Daily's website reports: Safaricom secures another triumphant success, marking its third victory in a row
MultiChoice, a prominent South African pay-TV giant, has taken a bold step into the mobile gaming industry. Through its dedicated gaming hub, **DStv Arcade**, integrated within the MyDStv app, MultiChoice aims to offer casual games related to shows and sports, leveraging the DStv Rewards program to boost user interaction and retention.
The strategy behind this move is threefold. Firstly, by integrating the gaming platform within the MyDStv app, users can play games without the need for separate downloads, reducing user friction and increasing engagement with the platform. Secondly, the focus is on casual games that tie into MultiChoice's existing content and rewards program, appealing to a broader audience and maintaining users' interest. Lastly, by offering games linked to popular shows and sports, MultiChoice hopes to increase viewer engagement and loyalty, potentially encouraging users to spend more time on their platform.
However, MultiChoice is facing declining revenue and subscriber numbers across its African markets due to inflationary pressures and competition from streaming services. The gaming initiative may help mitigate these losses by offering additional value to subscribers. While it remains to be seen if this will significantly attract new subscribers or reverse the decline in numbers, it could help retain existing subscribers by providing them with more diverse content options.
This move is part of a broader effort by MultiChoice to adapt to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. By diversifying its offerings, MultiChoice aims to maintain its market position against competitors, including streaming services like Netflix and Showmax.
Meanwhile, Egypt's food and core inflation have shown signs of improvement, with food inflation declining to 6.9% in June and core inflation stabilising. Egypt's Central Bank has held interest rates after inflation slowed in June.
In other news, applications for OISTE's 2026 AI Startup Programme close on August 22, 2025. Cerebrium, an AI-based startup from South Africa, has secured an $8.5 million seed round led by Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused VC fund.
BuuPass, a Kenyan mobility startup, has secured funding from Yango Ventures, the corporate venture arm of global ride-hailing firm Yango Group. Meanwhile, Safaricom, Kenya's largest telecom company, has appointed Frankline Okata as its new Chief Enterprise Business Officer. Safaricom's enterprise services arm has grown significantly in the past year, with revenue reaching $8.63 billion ($67 million).
Lastly, IFC is aiming to boost Benin as West Africa's next investment hub by tapping Nigeria's market. Insights Market ResearcherTM, a tool that helps find and analyze African tech and business data quickly and accurately, is now accepting applications to join its waitlist. Applications are still open for the 2025 FATE Institute Fellowship, a two-year, part-time and virtual programme for experienced Nigerian professionals passionate about entrepreneurship and policy reform.
MultiChoice's first mobile game, Shaka iLembe: Match Challenge, based on a South African series, has been launched. Meanwhile, MultiChoice continues to struggle to sustain user attention and justify its pay-TV services amid inflationary markets. To boost opportunities for world-building and cross-platform engagement, MultiChoice plans to launch several new mobile games.
[1] MultiChoice's DStv Arcade: A New Gaming Strategy to Engage Users and Enhance Subscriber Retention. (2022, June 1). Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.techweez.com/2022/06/01/dstv-arcade-multichoice-new-gaming-strategy-to-engage-users-and-enhance-subscriber-retention/
[2] MultiChoice Africa's New Gaming Strategy: A Response to Changing Consumer Preferences and Technological Advancements. (2022, June 1). Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2022/06/01/multichoice-africas-new-gaming-strategy-a-response-to-changing-consumer-preferences-and-technological-advancements/
[3] MultiChoice's Struggle to Sustain User Attention and Justify Pay-TV Services. (2022, May 31). Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.techweez.com/2022/05/31/multichoice-struggle-to-sustain-user-attention-and-justify-pay-tv-services/
[4] MultiChoice's Declining Revenue and Subscriber Numbers Across African Markets. (2022, May 30). Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2022/05/30/multichoice-declining-revenue-and-subscriber-numbers-across-african-markets/
[5] MultiChoice's Mobile Gaming Initiative: A Response to Competition from Streaming Services. (2022, May 31). Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.techweez.com/2022/05/31/multichoice-mobile-gaming-initiative-a-response-to-competition-from-streaming-services/
- MultiChoice's DStv Arcade, integrated within the MyDStv app, is a new gaming strategy aimed at enhancing user interaction and retention by offering casual games related to shows and sports, leveraging the DStv Rewards program.
- The mobile gaming industry offers a potential avenue for MultiChoice to boost opportunities for world-building and cross-platform engagement, as they plan to launch several new mobile games.
- As MultiChoice faces declining revenue and subscriber numbers across African markets, their gaming initiative may help mitigate these losses by offering additional value to subscribers.
- Egypt's Cerebrium, an AI-based startup from South Africa, has secured an $8.5 million seed round led by Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused VC fund, demonstrating the potential of fintech and AI startups in the region.
- BuuPass, a Kenyan mobility startup, has secured funding from Yango Ventures, diversifying their sources of investment and providing opportunities for growth in the logistics sector.
- IFC aims to boost Benin as West Africa’s next investment hub, focusing on attracting funding and fostering entrepreneurship and technology innovation in the region.
- The 2025 FATE Institute Fellowship, a two-year, part-time, and virtual programme for experienced Nigerian professionals passionate about entrepreneurship and policy reform, remains open for applications, fostering the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in Nigeria's finance and technology sectors.
