Multichoice Nigeria, a prominent Pay TV provider, has proceeded with the upward adjustment of its prices for DStv and GOtv subscribers, despite a recent court ruling prohibiting the company from raising rates.
On April 24, the company announced its intention to increase prices for its DStv and GOtv cable services, starting from May 1.
However, a competition and consumer protection tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja ruled that the firm should not increase its prices as scheduled.
Despite the court ruling, Multichoice has implemented the tariff increase as originally proposed. New prices are now displayed and implemented on its official website.
For DStv Premium subscribers, the price has risen from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the price for Compact Plus has increased from N19,800 to N25,000.
Compact subscribers will now pay N15,700, up from N12,500, while Confam and Yanga subscribers will pay N9,300 and N5,100 respectively, compared to their previous rates of N7,400 and N4,200.
GOtv subscribers will also experience a hike in prices, with elite subscribers (Supa+ and Supa) now paying N15,700 and N9,600 respectively, compared to previous rates of N12,500 and N7,600. Max and Jolli subscribers will pay N7,200 and N4,850 respectively, up from N5,700 and N3,950.
Multichoice attributed the price hike to factors such as the foreign exchange crunch, high electricity tariff, and the cost of running generators. The Acting Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Adamu Abdullahi, confirmed that Multichoice provided a detailed explanation for the price review.
The FCCPC has pledged to probe the reasons behind the price hike and may involve regulatory bodies such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in the process.
This decision by Multichoice has sparked outrage among consumers and raised questions about corporate accountability and consumer rights in Nigeria. Despite the court order, Multichoice's defiance highlights challenges in enforcing regulatory measures in the country's business environment.
