Kenya’s broadcasting sector recorded a strong rebound in Q1 FY 2025/26, according to the latest CA report, with total broadcasting subscriptions rising 13.7% to reach 1.678 million users. The growth was largely driven by Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite services, while cable TV suffered a steep decline.
DTT subscriptions jumped 17.1%, rising from 806,850 to 944,913. GOtv led the charge with an impressive 41.2% quarterly surge, bringing its subscriber base to 444,007. StarTimes DTT, meanwhile, posted modest but consistent growth of 1.7%. This trend reflects continued demand for affordable terrestrial packages, especially in urban and peri-urban regions where DTT infrastructure remains widely available.
But the biggest surprise this quarter came from the DTH segment. Subscriptions climbed 13.9%, reaching 686,604 users, with DStv recording a dramatic 43% jump from 188,824 to 270,017 subscribers. This is one of MultiChoice Kenya’s strongest quarterly performances in recent years and may be tied to the return of the new Premier League and UEFA Champions League season.
StarTimes DTH and Azam also grew modestly by 1.7% and 3.2%, respectively, while Zuku DTH dropped slightly. This mixed performance underscores a shifting consumer preference toward premium entertainment, especially in households now equipped with fast broadband, a trend connected to the fixed Internet growth we outlined in our analysis of Kenya’s leading ISPs.
Cable TV, however, continued its steep decline. Subscriptions fell 29.5%, from 66,865 to 47,125, with Zuku Cable suffering the biggest hit at –30.6%. Cable One and CTN Mombasa also recorded declines. The rapid growth of fixed Internet and streaming services is likely accelerating the migration from cable to OTT platforms like Showmax, Netflix, and YouTube.
| Category | Operator | Sep-25 | Jun-25 | Quarterly Variation (%) |
| DTT | Go TV | 444,007 | 314,520 | 41.2 |
| Star Times | 500,906 | 492,330 | 1.7 | |
| Sub-Total | 944,913 | 806,850 | 17.1 | |
| DTH | Azam | 31,069 | 30,095 | 3.2 |
| MultiChoice (DSTV) | 270,017 | 188,824 | 43.0 | |
| Star Times | 199,270 | 195,948 | 1.7 | |
| Wananchi (Zuku) | 186,248 | 187,839 | -0.8 | |
| Sub-Total | 686,604 | 602,706 | 13.9 | |
| Cable | Cable One | 1,281 | 1,316 | -2.7 |
| CTN (MSA) | 398 | 484 | -17.8 | |
| Wananchi (ZUKU) | 44,593 | 64,212 | -30.6 | |
| Hirani | 758 | 758 | 0.0 | |
| Wadani Cable | 95 | 95 | 0.0 | |
| Sub-Total | 47,125 | 66,865 | -29.5 | |
| Total | 1,678,642 | 1,476,421 | 13.7 |
The combined growth of DTT and DTH suggests that traditional broadcasting is not dying. It is evolving. Households unable or unwilling to adopt full-scale streaming remain loyal to linear TV, especially for sports, local content, and news. Meanwhile, premium satellite TV continues to consolidate its space through aggressive sports rights and multi-tier pricing.
As connectivity expands, whether through fibre, wireless home Internet, or nationwide 4G and 5G coverage, Kenya’s broadcasting landscape will continue to blur between traditional and digital models. But for now, DTT and DTH remain firmly in demand, even as cable TV edges closer to obsolescence.
