MultiChoice Uganda Celebrates 30 Years of revolutionizing entertainment

MultiChoice Uganda, the home of great Pay-TV entertainment, has today marked its 30th anniversary celebrations with a grand event to revel its remarkable contribution to Uganda’s entertainment landscape.

The gala at Mestil Hotel, brought together subscribers, key sector stakeholders and trailblazers in the entertainment industry to honour MultiChoice Uganda’s three decades of excellence and impact.

The anniversary event served as a platform for MultiChoice to highlight its journey which has evolved from what was a budding prospect in 1994 to a household staple that has redefined how Ugandans relate with and consume content.

MultiChoice Uganda entered the Ugandan market in 1994 with the vision of becoming the leading provider of first-class entertainment. Over the past 30 years, it has been key in shaping the country’s entertainment landscape

The event was graced by Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, who commended MultiChoice Uganda for elevating the country’s entertainment landscape to an international level by promoting film as a tourist attraction.

“MultiChoice Uganda has played a pivotal role in transforming our media and entertainment landscape. Over the past three decades, they have not only provided exceptional pay-TV services but have also been a beacon of progress and development,” he narrated, “their contributions have been instrumental in our journey especially during the time of transitions from analogue to digital broadcasting, enhancing the quality of television services for millions of Ugandans.”

He explained that, “In alignment with our National Development Plan, MultiChoice Uganda has seamlessly integrated into our vision for a prosperous and technologically advanced Uganda. The National Development Plan emphasizes the importance of digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainable development and socio-economic growth.”

“Through it’s local content development and skills-transfer initiatives in the last few years, MultiChoice Uganda’s efforts have significantly bolstered this vision, ensuring that our citizens have access to world-class entertainment from both local and international content,” he remarked

In his address, Glauco Ferreira, the Regional Director, MultiChoice Africa Holdings, expressed the business’ gratitude to the line ministry, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), acknowledging a conducive regulatory environment. “Marking 30 years is no mean feat, and being able to remain steadfast in our mission is a testament to a regulatory landscape that enables businesses flourish,” he said.

“Our focus remains the same, being Africa’s most-loved storyteller through the incredible local stories you watch on DStv and GOtv across the continent,” Ferreira noted.

Hassan Saleh, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Uganda commended stakeholders including subscribers and staff who been integral to the business and its existence from inception to date.

“Allow me convey our deepest gratitude to our subscribers, staff, multi-sectoral partners, and staff for walking this journey of a thousand miles, the feedback, great campaigns, and collaborative efforts towards who we are today, thirty and still giving,” Saleh pronounced.

He noted that “It is indeed a great honor to witness the incredible milestones made to this day that embody who we are and what we stand for,” observing that, “Over the past 30 years, we are proud to have made a significant impact by contributing to the economy through job creation, investment in local content production through M-net, supporting the country’s analogue to Digital migration efforts, sports promotion and skilling through the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF).

Saleh narrated that, “In the last six years, we have spearheaded a local content renaissance, partnering and collaborating with and proving aspiring filmmakers with opportunities to showcase their work on platforms tailored for local content, Pearl Magic and Pearl Magic Prime.”

These collaborative efforts, he explained have seen up to 40 commissioned and licensed shows brought to your screens, with more expected in the months ahead.

“As we look to the future, we are focusing on the digital transformation of content delivery. The recent enhancements to our GOtv Stream and DStv Stream services, refreshed self-service platforms, MyDStv app and MyGOtv app as well as the reintroduced Showmax 2.0 Video-on-Demand platform, a demonstration of our commitment to deliver the best in Entertainment.

A refreshed Showmax 2.0 was launched giving guests a glimpse into what to expect on the platform, a culmination of a strategic collaboration between Comcast’s NBC Universal and Sky, leveraging cutting-edge technology behind Peacock, a globally acclaimed streaming service.

Showmax relaunched will give subscriber subscription options for Mobile and All Devices including a Mobile-only English Premier League option as well as bundle cobinations. Prices are affordable starting from as low Ugx 11,400.                                                        

Established in 1994, MultiChoice Uganda has made an estimated US$150 million contribution to the national economy and has spurred rapid growth in the film and video-entertainment sector by commissioning some 10 000 hours of locally-produced content.

Rooted in Ugandan society, MultiChoice Uganda is 100% owned by MultiChoice Africa Holdings. Customers have a choice of five packages delivered via the DStv satellite platform with a total of over 140 channels as well as three packages via the GOtv digital terrestrial (DTT) service.