- House of Reps halts Multichoice’s price hike, citing economic hardship.
- Subscription rates increased twice in less than a year, sparking public outrage.
- Committee to investigate pricing policies, report due in four weeks.
The House of Representatives has directed Multichoice, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to suspend its planned increase in subscription fees, citing the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Multichoice had recently announced a price hike effective March 1, raising the DStv Premium package from N37,000 to N44,500, while Compact+ would rise from N25,000 to N30,000. Subscribers on the Compact bouquet would also see an increase from N17,000 to N19,000.
The directive followed a motion moved by Esosa Iyawe, a lawmaker from Edo State representing the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The House notes that Multichoice recently announced an increase in the prices of all its packages in Nigeria, attributing the decision to rising operational costs,” Iyawe said. “This marks the second hike in less than a year, with the last occurring in May 2024.”
He highlighted concerns that the May 2024 increase had sparked public outrage, forcing many Nigerians—already struggling with the high cost of living—to abandon their decoders due to the lack of competition in the pay-TV sector.
“The dominant position of Multichoice in the pay-TV market means that its price hikes have widespread effects, putting consumers under undue financial strain,” he added.
Iyawe further noted that the latest increase had triggered fresh criticism from subscribers, many of whom have taken to social media to express frustration over frequent price hikes without any corresponding improvement in service quality.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House ordered Multichoice to suspend the price increase pending a thorough investigation. The Committee on Commerce has been tasked with probing the arbitrary nature of the subscription hikes and ensuring that consumer-friendly policies are implemented in the pay-TV sector. The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks.
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