Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer for an investigative hearing over the company’s latest subscription price increase, which has sparked backlash among consumers.
The regulatory body, exercising its powers under Sections 32 and 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), directed MultiChoice to appear before it on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at its headquarters in Abuja to justify the sharp increments in DStv and GOtv rates.
The FCCPC’s intervention comes amid growing consumer complaints regarding MultiChoice’s frequent price hikes, which many Nigerians have labeled exploitative. In its statement, the commission noted that Nigerian consumers continue to face repeated price increases, even as the company applies different pricing strategies in other markets. This, the agency said, raises concerns about fairness, potential market abuse, and the treatment of Nigerian consumers compared to their counterparts in other African nations.
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“The FCCPC is deeply concerned that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases, amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse,” the agency said in a statement.
MultiChoice announced earlier this week that, effective March 1, 2025, subscription prices across all DStv and GOtv packages will increase. The changes include:
- DStv Compact moves from N15,700 to N19,000 (+25%).
- DStv Compact Plus increasing from N25,000 to N30,000 (+20%).
- DStv Premium, the highest plan, rises from N37,000 to N44,500 (+20%).
- GOtv Jinja moves from N3,600 to N3,900.
- GOtv Jolli increases from N4,850 to N5,800.
- GOtv Max rises from N7,200 to N8,500.
- GOtv Supa increases from N9,600 to N11,400.
- GOtv Supa Plus, the most expensive GOtv package, jumps from N15,700 to N16,800.
This price adjustment follows a similar hike in 2024, where MultiChoice increased subscription rates, citing inflation, currency devaluation, and increased operational costs. Nigerian consumers, however, argue that these hikes are unjustified, as there have been no notable improvements in service quality, content diversity, or customer experience.
FCCPC’s Warning: Regulatory Sanctions on the Table
The FCCPC has made it clear that MultiChoice must provide a satisfactory explanation for the new price adjustments or face regulatory sanctions, penalties, or corrective measures. The commission emphasized that protecting consumers from arbitrary pricing in the pay-TV industry remains a priority.
“Should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, the FCCPC will be left with no other option than to impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers,” the commission stated.
The FCCPC also noted that it is engaging with the broadcasting sector’s regulatory bodies to ensure fair competition and prevent consumer exploitation in Nigeria’s digital subscription industry.
Just Another Round in MultiChoice’s Price Hike Battle
MultiChoice Nigeria is not new to regulatory scrutiny, having faced multiple lawsuits, regulatory summons, and inquiries by Nigerians, regulators, and lawmakers over its pricing strategy. Yet, in nearly all instances, the company has successfully defended its position in courts and regulatory hearings, emerging victorious against attempts to force price reductions.
The South African-based cable TV company has consistently argued that its pricing structure is dictated by market forces, inflation, and operational costs, leaving regulators with little power to intervene in what the company maintains is a business decision.
Given this track record, Nigerians remain skeptical about the FCCPC’s ability to force any meaningful change, with many pointing out that past regulatory actions have done little to halt the company’s recurring price hikes.
One of the primary frustrations among Nigerian consumers is the lack of viable alternatives to MultiChoice’s DStv and GOtv services. While there were a few competitors, such as Startimes and TStv, they failed to match MultiChoice in terms of content, sports coverage, and reliability. As a result, many Nigerians feel trapped, with no choice but to continue paying higher prices for essential sports, entertainment, and news content.
Some have called for the government to encourage new players to enter the pay-TV market to break MultiChoice’s near-monopoly. Others have argued that allowing Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services to operate freely without excessive regulatory burdens could provide a more competitive alternative.