DStv Stream a winner

DStv Stream has maintained its positive momentum and recorded a 71% year-on-year increase in revenue, MultiChoice reported in its recent half-year results.

The pay-TV broadcaster reported that its combined DStv Stream and Extra Stream subscribers base declined 2% compared to last year, but that this was from an elevated base in on the back of the Rugby World Cup.

It said user activity was supported by a 95% increase in combined DStv Stream and Extra Stream revenues.

This was through the prior year’s rebranding and substantial upgrade to the DStv Stream user experience and user interface in August 2024, MultiChoice said.

These upgrades included Watch from Start functionality and Cloud PVR Recordings.

With the Cloud PVR Recording feature, viewers can record live shows, which will be available to watch or re-watch for 30 days.

The improved Watch from Start functionality enabled viewers to rewind up to 24 hours on select channels, including various SuperSport channels, M-Net, Mzansi Magic, and kykNet.

“The 24-hour Watch from Start functionality allows customers to go back in time by up to 24 hours, so they never miss key live events, whether it’s a sports match or a fan-favourite show,” said MultiChoice.

“Both features are set to roll out with automatic updates where possible, ensuring minimal disruption,” MultiChoice added.

MultiChoice said the new features started rolling out to web users around mid-November, with updates rolling out gradually for its iOS and Android apps and other platforms to follow.

The new features follow a DStv Stream interface update earlier this year, which made it easier for users to discover new content through personalised recommendations and auto-play trailers for featured shows.

“With Watch from Start and Cloud PVR, we’re giving viewers more control over their viewing experience,” MultiChoice said.

“We know customers want the freedom to enjoy content on their schedule, and these new features bring the flexibility of streaming to the live TV experience. Our customers can now enjoy the best of both.”

MultiChoice has also said that it is developing advertising technology for DStv Stream and Showmax that could allow for lower pricing in future.

Regarding DStv Stream specifically, MultiChoice said it has been rolling out new advertising technology for the platform for the past year and a half.

“Over the last 18 months, the group was the first in Africa to implement Dynamic Ad Insertion through DStv Stream,” a MultiChoice spokesperson told MyBroadband.

“The technology is enabled by fellow group company, Irdeto, together with a partnership with Invidi.”

Irdeto is a MultiChoice subsidiary that specialises in digital platform security. It offers services and technology solutions that protect platforms, digital assets, and software applications across multiple industries.

Invidi is a privacy-preserving advertising technology provider that helps target commercials to viewers with the same level of accuracy as online retailers and social media platforms.

“The technology enables us to insert separate commercials on DStv Stream from the advertisements shown on the satellite service,” MultiChoice said.

“This is starting to show promising growth as the DStv Stream base grows.”

MultiChoice said the technology would benefit subscribers by improving the relevance of the advertisements they are shown.

“As we are seeing in many first-world markets globally, it also allows for lower pricing to customers when ad-supported models are able to scale,” said MultiChoice.

MultiChoice has not increased the prices of Showmax or DStv Stream Premium since they launched.

Showmax was launched in 2015 at R99 per month — the price it still charges today for the Showmax Entertainment package.

MultiChoice launched its streaming-only DStv packages in 2020, with its top-end Premium plan initially priced at R819.

The service was later reduced to R699 before being increased to R799. Even so, it remains cheaper than when it originally rolled out four years ago.

MultiChoice also recently introduced a 12-month contract that fixes DStv Stream Premium at its old price of R699 for a year.

That price is particularly noteworthy because it is the same as the cost of a regular DStv Premium satellite subscription a decade ago.