Nigerian subscribers have strongly opposed the latest price increase by Multichoice, the owners of DStv and GOtv, calling for a mass boycott of the company’s services.
The move comes just 12 months after the last price adjustment, further fueling discontent among customers struggling with the country’s rising cost of living.
The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) has condemned the hike, describing it as exploitative and unjustified.
The group’s president, Sina Bilesanmi, has urged Nigerians to take decisive action by withdrawing their patronage from Multichoice.
“It is high time Nigerians boycotted the services of Multichoice. This company has become extremely exploitative,” Bilesanmi stated.
Multichoice Announces New Subscription Rates
In a notice to subscribers, Multichoice disclosed that effective March 1, 2025, all DStv and GOtv packages will experience a price adjustment.
DStv:
- Compact bouquet: N19,000 (previously N15,700)
- Compact Plus: N30,000 (previously N25,000)
- Premium: N44,500 (previously N38,000)
GOtv:
- GOtv Jinja: N3,900 (previously N3,600)
- GOtv Plus: N5,800 (previously N4,850)
- GOtv Max: N8,500 (previously N7,700)
- GOtv Supa: N11,400 (previously N10,500)
- GOtv Supa Plus: N16,800 (previously N15,700)
In its official statement, Multichoice justified the increase, citing economic pressures, rising inflation, and the depreciation of the naira.
“This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology,” the company stated.
Subscribers Push for Pay-As-You-Go Model
Many consumers argue that Multichoice’s pricing structure is unfair, particularly as the company does not offer a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model.
Bilesanmi reaffirmed ATCIS’ stance on flexible billing, noting that many Nigerians are not home all the time to fully utilize their subscriptions.
“I have campaigned and will continue to campaign for Pay-As-You-Go or Pay-Per-View services in Nigeria. So many people pay for these services but barely get to enjoy them. Even when they do, the quality is not top-notch. Why the continuous exploitation?” he said.
He warned that if Multichoice does not reconsider its pricing policy, it risks losing even more subscribers.
“Last year, they lost over one million subscribers in Nigeria. This time, the loss will be even higher,” Bilesanmi added.
Multichoice Faces Subscriber Exodus Amid Economic Pressures
Multichoice’s latest Interim Financial Results for the six months ending September 30, 2024, revealed that it had lost 243,000 subscribers in Nigeria across DStv and GOtv within six months.
The company attributed the drop to high inflation, rising food and energy costs, and increasing economic strain on Nigerian households.
Also, its Rest of Africa operations recorded a further 566,000 subscriber losses, signaling wider financial pressures affecting its customer base.
With growing frustrations among Nigerians and calls for regulatory intervention, analysts warn that Multichoice could face another major decline in its subscriber base if the price hikes persist.
As the March 1 deadline approaches, consumer advocacy groups are mobilizing subscribers for an organized pushback, signaling a potential showdown between the company and its customers over what is seen as a repeated pricing exploitation.
