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Multichoice Increases DStv, GOtv Subscription Rates, Blames Rising Cost Of Business

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Court Fines Multichoice N150m over Tariff Hike, Orders One Month Free Subscription The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has fined the prominent Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DSTV, GOTV, N150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction, and ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its subscribers. A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu gave the verdict on Friday. The tribunal had previously blocked Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice, based on a lawsuit by Barrister Festus Onifade who claimed the eight-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate. Onifade had sued DSTV, accusing the Pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month’s notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders. Counsel for Multichoice had contended that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues, while Onifade focused on the inadequate notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice. Court Fines Multichoice N150m over Tariff Hike, Orders One Month Free Subscription The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has fined the prominent Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DSTV, GOTV, N150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction, and ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its subscribers. A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu gave the verdict on Friday. The tribunal had previously blocked Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice, based on a lawsuit by Barrister Festus Onifade who claimed the eight-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate. Onifade had sued DSTV, accusing the Pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month’s notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders. Counsel for Multichoice had contended that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues, while Onifade focused on the inadequate notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice. The court subsequently fixed July 3 for a hearing of the plaintiff’s substantive suit.

Satellite broadcasting company, Multichoice, has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

According to an email sent to customers on Wednesday, the new prices on its DSTV and GOtv packages will take effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

The new prices affect both new subscribers and existing customers renewing their packages.

Giving the reason for the fresh hike, the company said the new price adjustment came as a result of the persistent increase in the cost of production within the country.

The pay television outlet increased the subscription fee for packages on both platforms from about 20 percent to about 26 percent, depending on the package.

For instance, the cost of the DStv Premium Package was increased from the old price of N29,500 to the new price of N37,000. The cost of the Compact Plus package was increased from N19,800 to N25,000.

The Compact package moved from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam package was increased from N7,400 to N9,300; Yanga moved from N4,200 to N5,100; Padi that was N2,950 is now N3,360; HDPVR Access Service – N4,000 moved to a new price of N5,000; Access fees old price N4,000 increased to N5,000 and XtraView old price N4,000 increased to N5,000.

For GOtv package: Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa old increased from N7,600 to N9,600; Max increased from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli increased from N3,950 to N4,850; Jinja package increased from N2,700 to N3,300; and Smallie package increased from N1,300 to N1,575.

The new subscription price in the email signed by Chief Executive Officer, Multichoice, John Ugbe, explained that the move would allow the firm to provide more quality content to its subscribers’ homes across the country.

The statement reads, “On Wednesday, 1 May 2024 we will adjust our prices across all our packages on DStv and GOtv.

“We understand the impact this change may have on you – our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision.

“It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service.

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