By 
By Oluwaseun Ajayi
Nigerian customers of MultiChoice’s DStv and GOtv services are angling for war over the sudden hike of tariffs by the payTV giant.
Multichoice which had the last price hike in Nigeria in June 2020, this week announced an almost 21% price increase for all its bouquets. Premium is now N21,000, Compact + N14,250, Compact, N9,000, Confam, N5,300, Yanga N2,950 Padi N2,150 Business N2,669, Xtraview + PVR access fee N2,900.
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Premium was formally N18, 400; Compact+ N12,400; Compact N7,900, Confam N4,615, Yanga N2,565 and Padi N1,850. GOtv subscribers will have their new price package as follows; GOtv Max, N4,150, GOtv Jolli N2,800, GOtv Jinja, N1,900. GOtv Lite N900.
The new prices will take effect from April 1 and customers who pay for 10 months upfront on the new price will get the 11th and 12th months free
But angry subscribers have asked the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene, and are accusing the South Africa owned company of insensitivity.
But MultiChoice Nigeria is blaming its new price hike on inflation and other economic challenges.
However, it has assured that the tariff hike will enable more quality content to be delivered to Nigerians.
“The price adjustments will enable us to serve our customers better, offering them more choice and great value all the time.
“We remain committed to making the best content from around the world accessible at varying price points to cater to the needs of individuals and families across the country,” the firm stated.
But many consumers are not impressed and have resorted to social media to express their angst.
Expressing his displeasure on Twitter yesterday, a user, Onowvo Omasoro Ali Ovie @OvieNews, encouraged Nigerians to focus on the Nigerian-owned decoder, TSTV: “MultiChoice, owners of DSTV and GOTV, increases tariff. This is the best time to get Nigerian-owned TSTV decoders and pay as low as 2 Naira per station. A subscription of N1000 can last you 4 months with multiple channels. I watched the Real Madrid vs Barcelona Elclasico there.”
To Akin’ Odunsi-Eshilokun, MO@gr8akin, “DSTV thinks they can be increasing money every three months, like we even enjoy your shows! I only watch football there, that, I can stream! Any other thing, i don’t watch! Coman take your dish abi its plate, whatever! Nonsense!”
Another user, the Humanist@The_humanist11, “How can Nigeria, a nation of 200 million, depend on the rubbish called DSTV? There is nothing exciting to watch for a long time. Repetition apart from the news channels.”
Another user noted an alternative, saying, “Now that things are super expensive, they increased their subscription package. Have they forgotten people have access to Netflix and can watch the fastest movies there? They need small guidance…lol”
MultiChoice Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania increased all effective from September 1, 2021. The firm has raised its subscriptions by an average of 31% in five years.
To cushion the price adjustments, MultiChoice Nigeria has made some concessions for payments made in advance.
It announced: “Customers who pay on or before their due date (before April 1, 2022) will be eligible to pay the old price; If they pay consistently on time (before their due dates) for a period of 12 months (1 year), they pay the old price; customers who pay for 10 months upfront on the new price will get the 11th and 12th months free.”
