MultiChoice Group is testing a weekly subscription model as the pay-TV giant grapples with the loss of 2.8 million subscribers across its African markets.

The company has been running a pilot program in Uganda for seven weeks, with plans to potentially roll out the flexible payment option to other markets within three to six months if results prove successful.

CEO Calvo Mawela explained the strategy during a recent interview with South Africa’s Sunday Times, emphasizing that the weekly model would better match customers’ income patterns in markets where many people earn money daily or weekly.

“This represents a significant shift in our approach,” Mawela said. “We believe that offering weekly passes will provide relief for customers facing financial pressure, similar to how prepaid services transformed the telecommunications sector.”

The company is also exploring modifications to its channel packaging, though Mawela ruled out complete à la carte selection. Instead, MultiChoice is considering a system where subscribers begin with a basic package and can add individual channels as desired.

These strategic changes come after MultiChoice reported substantial subscriber losses in its latest financial results for the year ending March 31, 2025. Nigeria bore the brunt of the exodus, losing approximately 1.4 million subscribers, largely attributed to repeated price increases. The most recent tariff hike of 21 percent has placed additional strain on customers already struggling with economic pressures.

The subscriber decline reflects broader challenges facing the pay-TV industry in Africa, where economic uncertainty and increased competition from streaming services have forced traditional broadcasters to reconsider their pricing and service models.