Multichoice Nigeria loses 243,000 subscribers in 6 months, blames economy

The Group disclosed this in its Interim Financial Results for the six months ended 30 September 2024, which was released on Tuesday.

According to the company, the high inflation in Nigeria at over 30% driven by the high cost of food, electricity, and fuel forced many of its customers to ditch their decoders.

While the actual figure was not disclosed at that time, Multichoice had also declared the loss of 18% of its Nigerian subscribers in its financial report for the year ended March 2024.

The company added that the pressure on its subscriber base in Rest of Africa Operations continued from the previous year leading to a loss of 566,000 subscribers across the operations in the six months under review.

While noting that the subscribers lost in the last six months was a decline compared with the 803,000 lost in the previous six months, Multichoice revealed that two markets, Zambia and Nigeria accounted for the lion’s share of the loss.

“With the Rest of Africa business having seen a decline of 803k subscribers in 2H FY24, this rate of decline slowed to 566k in 1H FY25. 

“Of this decline, 298k related to Zambia and 243k related to Nigeria, with remaining markets on the continent reflecting only a minor decline of 25k,” the company stated in its financial results.

While inflation is blamed for the loss in Nigeria, the company attributed the loss in Zambia to drought-driven power outages of up to 23 hours a day.

In his comments on the company’s results, MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela, said the company is facing its most challenging operating conditions in almost 40 years.

“Combined with the impact of a weak macro environment on consumers’ disposable income and therefore on subscriber growth, it required the Group to fundamentally adjust its cost base – which is exactly what has been done.  

“We are making good progress in addressing the technical insolvency that resulted from non-cash accounting entries at the end of the last financial year. 

“We expect to return to a positive net equity position by the end of November this year, supported by a number of developments and initiatives. The Group’s liquidity position remains strong, with over ZAR10bn in total available funds,” he said.

Mawela said the Group is also adjusting to global pay-TV challenges as streaming services, the rise of social media, and changing consumer preferences impact the traditional broadcast business.

Amid the rising inflation, Multichoice Nigeria had increased its DStv and GOtv bouquet prices twice last year and once this year, making it three times within the space of 12 months.

The verdict delivered by three of the panel led by Thomas Okosu in June also ordered Multichoice to give Nigerians a one-month free subscription on DSTV and GOTV.

The verdict delivered by three of the panel led by Thomas Okosu in June also ordered Multichoice to give Nigerians a one-month free subscription on DSTV and GOTV.