MultiChoice Impact in Kenya’s ICT Sector Wins Accolades 20 Years Later

MultiChoice is celebrating 20 years since its entry into Kenya with stakeholders hailing the company for its role in pioneering the growth of the country’s economy through the entertainment, broadcasting, sports, education and most importantly the ICT sector.

According to a survey conducted by Deloitte in Kenya, the impact of MultiChoice on the Kenyan economy consists of both the impact from its own operations, and the wider spillover effects resulting from it. For instance, through its contributions to analogue switch-off, MultiChoice largely assisted the release of the spectrum that can be used for alternative services, including mobile broadband and broadcast services, helping unlock significant economic benefits.

“We imported over 1.5million set top boxes to support the digital switchover and spent over USD500, 000 in generating public awareness about the digital migration process alone,” said Mr. Stephen Isaboke, East Africa Regional Director of MultiChoice Investments Holdings Limited.

“I am pleased to note that MultiChoice further helped in promoting the penetration of its set top boxes by subsidizing the cost of the GOtv decoders. Total MultiChoice subsidies in 2015 stood at US Dollars 40 million equivalent to Sh4.2 billion,” said Mr. Francis Wangusi Communication Authority of Kenya, Director-General.

In 2008, MultiChoice pioneered mobile payments in Kenya by offering, at the time, its DStv consumers a convenient platform to make payments from the comfort of their homes.

“We were among the first B2B partners with Safaricom to roll out a mobile money payment service (Lipa na M-Pesa) that facilitated timely face to face payments for DStv by our customers.  These customers who are also Safaricom customers make payments for DStv subscription from their M-Pesa account when they visit a Multichoice outlet in Kenya. Today, over 80percent of our clients prefer mobile over cash payments,” said Mr. Isaboke.

The roll out of GOtv is also among the most outstanding and life-changing innovations that allowed access to global channels at best affordable rates.

“MultiChoice has been at the forefront of championing this transition and formed a subsidiary in 2011 called GOtv using digital terrestrial technology to help the Government achieve a speedy migration while offering consumers affordable digital entertainment,” said Mr. Isaboke adding on that GOtv has witnessed phenomenal growth in the four years it has existed to become Kenya’s most preferred mass market pay television brand.

Stakeholders in the entertainment industry also hail MultiChoice’s role in promoting local production. In 2011, for example, the company produced, commissioned or licenced more than 45 shows in Kenya, and commissioned 116 local films.

“We have invested in  a  regional production  hub  worth  over  Sh3.2  billion    that  will develop  skills  in  the  creative,  sport,  technology  and related industries as part of its long term commitment to providing the best local and international channels using  the  latest  and  best  technology  platforms available worldwide,” said Mr. Isaboke.

DStv and GOtv also provides a combined 9,300hours broadcast for local content contributing to the visibility of Kenyan and East African culture on-air through investing in prominent local shows and local channels.

As it kicks off the celebration of 20 years in Kenya, MultiChoice’s aim is to stay true to its vision  of  enriching  the  lives of  its subscribers  by  surrounding  them  with  a  world  of entertainment.  “Our  mission  is  to  enable  families to  enjoy  the best digital  television  in Africa  anytime, anywhere and on any device,”  Mr. Isaboke said.