Netflix sends DStv, GOtv packing as Kenya dumps pay-TV

Kenya's television subscription market experienced massive disruptions as MultiChoice platforms lost millions of customers to digital streaming alternatives. DStv registrations collapsed from 1.2 million to 188,824 subscribers while GOtv memberships plummeted from 2.79 million to 314,520 users during the twelve-month period ending June 2025. The Communications Authority revised its counting method to track active revenue-generating accounts rather than total registrations, yet the 76.9 percent decline across all pay-television services signals fundamental consumer behavior changes. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube gained ground as mobile internet access expanded to 78.2 percent of data users, prompting younger audiences to abandon traditional channel packages for flexible on-demand entertainment options.