Ugandans appear to have reached their limit with TV cable service providers, particularly MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv and GoTV, focusing on DStv in this instance. This company is among the largest on the continent, especially in Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.
DStv has operated in Uganda for more than twenty years, but there seems to be a recent shift towards alternative services among Ugandans. These alternatives are reportedly more affordable while offering services comparable to those of DStv. This situation has led the South African-based company to lodge a complaint with the UCC recently regarding the unauthorized use of its services by certain decoders.
Ugandans have taken to social media to express their grievances about the fees imposed by DStv, particularly in comparison to other African nations. For example, a Nigerian pays 91,000 shillings for DStv premium, while a Ugandan is charged 275,000 shillings for the same service.
As a result, netizens are demanding an explanation from DStv as to why Ugandans face triple the charges for identical services available in other countries where DStv operates. It should be noted that the company is particularly well-known for its sports coverage globally, especially for the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League. However, with recent technological advancements, many people now stream football using their mobile devices, smart TVs, and computers.
All that is required is a stable Internet connection for this. Consequently, they do not perceive the necessity of paying high subscription fees for DStv, especially since they are often not at home to watch it. Numerous netizens have taken to social media to boast about how they no longer subscribe to DStv while still accessing its channels through other service providers.
It appears that this may be the reason the company has opted to file complaints with the UCC to eliminate these more affordable alternatives, which are causing significant revenue losses for DStv.
