Choosing between Zuku and Netflix versus DSTV: A Detailed Comparison

With Netflix’s recent announcement to bring its content to an additional 130 countries globally, including all of Africa, you are probably wondering if you should sign up. Netflix is the world’s largest provider of streaming movie and TV content. This includes it’s own content developed in house like House of Cards, and Daredevil, to content from all the major Hollywood movie studios and TV studios. The amount of content that you will have available to you, on demand, is simply staggering. However as Netflix requires a good and unlimited internet connection, you may wonder if this additional cost is value adding considering that you may already be a DSTV subscriber. We will break the costs of having a just a DSTV subscription versus a broadband (fiber) network plus a Netflix subscription. This will help you decide which option best fits your needs.

Content Providers

We will compare DSTV, the leading TV content provider in Kenya versus Zuku the leading broadband ISP (whom also have TV services under their Triple Pay umbrella). There are a few things to note:

• Coverage – Zuku currently only provides broadband internet service in Nairobi and Mombasa, while DSTV’s coverage is much larger across the nation.
• Premier League – DSTV is the only licensed provider of Barclays Premier League coverage in this region. If this is important to you, then you have no choice but to subscribe to the DSTV Premium bouquet that provides full BPL coverage (KES 9,400). The DSTV Compact Plus bouquet only offers 2 live games per weekend. The only other way to legally watch BPL content on the web is through subscribing to your team’s online club membership and then accessing the content there (though often delayed for several days). Examples of this are ArsenalTV, Chelsea TV or MUTV etc.

Content Type

The key advantage of DSTV (other than BPL coverage) is that they provide content shortly after they are shown in the United States. For example, if you follow the Scandal series, it will be aired on DSTV just an hour later after it is broadcast on ABC in the United States. As DSTV is the incumbent provider, they have done an incredible job in securing rights for content that is unavailable on other providers.

NOTE: Kenyan DSTV Subscribers can access DSTV content online via DSTV NOW.

It is prudent to check and see if your favorite shows will be supported by the provider you choose, DSTV or Zuku + Netflix.

The key advantage of Netflix is having great, top tier content available to you wherever you have an internet connection. Thus if you wanted to watch an episode of Jessica Jones on your morning commute, the Netflix app affords you that flexibility. However one must note that streaming video consumes data rapidly, thus it is recommended that you use an unlimited and fast connection. Also note that Netflix does not offer offline viewing. It is strictly a streaming platform.

Cost Comparison

We have chosen to compare the DSTV Compact Plus bouquet to the 10 Mbps Zuku Triple Pay package. Once we add the cost of Netflix, these two packages will be similar in price.

As you can see above, the price differential between the Zuku and Netflix versus DSTV is very close. We should also take note of the following:

• While the Infinite 10 broadband package comes with 62 channels included, I have added the Premium TV package for KES 999 to make it more on par with DSTV with respect to content and price. An alternative option would be upgrading to the Infinite 20 package (20 Mbps) at KES 5,300 and not upgrading to the Premium TV bouquet. This would make the price differential between Zuku and Netflix versus DSTV only KES 100.
• I have chosen the $9.99  per month Netflix package over the $7.99 package for two reasons. First, this package allows streaming in HD, and second it allows streaming different Netflix content to two TV’s at the same time.
• For ease of communication, I assume US $1 = KES 100. Please note that this actual figure changes on daily basis.

I also compared all the different channels offered on Zuku versus DSTV. I did not attempt to list all the specific content (series names etc) offered by Zuku, DSTV and Netflix. You can do that by visiting each of their respective websites listed at the end of this article.

Channel Comparison

Here we look at the different channels offered on Zuku versus DSTV. I did not attempt to list all the specific content (series names etc) offered by Zuku, DSTV and Netflix. It is important to note that Netflix will give you substantial access to movies and series, in addition to what you already will have via the Zuku Premium TV  package.

• Local Content Channels

• Movie Channels

• Movie (African Content) Channels

• Sports Channels

• Entertainment Channels

• News & Commerce

• Documentaries Channels

• Lifestyle Channels

• Religious Channels

• Kids Channels

• Music Channels

• Foreign Language Channels

Conclusion

The best person to make a conclusion between Zuku and Netflix versus DSTV is you, the user. You will need to assess your needs and budget and determine which option works for you.

• If you are Barclays Premier League fanatic, then you have no choice but to stay with DSTV.
• If you are a “Cord Cutter” (meaning you are consuming all your content on the web and not on traditional media) then the combination of Zuku and Netflix is right for you.
• If you love having access to the latest US shows as soon as possible, legally, then DSTV or Zuku and Netflix maybe right for you (depending on the show that you love).

Regardless of your choice, the fact that Netflix is now available across Africa puts the pressure on Incumbents like DSTV to improve their services and offer more competitive value to consumers. In the end, it is us, the consumers. who benefit the most.

I hope that this article has provided some information that will help you make the right decision on which  solution to fit your needs. If you have further any questions, please leave a comment in the Techweez forums. You can find out more about each of the providers discussed in this article via the links below:

DSTV

Zuku

Netflix

Edit:

• Jan 7th 5:28pm Updated to reflect availability of DSTV Now to Kenyan DSTV subscribers.
• Jan 8th 2:40pm Corrected channel offerings based on reader feedback. Typo and readability corrections.