Companies STREAMING SERVICES MultiChoice calls for Netflix to be regulated BL PREMIUM

MultiChoice, the pay-TV operator that continues to bleed subscribers, is fighting tooth and nail to remain relevant amid tough competition from online streaming services. The pay-TV operator lost more than 100,000 premium subscribers in the previous financial year. It has lost a further 40,000 subscribers to date. MultiChoice SA CEO Calvo Mawela attributed this loss of business to unregulated competition from video-streaming company Netflix, saying it had an unfair advantage as it was not under any regulatory pressure in SA. However, MultiChoice, which owns DStv, said it was aware that failure to adapt its business model could make it a victim of digital disruption. Mawela said MultiChoice was cognisant of the fact that viewer habits had changed, with people wanting to watch more content online. He said that while traditional satellite broadcasting still appealed to a significant number of subscribers, the company was actively looking to capture the online audience. It had therefore...