For years, the cluster of decoders beneath the television set in Olumide Adeoye’s sitting room symbolised modern home entertainment. There was a GOtv decoder and a StarTimes decoder and, at one point, two FreeTV decoders connected to dishes mounted outside his home and photography studio in Ibadan, Oyo State. Today, the devices remain in the house but no longer serve the purpose for which they were bought. Instead, they sit quietly beneath a smart television, serving as little more than decorative relics.
The 37-year-old photographer said the decoders, once central to family viewing, have gradually been replaced by internet-enabled entertainment platforms. “In my house, I have GOtv, StarTimes and FreeTV decoders. I bought them at different times over the years. GOtv was the first.
Later, someone introduced StarTimes to me and I bought it for my photography shop. Then I got two FreeTV decoders from a friend in Ilorin, one for the shop and one for the house,” Adeoye told Saturday PUNCH.
According to him, the transition away from pay television happened gradually until the family realised they no longer had any reason to renew their subscriptions. “We now have a smart TV. I download movies and music from YouTube and other platforms onto a flash drive and we watch as many as we want. If I want to watch the news, I connect the television to my phone’s hotspot and go to YouTube. Almost all the major news platforms stream their programmes live.
So why do I need to subscribe to a decoder again?” The shift has become so complete that even the satellite dishes and connecting cables have been removed. “One of my children told me one day to throw the decoders away since we no longer use them. I told her to leave them there, but we have removed all the cables and dish panels,” he said. When our correspondent visited Adeoye’s house, the family, including the children, were in the sitting room watching the smart TV. No one was holding a remote; instead, a mobile hotspot connected the television to YouTube, where a Yoruba movie was streaming.
Beneath the television sat two decoders. Similarly, 55-year-old Chukwudi Armstrong first subscribed to DStv in 2009 and remained a customer for more than a decade.
But four months ago, he finally unplugged his decoders. For him, the decision was driven largely by economic realities. “They increase their fees arbitrarily, and there is no stable electricity,” he complained. The money once spent on pay-TV subscriptions, he said, is now directed towards more pressing household needs. “I discovered that something I used to spend about N2, 000 on, rose to about N16,000 monthly. When the economy became terrible, it was one of the things I dropped.
I told my family to just use their phones to watch movies and other programmes.” The experiences of Adeoye and Armstrong reflect a quiet but significant transformation taking place in many Nigerian homes. As subscription costs rise, internet access expands and smart devices become more common, traditional pay-TV services that once dominated living rooms are increasingly losing ground to streaming platforms. MultiChoice loses 1.4 million subscribers MultiChoice, the owner of DStv and GOtv, disclosed in its audited financial reports for the year ended March 2025 that it lost about 1.4 million subscribers in Nigeria between 2023 and 2025.
The company revealed that Nigeria accounted for approximately 77 per cent of subscriber losses recorded across its ‘Rest of Africa’ operations during the period. It attributed the decline to rising inflation, repeated price increases, fuel scarcity and persistent electricity challenges.
According to the report, subscription revenue from Nigeria fell by 44 per cent to $197.74m in the financial year under review, compared with $355.93m recorded in the corresponding period a year earlier. Despite the losses, MultiChoice maintained that it still had 14.5 million subscribers across its operations at the end of the financial year. The pay-TV giant has also faced content-related challenges. In December 2025, Canal+, which completed the acquisition of MultiChoice, announced that access to 12 major Warner Bros.
Discovery channels, including CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC and Cartoon Network, could be withdrawn from January 1, 2026, if a new distribution agreement was not reached. However, checks by Saturday PUNCH showed that some of the affected channels, including CNN, Discovery Family, Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, remained available as of June 2026. Surge in internet consumption As decoder subscriptions decline, internet data consumption is rising significantly. Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that average monthly data usage per active subscriber increased from about 3.3 gigabytes in January 2023 to approximately 7.4 gigabytes by May 2025.
It was noted that the increase was driven largely by growing demand for video streaming, online television, social media content and other internet-based entertainment services, rather than by growth in subscriber numbers alone. NCC statistics further showed that internet consumption in Nigeria reached approximately 13.2 million terabytes in 2025, representing a 35 per cent increase from the previous year. Active internet subscriptions also surpassed 142 million, while broadband penetration crossed the 50 per cent mark for the first time. Industry projections suggest the trend is likely to continue.
Data from Statista forecasts sustained growth in Nigeria’s subscription video-on-demand market through 2027, with the number of streaming users expected to increase steadily over the coming years. Similarly, a report by Technology Times revealed that average monthly data consumption per active MTN Nigeria subscriber increased from about 500MB in 2017 to approximately 14GB in 2026.
Across the wider telecommunications industry, data traffic reached 4.06 million terabytes in the first quarter of 2026 alone, translating to roughly 28GB per subscriber during the three-month period. Despite Nigeria’s population being estimated at over 200 million, internet connectivity continues to expand at a remarkable pace. Data from the NCC showed that active internet subscriptions rose from 169.3 million in January 2025 to 182.2 million by January 2026, reflecting growing reliance on mobile internet services and digital platforms across the country. The surge in connectivity has further accelerated the shift towards streaming services, social media platforms and online entertainment, intensifying competition for traditional pay-TV operators.
Subscription fees, data costs rise While data usage continues to rise, both internet and television consumers have been grappling with higher costs. GOtv subscription rates have increased significantly in recent years.
The company’s basic package, which previously cost about N2,700 monthly, now costs N3,900, while premium packages have risen from around N12,500 to N16,800. Similarly, DStv Premium subscriptions increased from N29,500 to N44,500 monthly following a series of tariff reviews. Telecommunications services have also become more expensive. In February 2025, MTN announced the implementation of a new tariff structure.
The popular 1.5GB monthly plan previously priced at N1,000 was replaced with a 1.8GB bundle costing N1,500, while the 15GB plan rose from N4,500 to N6,500, and the 20GB bundle increased from N5,500 to N7,500. Larger plans also recorded sharp increases, with the 1.5TB 90-day package rising from N150,000 to N225,000 and the 600GB package increasing from N75,000 to N120,000. A check on MTN’s website on Tuesday showed that the 800GB yearly plan currently costs N125,000.
Meanwhile, on Netflix, one of the world’s leading streaming platforms, the Mobile plan costs N2,500 monthly, while the Basic plan, which supports television viewing, is priced at N4,000. The Standard package costs N6,000, while the Premium plan is available for N8,500 per month. Many consumers say they now prefer platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and MovieBox, which offer on-demand content at lower or no subscription costs beyond data. Streaming reshaping entertainment, news consumption The rise of streaming platforms has altered how audiences consume entertainment worldwide, offering viewers the freedom to watch content whenever and wherever they choose.
Popular platforms such as YouTube and TikTok are free to access aside from data charges, allowing users to stream movies, music, news and short-form videos without additional subscription fees. Netflix, in a post on its website, stated that it is “entertaining over half a billion people in more than 190 countries and 50 languages, programmed for just about every taste and culture.” Globally, YouTube has also emerged as one of the dominant players in digital entertainment, offering free access for both content creators and viewers.
According to market intelligence platform Resourcera, YouTube had approximately 2.83 billion users as of March 2026 and is projected to reach 2.91 billion users by the end of the year. YouTube Shorts generates more than 200 billion views daily. More than 1.8 million hours of video content are uploaded to the platform every day, and YouTube generated an estimated $60bn in revenue in 2025. The streaming revolution has also transformed Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
With global streaming companies scaling back investments in some African markets, many Nollywood producers have increasingly embraced YouTube as a primary distribution channel. The platform now offers filmmakers direct access to audiences while generating advertising revenue from millions of views. Recent successes highlight the growing influence of streaming. A check by our correspondent on Thursday showed that Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli’s movie, Love in Every Word Part 1, had amassed 33 million views on YouTube, while Part 2, posted seven months ago, had generated 22 million views.
Similarly, Ibrahim Yekini’s Yoruba epic fantasy, Koleoso Part 6 (Season 2), uploaded on the Iteledicon Studio YouTube channel seven months ago, had generated 12 million views. Streaming is also becoming a major source of news consumption. Checks by Saturday PUNCH showed that Arise News had more than 1.21 million YouTube subscribers, while Channels Television had over 3.8 million subscribers as of Thursday. Growing frustration among pay-TV subscribers Several subscribers who spoke with Saturday PUNCH cited repetitive content, high costs and irregular power supply as reasons for abandoning pay-TV.
Tunde Olureti said he stopped subscribing to DStv almost a year ago. “The only reason we subscribed was for cartoons for my children, but I now have better options on YouTube,” he said. Mrs Kate Idowu complained about content repetition and said her family was considering dropping subscriptions to the pay-TV it subscribed to.
Experts call for adaptation Media and technology experts believe pay-TV operators must adapt to remain relevant. An archivist and founder of the Centre for Research, Information Management and Media Development Museum, Dr Raphael James, said his family was considering ending its subscriptions due to the high cost. “I have DStv at home and GOtv at the office. We spend money on both subscriptions. Just two days ago, my daughter advised me to stop subscribing since we have full internet access at the office.
By the end of this month, we will suspend the GOtv subscription there. It no longer makes sense. “Most times, once you make a payment and there is no electricity, the subscription continues counting. If it were a pay-as-you-go service, it would have been much better,” he said. Similarly, Mrs Felicia Akerele said her household no longer prioritises pay-TV subscriptions because of irregular electricity supply.
She said, “We leave home in the morning and return at night without electricity. Sometimes power only comes in the middle of the night. Are we going to wake up at midnight to watch movies? It is not possible.
If we subscribe, we may not use it for more than three days in a month. It is simply a waste.” A businessman, Ajayi Babatunde, said his family switched almost entirely to internet streaming after acquiring a smart television. Parents hold on, children move on For many Gen Z viewers, the appeal of pay-TV is fading fast.
While some parents remain attached to traditional television, younger Nigerians are increasingly turning away from decoders in favour of streaming platforms that offer them greater flexibility, wider content choices and on-demand viewing. A Mass Communication student at Lead City University, Osuagwu Victory, said repetitive programming has pushed her online. She said, “Pay-TV no longer show new content, and most times the movies and cartoons are repeated.” Another student, Jimoh Teniola, said that although his family still subscribes to GOtv, his personal entertainment habits revolve around streaming services. Similarly, Ayomide Olopoeniyan said he now relies more on online platforms than traditional television.
He said, “We have a Pay-TV at home, and my parents still watch it. I use it mainly for football, but platforms like Netflix and MovieBox offer more movie options.” According to Funke Akapo, an undergraduate, short movie clips on Facebook help her discover the latest movies, which she either downloads from YouTube or watches on the MovieBox streaming platform.
However, not everyone is ready to abandon the decoder. The Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Lukman Abioye, believes pay-TV still enjoys strong loyalty among older viewers. He said, “I do not think the internet poses a serious threat to DStv, GOtv or other pay-TV platforms. The internet is more popular among Gen Z users, but many older viewers and housewives still prefer traditional television channels.” Supporting Abioye’s view, a teacher, Mrs Comfort Alawode, said she remains comfortable with conventional television viewing despite the growing popularity of streaming services.
She said, “I still prefer GOtv because it is easier. I find it more convenient.
However, I use my phone to watch programmes whenever there is no electricity.” Content creators embrace streaming platforms The migration to streaming platforms is not limited to viewers alone. According to content creators who spoke in separate interviews, digital platforms have lowered entry barriers, expanded audience reach and created new income opportunities that were previously difficult to access through traditional pay-TV channels. A content creator, Joachim Ituah, popularly known as Joe_ijo on Instagram, said platforms such as YouTube have simplified content distribution for independent creators. “It is more difficult and expensive to create content for pay-TV than for social media. You cannot simply create content and expect them to accept it the way YouTube would.
With streaming platforms, creators can upload their content directly and reach audiences without going through lengthy approval processes,” he said. Similarly, streamer and content creator, Great Ayere, popularly known as Khalamanja, said the rise of streaming platforms has weakened the gate-keeping culture that once limited opportunities for many creatives in the entertainment industry. “There is a lot of gatekeeping in the movie industry. In the past, many people could not reach certain levels because they needed approval from a few powerful individuals. Today, creators can make money from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, so why should I have to kneel before anyone to get a chance?” he said.
Ayere added that streaming services now offer viewers greater flexibility, better content variety and improved viewing quality than traditional pay-TV services. “I honestly cannot remember the last time I used a decoder at home. For a lower cost, I can access more content through streaming platforms. There are simply more options available, and the streaming quality is often better,” he added. Why subscribers are reducing — Pay-TV installers Speaking in an interview, a Lagos-based decoder installer, Modupe Shomuyiwa, said many customers cite the economy, poor power supply and repetitive content as reasons for discontinuing subscriptions.
She said, “There has been a decline because of the economy and unstable electricity supply. Most of our subscribers are football lovers and families with children who enjoy cartoons. “Some customers tell us they stopped subscribing because programmes are constantly repeated. If the issue of repetitive content is addressed, things may improve.” Another installer, Abiodun Ogunleye, said internet streaming has become a strong competitor to traditional pay-TV services. He said, “Since the internet became widely available, many people now prefer streaming to watching television through a decoder.” The Chief Executive Officer of Chimex Communications and a satellite decoder dealer in Ikorodu, Chimezie Emmanuel, said rising subscription costs were largely responsible for the decline in DStv and GOtv patronage.
He said, “The internet requires a constant connection to watch content, but you can switch on your decoder and leave it running. However, DStv and GOtv sales have declined because many people can no longer afford the subscriptions.” Senate, MultiChoice disagree over pay-per-view model The debate over how Nigerians should pay for television content is not new. Long before the recent wave of subscriber losses and the rise of streaming platforms, lawmakers had repeatedly questioned the subscription model operated by pay-TV providers, particularly MultiChoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv. In September 2022, the Senate called for the introduction of a pay-per-view model that would allow subscribers to pay only for the content they watch rather than paying fixed monthly subscriptions.
The Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating recurring subscription price hikes, chaired by the then Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, was mandated to examine consumer complaints. The hearing came months after the House of Representatives adopted recommendations supporting a pay-as-you-go model and tariff reductions for DStv and other satellite television operators. Lawmakers argued that subscribers should not be compelled to pay for channels they neither watch nor need, particularly amid worsening economic conditions.
However, MultiChoice maintained that the proposal was impracticable and commercially unsustainable. Speaking at the hearing, the then Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, told lawmakers that previous legal and legislative efforts aimed at compelling the company to adopt a pay-per-view model had failed because the system was not commercially viable.
According to him, pay television differs significantly from telecommunications services, where consumers are charged based on usage. In a renewed effort, the Senate recently called again for the introduction of a Pay-As-You-Go billing system. The issue resurfaced during the screening of the Minister of Power nominee, Joseph Tegbe, in May 2026, when the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, raised concerns about the current subscription structure operated by MultiChoice. The Senate President noted that the Pay-As-You-Go model is already operational in several countries, including South Africa, and questioned why Nigerian consumers had been denied similar privileges despite paying increasingly higher subscription fees.
Following the discussion, Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Telecommunications to invite DStv management for questioning and report its findings to the Senate. Technology driving Nigerians away from decoders Technology entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of HoganHost and ZuumHost, Joseph Effiok, said the future of home entertainment clearly favours streaming platforms.
According to him, most streaming services offer newer and more diverse content than traditional decoder-based television services. He said, “Everything is evolving digitally. From the look of things, decoders will eventually phase out. People now use smart TVs with streaming applications already installed.
Internet consumption is growing rapidly, and more Nigerians are getting connected every day. “With the expansion of 5G networks and improved connectivity, streaming will only become stronger.” Also, the Chief Customer Relations and Experience Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, said changing digital lifestyles and the rapid growth of online applications were driving increased internet usage among Nigerians. Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, she noted that consumers now rely on multiple internet-powered services and platforms for communication, entertainment, education, and information.
According to her, applications such as YouTube, WhatsApp, and several other digital services have significantly altered how people consume content, contributing to the steady rise in data consumption across the country. Experts insist on pay-per-view Media and technology experts have said pay-TV operators must adapt quickly or risk losing relevance in an increasingly digital entertainment ecosystem. A lecturer in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Dr Francis Amenaghawon, insisted that operators must embrace more flexible pricing models. He said, “For MultiChoice and others, they need to do what they do in countries like South Africa and adopt a pay-per-view model.
Subscribers should pay only for what they watch. “With Africa’s electricity challenges, they must evolve if they want to survive. Technology is forcing every traditional medium to adapt. Newspapers, radio, and television have all moved online. The internet has given Nigerians unlimited options.
If these companies do not evolve quickly, they may face extinction.” A Professor of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Lambert Ihebuzor, also advocated a pay-as-you-go billing model. He said, “If people subscribe and there is no electricity for days, the subscription still expires at the end of the month. That is unfair. If they do not address this issue, people have every right to move away because this exploitation must stop.” Efforts to obtain an official response from MultiChoice Nigeria were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The company was contacted through its Public Relations Manager, Jennifer Ukoh, who requested questions via text message. A reminder was also sent, but no response had been received as of the time of filing this report.