Pay-TV Introduces Festive Rewards As Firm Battles Subscriber Losses

Pay-TV operator, StarTimes, has introduced festive rewards, including bouquet upgrades and bonus viewing days, for subscribers who renew their subscriptions between November 10, 2026 and January 15, 2027, as the company steps up efforts to retain customers amid rising living costs and growing competition from streaming platforms.

The promotion, tagged “Xmas Level Up: Same Recharge, More Entertainment,” will allow subscribers on lower bouquets who renew for one month to access content on the next higher bouquet for the duration of their subscriptions at no additional cost.

Under the arrangement, subscribers on Nova will be upgraded to Basic, Basic subscribers will have access to Classic, while Classic subscribers will be moved to Super.

Subscribers on Super who renew for one month will not receive a bouquet upgrade but will enjoy seven additional days of viewing at no extra cost.

For customers who pay for two months, StarTimes said they would retain access to the upgraded bouquet throughout the subscription period, with bonus viewing days ranging from seven to 21 days, depending on the package.

The company, however, stated that the two-month payment must be completed on the same day within a 24-hour window to qualify for the offer.

It added that subscribers on the two-month plan would also be eligible for Christmas gifts, subject to availability. The gifts can only be redeemed through physical subscriptions at its business halls and authorised dealer outlets.

Speaking on the promotion, Marketing Director of StarTimes, Oke Umurhohwo, said the initiative was designed to help households enjoy more entertainment during the festive season without increasing their spending.

“The Christmas season is a time when families spend more time together, and entertainment becomes an important part of the holiday experience. We want our subscribers to enjoy more without having to spend more,” he said.

He explained that the campaign was also aimed at retaining subscribers at a time when household spending typically rises and consumers increasingly review their discretionary expenses.

Subscribers can access the offer through the StarTimes ON App, business halls, authorised dealer outlets and supported payment platforms, including Paga, OPay, PalmPay, BaxiBox and Switchto931.

The promotion comes as pay-TV operators face increasing pressure to retain subscribers amid rising subscription costs, inflationary pressures on household budgets and competition from streaming platforms, which have expanded entertainment options for consumers.

The latest incentives reflect efforts by operators to make their services more attractive by offering additional content and viewing days without requiring subscribers to pay higher subscription fees.