across the continent.
DStv’s market dominance rests heavily on its exclusive rights to premium sports, especially the English Premier League.
Yet, competition is intensifying.
Rivals such as StarTimes and GoTV offer cheaper packages, while streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and MultiChoice’s own Showmax present growing alternatives.
The value-upgrade arrangement is seen as a defensive strategy by MultiChoice to maintain revenues without cutting prices outright. By offering additional channels rather than lowering costs, the company protects its core business model while appearing responsive to consumer concerns.
For many Ghanaian families, DStv is both a luxury and a cultural staple, particularly for football.
The new arrangement provides short-term relief.
“This upgrade means I can finally watch more than just the news for the same money I’ve been paying,” said Kojo Mensah, a Kumasi-based technician. But the temporary nature of the promotion leaves questions about long-term affordability.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
Paramount Africa is officially shutting down at the end of December 2025, drawing the curtain on more than two decades of operations in South Africa and Nigeria.
The company, which once reached over 100 million viewers across 52 African territories, confirmed it will close its doors as part of a massive global restructuring at its parent company, Paramount Global.
This is the same Paramount Africa behind channels like BET, MTV, MTV Base, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more.
Its digital footprint has also been significant, with millions of monthly page views, social media engagements, and content partnerships across Africa.
But despite that scale, rising costs and a global strategic reset have caught up with the business.
Paramount’s retrenchment has been building for months.
Earlier this year, plans to launch a standalone Paramount+ app in South Africa were quietly shelved.
Then in August, the company said its content would remain available only via DStv and Showmax.
And last month, MultiChoice confirmed that BET Africa and MTV Base will disappear from DStv and GOtv on January 1, 2026, as Paramount Africa winds down entirely.
The shutdown is tied to aggressive cost-cutting after Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The company is targeting a 15% reduction in global staff and $3 billion in savings.
International divisions, including Africa, have taken the hardest hit as the business pivots away from linear TV and doubles down on a more streamlined streaming-first model.
At the same time, the global media landscape is being shaken by Warner Bros. Discovery’s chaotic auction. Netflix, Paramount, and Comcast have all submitted fresh bids for WBD, with some offers reportedly focusing on the studios-and-streaming division, home to HBO, HBO Max, DC, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Analysts say the crown jewel bundle could go for as much as $70 billion, a deal that would reshape Hollywood and accelerate the decline of traditional TV.
DStv subscribers may lose access to 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels, including CNN International, Discovery Channel, TLC, and Cartoon Network, from Jan. 1, 2026, if MultiChoice and WBD fail to conclude a new distribution agreement.
DStv
MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, issued a notice to customers on Monday, warning that its current carriage deal with WBD will expire on Dec. 31, 2025, and negotiations to renew the contract remain inconclusive.
“While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, several Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be available on DStv from Jan. 1, 2026,” the company said.
The channels at risk include Discovery Channel, CNN International, TLC, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Travel Channel.
The development comes amid subscriber losses for MultiChoice, which has shed 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the last two financial years.
This includes 1.2 million customers lost in 2025 alone, representing an 8 per cent decline across South Africa and the rest of Africa.
In Nigeria, MultiChoice has lost 1.4 million subscribers in the past two years, largely due to repeated subscription price increases, according to Nairametrics.
The broadcaster is also set to lose additional content in the coming months. Paramount Africa will discontinue BET Africa and MTV Base from Jan. 1, 2026, while CBS Reality and CBS Justice will cease operations on Dec. 31, 2025.
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