MultiChoice Nigeria will introduce a standalone DStv Sports subscription costing ₦21,000 per month on November 5, 2026, in a broader overhaul of its DStv and GOtv offerings that places live sport at the heart of the new structure.
Key takeaways
- The new DStv Sports tier will sit between the ₦11,000 Select plan and the ₦44,500 Premium package.
- GOtv will add its own Sports option alongside Easy, Starter and Select subscriptions.
- MultiChoice is promising a one-month sports trial for qualifying active customers, although full conditions have not yet been announced.
- The company is considering more flexible match-by-match or competition-based sports payments but has not set a launch timetable.
- M-Net movie channels and African Magic content are also part of the planned programming changes.
New sports-focused subscription structure
The ₦21,000 Sports package will be positioned above DStv Select, which costs ₦11,000 monthly, and below Premium at ₦44,500. Premium will remain the top-level subscription, offering a broader selection of high-end entertainment and sporting channels. DStv’s entry-level Starter package will continue at ₦6,000 per month.
GOtv customers will likewise have access to a Sports package, in addition to the platform’s Easy, Starter and Select plans.
Chief executive Kemi Omotosho unveiled the revised structure during a media event, explaining that the changes were shaped by three principles: simpler choices, improved value and greater flexibility. She said subscribers should be able to select a plan that fits their current needs and move to another tier when those needs evolve.
Omotosho also recognised concerns from viewers over the cost of subscriptions and whether they are receiving sufficient value.
“We are aware of those concerns, which is why we are reassessing our commercial approach and rolling out adjustments intended to enhance the customer experience,” Omotosho said.
The Sports tier is aimed at fans who want broader access to sporting events without paying for the full Premium package. MultiChoice also outlined football-oriented subscription options and said active subscribers would be offered a free one-month trial. However, the company did not provide complete information on who will qualify or the terms attached to the offer.
Tope Osunkeye, the company’s senior vice-president for communications, said the revamp would reshape the channel line-up to make a wider mix of sport and entertainment available across varying price bands. He added that MultiChoice services can be accessed through satellite television, terrestrial platforms and streaming.
When asked whether customers could eventually pay only for specific games or tournaments, Omotosho said the company was willing to examine such a model. She stressed, however, that MultiChoice had not yet found a commercially viable format and would need to establish the financial impact before proceeding.
“We know subscribers have requested this and their views have been considered,” she said. “But I cannot promise a particular release date because the business case must be robust and the approach has to be sustainable.”
Programming, streaming and content plans
MultiChoice also set out how DStv differs from Sporty TV. DStv broadcasts may offer extra elements including Pidgin English match commentary, highlights programmes and alternative-language commentary during major competitions. The company is additionally looking at short-form content and possible integration of platforms such as YouTube and Sporty TV as viewing patterns continue to change.
Responding to complaints about repeated programmes, Omotosho accepted that audiences want more new material. She noted that making original productions can require as long as 18 months, leading the company to consider sharing programmes across its international network in Nigeria, elsewhere in Africa, France and South Africa.
“Instead of waiting for that entire production period, we are creating a catalogue of existing programmes from throughout the CANAL+ ecosystem,” she said.
The approach could help Nigerian shows, including Big Brother Naija, reach viewers in other African territories. It could also bring productions from markets such as Kenya to audiences in different countries.
“We want to limit unnecessary repetition, although no television service can realistically deliver completely new programming around the clock,” Omotosho said.
Away from sport, M-Net Movies 1 and M-Net Movies 2 will merge into M-Net Movies Plus. M-Net Stars will be dedicated to Hollywood personalities, cinema icons and widely known entertainment figures. African Magic is also set for expansion, with more local productions, indigenous-language shows, children’s programming, music and international entertainment expected in its line-up.
On streaming, following the announcement that Showmax will close, Omotosho said MultiChoice was reviewing its technology with the aim of building a more complete digital product. The plans include moving Showmax programming to DStv Stream.
“We cannot allow a space in the market to remain unfilled without providing a suitable replacement,” she said.
The plans also point towards the continental stage and the pursuit of Africa’s leading women’s club prize.
