MultiChoice Reduces Prices For DStv, GOtv After Court Order

Confidence UbaniJune 17, 20241 Mins read102

In response to a court order mandating the reversal of a recent price hike, MultiChoice Nigeria has reduced its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv users. The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja had called for this adjustment.

As of June 16, 2024, the new subscription rates have been updated on the company’s apps. DStv Premium package subscribers will now pay N29,500, down from N37,000. The Compact+ package is reduced to N19,800 from N25,000. The Compact Bouquet is now N12,500, Confam is N7,400, Yanga is N4,200, and Padi is N2,950.

GOtv subscribers will also see reductions, with the Super+ package now costing N12,500 instead of N15,700. GOtv Super is N7,600, GOtv Max is N5,700, GOtv Joli is N3,950, and GOtv Jinja is N2,700.

The price readjustments follow a ruling that also fined MultiChoice Nigeria N150 million and ordered the company to provide one month of free subscription to its customers. This ruling resulted from a suit filed by lawyer Festus Onifade, who argued that the eight-day notice for the price increase was insufficient.

MultiChoice, a popular pay-TV service in Nigeria, was launched in 1994 and has, since then, enjoyed a monopoly. Its recent legal battles and price hikes have, however, led to a decline in the company’s subscriber base in Nigeria. The company has reported losing over a million subscribers. Despite criticisms of frequent price hikes, MultiChoice maintains that these increases are due to the rising business costs in Nigeria’s inflationary economy.

The company has vowed to appeal the tribunal’s decision, citing challenges in maintaining steady prices due to the unstable operating conditions in Nigeria.