Warning to DStv streaming pirates in South Africa

MultiChoice’s latest annual results show that its copyright software protection company, Irdeto, has intensified its streaming piracy crackdown.

MultiChoice said the company “materially stepped up” its focus to support the group in combating piracy, which has become a major challenge for broadcasters globally.

Irdeto raided or disconnected 49,000 streaming pirates in MultiChoice’s 2025 financial year, up 63% from 30,000 in 2024.

MultiChoice previously revealed a big increase in court cases registered against pirate streaming service operators in the first half of its 2025 financial year.

Between April and September 2024, it filed 233 anti-piracy cases, more than double the number over the same period in 2024.

In South Africa, Irdeto has been working closely with the police and other law enforcement authorities to track down and raid operators of illegal IPTV streaming services, including Waka TV.

Among the many major successful anti-piracy activities carried out during the 2025 financial year were the following:

• 31 May 2024 — A raid in Western Cape leads to the arrest of a key suspect involved in Waka TV operations.
• 6 June 2024 — A suspect arrested in Gauteng for the illegal sale of illegal streaming devices which provided access to MultiChoice content.
• 26 July 2024 — A suspect arrested in Eldorado Park for selling login credentials and streaming devices, which enabled illegal access to premium content.
• 6 September 2024 — A criminal arrested in Germiston for being involved in the notorious internet streaming piracy operation Waka TV.
• 19 September 2024 — A successful raid in Worcester cracked down on the illegal distribution of login credentials that allowed unauthorised access to premium content.
• 29 October 2024 — One person arrested for selling modified streaming devices providing access to illegal streaming services.
• 30 October 2024 — Three suspects arrested after raid in Booysens, Johannesburg, uncovers distribution network supplying modified devices providing access to illegal streaming services.
• 25 February 2025 — Successful raid on illegal Waka TV operation in the Western Cape, resulting in arrest of police sergeant allegedly involved in the
• 7 March 2025 — Reseller of modified streaming devices and Waka TV codes arrested in Meadowlands, Gauteng.

The courts have also found several people arrested by law enforcement through collaboration with Irdeto guilty of the Cybercrimes Act, with rulings including substantial fines and suspended prison sentences.

Irdeto a bright spot in MultiChoice results

Irdeto was also a standout financial performer in MultiChoice’s businesses, with 5% year-on-year revenue growth.

While revenues from services provided to MultiChoice declined due to the challenges faced by DStv’s satellite business in Africa, Irdeto showed strong growth in overseas markets.

That was driven by increased market share and external customer revenues in the video entertainment, gaming, and connected transport segments.

“Video entertainment revenue was up by 7% year-on-year in USD, well above industry levels due to key strategic customer wins,” MultiChoice said.

“The implementation phase of the transformational project with Astro, the leading video entertainment provider in South East Asia, contributed strongly to external top line growth.”

The company secured 7.4 billion streaming during the year, an increase of 14% from 6.5 billion in the 2024 financial year.

It also delivered 413 million conditional access systems compared to 395 million last year and grew revenue from new service lines to 42%, up from 35.7% in 2024.

Irdeto’s gaming and connected transport segments grew revenues year-on-year by 7% and 25%. Among its most well known products is the Denuvo digital rights management software.

“In gaming, Irdeto expanded revenue from game releases in China and leveraged its core cybersecurity competencies to better service customers,” MultiChoice said.

“In connected transport, Irdeto has deployed its digital key solution to the truck fleets of two of the three largest logistics companies operating in the US market.”