A few weeks ago, when Multichoice was announcing a bundle bringing both a Showmax subscription plus Safaricom data, I got to ask about the DSTv app to the relevant parties. I was told Multichoice was planing on an eventual rollout – later this year – of the DSTV App as a standalone product that wouldn’t need users to buy a dish and decoder.
I don’t have DSTv. I’ve never had DSTv. I don’t follow football that much, and never watch live TV. Netflix, Prime, YouTube, and Showmax Pro do it for me. I was however considering getting the DSTV app subscription once it became standalone.
With the latest announcement though – that only one person can stream on DSTV app at a given time – it seems this company truly doesn’t understand the digital age. They’re really hell-bent on making no sense to the customers they want to attract.
Whereas online content platforms from Netflix, to Prime Video and even Showmax allow multiple users to stream consecutively, Multichoice believes limiting it to one user at a time is the way to go…?
Why DSTv is limiting streaming to one user:
Ah, its for the flimsiest of reasons. “It’s one of many ongoing measures to counteract password sharing and piracy,” they say in their FAQs.
First of all, they should be clear: how does having multiple users encourage piracy? If it does, how have companies like Netflix, and Amazon handled the situation?
Secondly, what’s the point of having a streaming option if only one person gets to access it? Why have such a feature anyways?
Workarounds?
There are none. Perhaps find another platform that understands the digital age? Or just follow their rules:
- Don’t stream, just buy the decoder. That would make them happy.
- Download offline content. Multichoice hasn’t been clear on how many of the 4 allowed logins can download offline content at the same time.
What are your thoughts?
Are you a DSTv user? What do you use more: the decoder, or the app for streaming? Does the new announcement affect you? And how?
I’ve been trying to play DStv on my smart to but it’s seems like nothing is working out
DSTV continues to be tone deaf and wonders why customers are continually turning to other options. This new strategy makes no sense at all. Safe to say, a new wave of users will now turn away from the service.