Nigerian Authorities Summon MultiChoice Chief Over Hike In DSTV, GOTV Subscription Rates, Warn Against Exploitation
Citing its authority under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC mandated the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at its headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, the owners of DStv and GOtv, over its recent increase in subscription rates.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at FCCPC, the commission disclosed that MultiChoice Nigeria has been directed to appear before it to justify the price adjustment set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria to explain its proposed subscription price increase, which is scheduled to be implemented from March 1, 2025,” the statement read.
Citing its authority under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC mandated the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at its headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
The commission expressed concerns over potential market dominance abuse and anti-competitive practices, emphasizing that the frequent, unilateral price hikes by MultiChoice may not align with fair market principles.
It read, “This action follows MultiChoice’s formal notification of the price adjustment, which raises concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and perceived anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.
“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, raising questions about fairness and possible exploitation.”
The commission further warned that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation for the price hike could result in regulatory sanctions and penalties against MultiChoice.
“Should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, the FCCPC will be left with no option but to impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers,” it said.
The FCCPC also noted that it is working with other regulatory bodies to ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the pay-TV and digital subscription industry.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that MultiChoice Nigeria announced an upward revision of its DStv and GOtv subscription rates, citing rising operational costs due to economic conditions.
The new rates, effective Saturday, March 1, 2025, reflect significant increases across all packages: – DStv: Premium – N44,500, Compact+ – N30,000, Compact – N19,000, Confam – N11,000, Yanga – N6,000, Padi – N4,400. – GOtv: Supa Plus – N16,800, Supa – N11,400, Max – N8,500, Jolli – N5,800, Jinja – N3,900, Smallie – N1,900.
In a statement to partners, MultiChoice explained its decision, attributing it to economic realities and increased operational costs.
“Due to prevalent economic factors leading to increased operational costs, we have unavoidably had to adjust the prices of our DStv and GOtv subscription packages,” it said.
“We understand the impact this change may have on our valued partners, and we have only taken this step after careful consideration and in-depth analysis.”
MultiChoice Nigeria is a subsidiary of the MultiChoice Group, a leading provider of digital satellite and terrestrial television services across Africa.
