Grace Ashiru
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has intervened to temporarily block MultiChoice Nigeria from raising its subscription fees. The commission has directed the company to postpone the price increase until its ongoing investigation is concluded.
MultiChoice was initially scheduled to meet with the FCCPC on February 27 regarding the price hike but requested a postponement. While the commission approved the extension, it set a firm deadline—March 6—for the company to present all necessary documents and justifications. Until then, any adjustments to subscription fees remain prohibited.
The pay-TV provider had unveiled another round of price hikes for DStv and GOtv, scheduled to take effect on March 1. Under the revised rates, DStv Compact would increase from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000, while DStv Premium would climb from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500. GOtv subscribers would also feel the impact, with the Supa Plus package rising from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800.
Subscribers are frustrated, and MultiChoice has a history of repeated price hikes. In 2023 alone, the company raised its rates twice—first in April, then again in November—before implementing another increase in May 2024. As a result, between April and September last year, they saw a massive drop of 243,000 subscribers. With inflation soaring and living costs escalating, many Nigerians found the service increasingly unaffordable.
Citing inflation as the driving force behind its price increases, MultiChoice attributes the hikes to rising electricity, fuel, and food costs. However, with regulators now involved, the company may need to defend its pricing before proceeding. For the time being, subscribers can take some relief in knowing that prices will remain unchanged until the FCCPC reaches a final verdict.
With the hearing scheduled for March 6, 2025, all attention is on the outcome. Will the FCCPC intervene to shield consumers, or will MultiChoice be allowed to proceed with its price hike? The answer will be revealed soon.
