Latest news with #CalvoMawela
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Would you subscribe to SuperSport if it were available as a stand-alone package?
MultiChoice is considering offering SuperSport as a separate package or as an add-on, after a reported loss of 2.8-million subscribers over the past two years. Sports fans, in particular, have been outspoken, calling for a more flexible option that allows access to SuperSport without the need to subscribe to the full Premium bundle, which costs R949 per month. Group CEO Calvo Mawela recently acknowledged these concerns and said the company is looking into the feasibility of sports only packages. This is part of a broader effort to revamp its offerings and stay competitive in the evolving entertainment landscape. A decision on the viability of such packages is expected by March 2026. With the rise of streaming services and increasing demand for personalised subscription options, many are asking if a sports only package would be a game-changer for sports lovers.
The South African
6 days ago
- Business
- The South African
South Africans say YES to DStv sports packages
South Africans are fully supporting Multichoice's contemplation of offering a sports-only package for DStv subscribers. The satellite television company is also toying with the idea of unbundling SuperSport from its pay-TV platform. In recent months, the company has taken a massive knock in revenue loss after losing hundreds of thousands in subscriptions. According to social media users, this follows the company's tone-deaf approach to affordability, diversity, and demands. Earlier this month, Multichoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela stated that the company would investigate whether unbundling SuperSport from DStv and launching a sports-only package would be a feasible option for its business model. He said at the time: 'We've accelerated that project in terms of getting us to finalise which direction we're going to take in this financial year. But yes, we are considering all options as part of a broader product offering going forward'. The investigation will conclude at the end of the current financial year-end in March 2026. Broadcaster Gareth Cliff polled his followers to see if they would support the move to a sports-only tailored DStv package or simply a SuperSport option. An overwhelming 94% of voters responded positively. Here's what a few had to say… @renierferreira: 'PAY PER CHANNEL ONLY! People don't want DStv 'bundles'. I'll pay R99 pm just for SuperSport 1 on ONE device.' @WTFSA13: 'R350 for all sports channels, and I am in' @SwartNatalie: 'Yes, then we can actually afford to watch sport again!' Currently, the SuperSport group of channels is offered on DStv's Premium package – it's most expensive – which currently costs R949. For many sports enthusiasts, 'off season' means pausing their subscriptions or cancelling them altogether. In multiple financial reports, Multichoice has acknowledged that the rising cost of living meant that 'households are struggling to make ends meet and many had no choice but to give up their DStv subscription for the time being.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
19-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Game on: MultiChoice eyes standalone sports packages to stop the viewer bleed
MultiChoice is facing significant financial challenges amid a decline in active subscribers. Image: Karen Sandison/Independent Newspapers MultiChoice is considering the possibility of separating its flagship SuperSport channels from its broader DStv packages. The company has seen a steady drop in inactive linear subscribers in recent years. According to its latest annual reports, MultiChoice has lost a staggering 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the past two financial years. "The South African economy saw some signs of potential improvement in the current year as inflation eased, and the South African Reserve Bank started lowering interest rates," the group noted in its annual report. "However, high unemployment, low economic growth and the ongoing effect of load reductions have meant that the South African consumer remains under significant financial pressure, which is negatively affecting businesses like MultiChoice that provides discretionary products and services". Despite this, SuperSport has shown strong growth and engagement, with increased viewership for major sports events including cricket, rugby, football, and MMA. According to the group's CEO, Calvo Mawela, they are considering new stand-alone sports packages as part of their strategy to adapt to changing viewer habits. 'As part of our product offering, we have always had this project that we ran every year where we look at our packaging structures, similar to what Sky did some years back where they had a basic package, they had a sports package on the side (and) they had a general entertainment package on the side,' Mawela said according to Reuters. 'We've accelerated that project in terms of getting us to finalise which direction we're going to take in this financial year. But yes, we are considering all options as part of a broader product offering going forward.' [email protected] IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
News24
15-06-2025
- Business
- News24
DStv may soon offer a package only featuring sport
According to the latest annual results, DStv subscribers continue to dwindle. Households were struggling financially, and many have no choice but to give up their DStv subscriptions. MultiChoice has lost R1.7 billion in subscription revenue over the past two years. MultiChoice, which will soon be taken over by French broadcasting giant Canal+, is considering introducing a separate sports offering to viewers. This comes after the pay-TV service lost 2.8 million DStv subscribers over the past two years. MultiChoice released its latest annual results this past week, showing how DStv subscribers continue to dwindle. Showmax, the entity's streaming service, is growing, but not at the rate that MultiChoice projected. In South Africa, the pay-TV giant now has only 1 million DStv subscribers left in its Premium offering – the one that includes channels like M-Net and kykNET. The loss of 1.2 million subscribers in the past year alone is more than the total premium subscribers DStv now has. On DStv Compact, MultiChoice has 2.1 million subscribers remaining, and 4.7 million on cheaper packages, such as DStv Family, with less content. Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice's chief financial officer, says they have lost R1.7 billion in subscription revenue over the past two years. MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela said households were struggling financially and many had no choice but to give up their DStv subscriptions. MultiChoice will decide before the end of this year whether it will offer the SuperSport channels as a separate DStv package. This would lower the price of all DStv packages that currently contain sports channels. Sports enthusiasts would then only pay for sports and not for entertainment and news channels. These packages are expected to be expensive because the cost of sports broadcasts is driven up by local and international sports rights for rugby and soccer, among other things. Regarding the creation of separate sports packages – something DStv subscribers have been asking for for years – Mawela said they considered it annually when looking at package structures. Referring to Britain's Sky pay-TV service, Mawela said consumers got a basic package that they could add sports packages and general entertainment channels to, according to their preferences. We are now accelerating the project to decide which direction we will take it in the coming year. But, yes, we are considering all options as part of a broader product offering. Calvo Mawela Regarding Showmax, Mawela said some of their initial assumptions around the streaming service had not worked out as expected. MultiChoice also said it was not affordable to maintain the cash injection of the past two years for the creation of new content for Showmax. Jacobs said the challenge for Showmax was that 'although it is doing relatively well, the level of growth is still not what we had in our original business plan'. The one thing we are absolutely clear about is that the level of Showmax's expenses is not sustainable. Tim Jacobs He said future price increases would be made up of a 'combination of how many consumers subscribe at certain price levels and, secondly, what our competitors are doing in the market compared with our prices'. A bright spot is that parents who enjoy watching their children's competitive school sports can continue to do so. The SuperSport Schools application recorded growth of 46% over the past year and now has 1.2 million registered users.
The South African
14-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Long time coming? DStv considering sports-only packages
While millions of South Africans continue to ditch their DStv subscriptions, Multichoice has finally acknowledged a call for it to introduce tailor-made packages, particularly sports-only ones, featuring the SuperSport group of channels. The pay-TV company has recorded a monumental revenue loss over recent years. According to social media users, this follows the company's tone-deaf approach to affordability, diversity, and demands. Following shocking news that DStv had lost 3 million subscribers in 2 years, its parent company, Multichoice, conceded that it would consider consumer demands. For many South Africans, this means picking your own packages, tailor-made to your interests. Sports-only packages featured high up on the list. MultiChoice has reported a decline in its subscriber base for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, losing nearly 1.2 million subscribers. Image: MultiChoice Multichoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela stated that the company would investigate whether unbundling SuperSport from DStv and launching a sports-only package would be a feasible option for its business model. He said this week: 'We've accelerated that project in terms of getting us to finalise which direction we're going to take in this financial year. But yes, we are considering all options as part of a broader product offering going forward'. The investigation will conclude at the end of the current financial year-end in March 2026. Currently, the SuperSport group of channels is offered on DStv's Premium package – it's most expensive – which currently costs R949. For many sports enthusiasts, 'off season' means pausing their subscriptions or cancelling them altogether. In multiple financial reports, Multichoice has acknowledged that the rising cost of living meant that 'households are struggling to make ends meet and many had no choice but to give up their DStv subscription for the time being.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
