Pay TV provider, Multichoice Nigeria has proceeded with its plans to increase prices for DStv and GOtv subscribers, despite a recent court ruling temporarily prohibiting such actions.
The company announced on April 24th its intention to hike prices for its cable services, effective from May 1st. However, a competition and consumer protection tribunal in Abuja ruled against the price hike as scheduled.
Despite the court ruling, Multichoice has gone ahead with implementing the tariff increase. A check by Nairametrics revealed that the new prices are now being displayed and enforced on the company’s official website.
For DStv Premium subscribers, the price has risen from N29,500 to N37,000, while Compact Plus now stands at N25,000, up from N19,800. Compact subscribers will now pay N15,700 instead of N12,500, and Confam and Yanga subscribers will see their rates increase to N9,300 and N5,100, respectively.
Similarly, GOtv subscribers will also experience the new tariff increase, with prices adjusted on their official website. Elite subscribers (Supa+ and Supa) will now pay N15,700 and N9,600, respectively, compared to the previous rates of N12,500 and N7,600. Max and Jolli subscribers will see their rates rise to N7,200 and N4,850, respectively, from N5,700 and N3,950.
Multichoice’s decision to raise prices by an average of 25% has been attributed to various factors, including the foreign exchange crunch, high electricity tariffs, and the cost of running generators.
The Acting Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Adamu Abdullahi, confirmed that Multichoice provided a detailed explanation for the price hike.
The FCCPC has stated its intention to probe the reasons behind the price increase and may involve regulatory bodies such as the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission in the process. Abdullahi emphasized that the commission would not hesitate to sanction Multichoice if it found evidence of arbitrary pricing or market manipulation.
This latest price hike marks the third increment since last year, following adjustments made on May 1, 2023. Multichoice has informed customers of the new subscription fees via email, titled “Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages,” sent on April 24, 2024.
