The House of Representatives has directed Multichoice, the owner of Pay TV services DStv and GOtv, to halt the implementation of its subscription rate hike, citing the current economic challenges.
Multichoice recently announced an increase in subscription fees, stating that from March 1, customers on the DStv Premium package would pay N44,500, up from N37,000, and those on Compact+ would pay N30,000, up from N25,000. Customers on the Compact bouquet would see a rise to N19,000, from N17,000.
This directive followed the adoption of a motion introduced by Esosa Iyawe, an All Progressives Congress member from Edo State. Iyawe noted that Multichoice’s decision to raise prices was based on rising operational costs, driven by economic factors. He pointed out that this hike is the second in less than a year, following a similar increase in May 2024.
Iyawe expressed concern that the previous price hike in May 2024 had already caused public outcry, with many Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living and even abandoning their decoders. He also emphasized the lack of competition in the pay-TV sector, which worsens the situation for consumers.
He added that the recent hike had sparked further criticism from subscribers, many of whom voiced their frustrations on social media over the frequent price increases without a corresponding improvement in service quality.
As a result of the motion’s adoption, the House called on Multichoice to suspend its planned increase in subscription fees in Nigeria while investigations are conducted. The Committee on Commerce was tasked with investigating the price hikes and ensuring that cost-effective policies are implemented in the pay-TV sector. The committee was given four weeks to submit its findings.
