Cheaper DStv: New packages take effect November 5 as government targets ghost boxes

The government has reached a new agreement with Canal+ and MultiChoice Ghana to introduce cheaper DStv subscription packages as part of efforts to make pay television more affordable and discourage the use of pirated services and illegal “ghost boxes”.

Under the new arrangement, which takes effect on November 5, the existing six DStv packages will be replaced with four — Starter, Select, Sports and Ultimate — priced at GH¢50, GH¢100, GH¢250 and GH¢570 a month respectively.

Details of the agreement were announced at a joint press conference in Accra today, Monday, October 26, 2026, where the parties outlined the new subscription structure and measures being pursued to tackle piracy in the pay television ecosystem.

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the government’s engagement with MultiChoice and Canal+ had been driven by the need to protect the interests of Ghanaian consumers by making television content more affordable. “I think that for us, when we began this journey with MultiChoice and now, Canal Plus, the question had been very simple. How do we put content in the hands or in the homes of Ghanaian families at a price that is affordable? The Ghanaian consumer is our ultimate interest,” he said.

He further stated that the government was awaiting an opinion from the Attorney-General’s Department before embarking on a major crackdown on illegal television streaming and ghost boxes. He said the National Communications Authority and the Cyber Security Authority had already reviewed the proposed technical solutions and found them viable for tackling piracy, including measures involving the blocking of IP addresses used for illegal streaming.

Mr George said the government wanted to ensure that all legal implications were addressed before enforcement began, adding that a committee comprising the ministry, NCA, MultiChoice, National Security, Customs and other relevant institutions would continue to coordinate the exercise and protect consumers.

The GH¢250 Sports package would carry the company’s entire football offering, including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, compared with GH¢563 currently required to access the full football offering. Ultimate, which replaces the current GH¢854 Premium package, would cost GH¢570 and include additional premium sports such as Formula One, golf, tennis, MotoGP and rugby.

“This is not a promo. These are the new packs, new prices that are here to stay. These are the new packs, new prices that are here to stay. So, I think that answers the question,” Mr Okyere said.

The Executive Vice-President of Public Affairs for Rest of Africa at Canal+, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, described the agreement as a product of sustained engagement between the company and the government and an example of the benefits expected from the Canal+ and MultiChoice merger. He said piracy remained a major threat to the creative industry because illegal consumption of content deprived people across the production value chain of income, including producers, actors, costume designers and make-up artists.

Dr Modimoeng said Canal+ was, therefore, encouraged that combating piracy had been made a priority, stressing that protecting content was ultimately about safeguarding livelihoods. He added that the country’s macroeconomic and currency stability had also made it easier for the company to undertake projections and cost modelling necessary for sustainable pricing.