DStv, GOtv, Zuku, Azam TV, StarTimes
Once upon a time, having a satellite TV in Kenya was a big deal! If your family had DStv, you were among the “rich kids” in the estate. I remember growing up, my friends had DStv, and we only had GOtv. Some of the best channels weren’t available on our TV, and let me tell you, it hurt! Imagine missing out on Cartoon Network, M-Net, or live football matches just because you were on the “lower package.” Those were the days.
Fast forward to today, and things have changed. Death of Satellite TVs in Kenya is increasing day by day. We hardly hear people talking about them anymore. What really happened? Let’s break it down.
The Satellite TV Providers in Kenya
Before we dive into why satellite TVs in Kenya are dying, let’s first list some of the major players we’ve had over the years:
- DStv – The OG of satellite TV, owned by MultiChoice.
- GOtv – Also owned by MultiChoice, but more affordable.
- Zuku – A popular choice for many households.
- Azam TV – Less common but still available.
- StarTimes – Started as a free-to-air decoder but later introduced paid plans.
All these were household names, but now, their dominance is shrinking. Why?
The Slow Death of Satellite TVs in Kenya
Satellite TVs have been a part of Kenyan homes for years, but their relevance is slowly fading. Here’s why:
1. The Rise of Streaming Services
People are shifting to Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. With the internet becoming more affordable, why pay for satellite TV when you can stream whatever you want, whenever you want?
2. Expensive Subscription Fees
Satellite TV packages are too expensive. For example, DStv’s premium package costs more than Ksh 10,000 per month! That’s enough money to buy unlimited Wi-Fi and stream anything. Why would someone choose satellite TV when they can get better content for cheaper?
3. Internet Accessibility is Growing
Back in the day, Wi-Fi was a luxury. Today, many Kenyan homes have affordable home internet from providers like:
- Safaricom Home Fibre
- Zuku Fiber
- Faiba
With fast internet, people no longer need satellite TV to access good content.
4. Limited Content & Annoying Ads
Satellite TVs repeat the same content over and over. Plus, ads are everywhere! Imagine paying for a subscription and still sitting through commercials. With streaming platforms, you watch what you want, ad-free.
5. Piracy and Free Streaming Sites
Let’s be real, Kenyans love a good deal. With so many free streaming sites and Telegram movie channels, many people no longer see the need to pay for satellite TV.
6. Changing Lifestyles
Nowadays, people are busier and more mobile. Watching TV at specific times doesn’t work anymore. With streaming, you can pause, rewind, and watch on the go, something satellite TV doesn’t offer.
Why The Death of Satellite TVs in Kenya?
It’s a combination of many factors: high prices, changing technology, better alternatives, and more flexibility with streaming services. Unless these providers adapt to modern trends, they will continue losing customers. The death of satellite TVs in Kenya is inevitable.
Conclusion
Looking at how things are going, satellite TV in Kenya is slowly becoming a thing of the past. However, this is just our opinion based on research and market trends. If they don’t innovate, they will become irrelevant, just like DVDs and video tapes.
What do you think? Have you ditched satellite TV for streaming? Let us know in the comments!
Yeah I no longer use dstv or gotv as I used to I needed internet and the cost of Netflix is way lower and I will have too much content than the satellite tvs
5 years down the line after ditching my dstv,imagine watching same documentary on repeat for over two years