The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to suspend its planned price increase for DStv and GOtv subscriptions until the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.
The regulatory intervention comes as Nigerians express growing frustration over frequent price hikes by the South African pay-TV operator.
This directive follows MultiChoice’s request for an extension regarding its scheduled appearance before the FCCPC, initially set for February 27, 2025. The consumer watchdog granted the request but rescheduled the investigative hearing for March 6, 2025. The company must now appear with all relevant officers and provide a comprehensive response regarding the justification for its proposed price increase.
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In the meantime, MultiChoice is required to maintain its current pricing structure.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the FCCPC made it clear that MultiChoice must refrain from implementing any price changes until the investigation is completed.
“Pursuant to this, MultiChoice is expressly instructed to maintain the existing price structure as of February 27, 2025, pending the Commission’s review and final determination on the matter,” the FCCPC stated.
The Commission emphasized that suspending the price hike is necessary to prevent consumer exploitation and ensure fairness in the pay-TV market.
MultiChoice’s History of Price Hikes and Regulatory Battles
MultiChoice Nigeria has developed a reputation for frequent price adjustments, often citing economic factors such as inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and operational costs as justification. However, each time the company announces a price increase, it faces regulatory scrutiny.
This is not the first time MultiChoice has been summoned by the FCCPC or other agencies. The company has previously faced investigations and lawsuits over pricing, with regulatory bodies accusing it of failing to offer flexible and competitive pricing models for Nigerian consumers.
However, MultiChoice has historically emerged victorious in most regulatory battles, as Nigerian laws do not impose strict price controls on private businesses. This has allowed the company to proceed with its increments after justifying them as necessary for sustainability.
Will the FCCPC Approve Another Price Increase?
Unlike previous price hikes that were eventually approved, there is no certainty that the FCCPC will allow this latest increment to proceed. A key reason is that MultiChoice already increased its subscription prices twice in 2023, first in April and then again in November. Another hike was implemented on May 1, 2024, further fueling consumer outrage.
With three price increases in less than two years, the FCCPC may take a stricter stance this time.
Breakdown of MultiChoice’s Planned Subscription Price Hike
On Monday, MultiChoice Nigeria informed its customers of yet another price increase, set to take effect from March 1, 2025. The planned increments are significant across all DStv and GOtv packages.
DStv Price Adjustments:
- DStv Compact: N15,700 – N19,000 (25% increase)
- DStv Compact Plus: N25,000 – N30,000 (20% increase)
- DStv Premium: N37,000 – N44,500 (20% increase)
GOtv Price Adjustments:
- GOtv Jinja: N3,600 – N3,900
- GOtv Jolli: N4,850 – N5,800
- GOtv Max: N7,200 – N8,500
- GOtv Supa: N9,600 – N11,400
- GOtv Supa Plus: N15,700 – N16,800
The repeated price increases have had a direct impact on MultiChoice’s subscriber base. The company reported that in just six months (April to September 2024), its Nigerian operations lost 243,000 subscribers across DStv and GOtv services.
MultiChoice attributed this decline to high inflation (over 30% as of late 2024) and rising cost of living.
These losses highlight the growing disconnect between MultiChoice’s pricing strategy and the economic reality facing Nigerian households.