Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The leading pay-TV provider in the country, MultiChoice Nigeria, has announced an increase in the prices of DStv and GOtv packages.
In a statement, the subsidiary of MultiChoice Africa blamed inflation for the reason behind the latest action, which is expected to take effect from April 1, 2022, across its bouquets.
“In light of the rising costs of inflation and business operations, we have had to review the price of our packages to keep delighting our customers with great entertainment, anytime and anywhere,” a part of the statement read.
“Therefore, from April 1, 2022, a new pricing regime for both our DStv and GOtv packages will be in effect,” it added.
This latest development comes at a time when there is an intensifying battle between the company and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) which recently has ordered the firm to create a feature that allows its customers to lock their subscription for a minimum of one year.
The consumer protection body said this was part of a resolution reached after an investigation it launched in 2020 on the company over complaints of abuse of dominant position in the pay-per-view subscription.
In a statement signed by its director, legal services, Mr Tam Tamunokonbia, FCCPC also directed MultiChoice Nigeria to allow subscribers to suspend their subscription four times annually, which it currently offered for a fixed period between seven and 14 days twice yearly.
“It should guarantee a price lock option that allows subscribers to maintain the same subscription fee for a minimum period of one year subject to a contractual agreement that clearly specifies the applicable terms,” it added.
The commission also urged MCN to communicate to each subscriber regarding all channels available within their selected bouquet option and completely toll-free customer service lines to be operational 24 hours daily.
It further urged MCN to provide it with a report on challenges to operate the new guidelines, as well as submit a compliance report demonstrating full compliance of the order, warning that violation of an order of the commission would attract a fine of N5 million.
At the moment, subscribers pay N1,850 monthly for DSTV Padi, N2,565 monthly for DSTV Yanga, N4,615 monthly for DSTV Confam, N7,900 monthly for DSTV Compact, N12,400 monthly for DSTV Compact Plus and N18,400 monthly for DSTV Premium.
But from next month, the new prices will be “DStv Premium -N21,000; Compact Plus – N14, 250; Compact – N9,000; Confam – N5,000; Yanga – N2,950; Padi – N2,150; Extraview + PVR access fee – N2,900.
“Gotv Max – N4,150; Gotv Joli – N2,800; Gotv Jinja – N1,900; Gotv Smalie – N900.”
