FCCPC Tackles MultiChoice Over Hikes In Prices Of DSTV, GOTV Packages

lahor global magazine11 months ago11 months ago304 mins

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has tackled the Chief Eexecutive Officer (CEO) of the pay television service provider, MultiChoice Nigeria over the increase in the monthly subscription fees for various bouquets on its DSTV and GOTV platforms by inviting them for clarification.

Recalls that MultiChoice, had announced that the increase in subscription price will take effect on March 1, 2025 in a statement titled, “Price adjustments for DStv and GOtv packages.

The company, in the statement, said the increase in prices is to enable it to continue to offer its customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology.

Multichoice said under the new price regime, subscription fees for DStv Compact bouquet will be jacked up from N15,700 to N19,000, the Compact Plus to N30,000, and the Premium subscription to N44,500.

In the same vein, GOtv customers, who currently pay N3,600, will now pay N3,900, while the subscription for GOtv Plus will rise from N4,850 to N5,800.

Subcribers for GoTV max package will pay N8,500 monthly while those on Supa package will pay N11,400 and the Supa Plus, N16,800.

MultiChoice justified the price with the increasing cost of running businesses in Nigeria as a result of depreciation of the naira and high inflation rate.

Consequent upon the hike in prices, the FCCPC in a statement on Tuesday invited the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice Nigeria, the operator of the DSTV and GOTV pay television platform to appear before it to justify its latest hike in the subscription rates about a year after it carried out a similar exercise.

“Exercising its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC directed the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at the Commission’s headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

“This action follows MultiChoice’s formal notification of the price adjustment, which raises concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and perceived anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.

“The FCCPC is deeply concerned that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases, amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse.

“Should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, the FCCPC will be left with no other option than to impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers.

“Furthermore, the FCCPC is engaging the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure fair competition and consumer protection within Nigeria’s broadcasting and digital subscription landscape”, the Commission maintained in it statement.