MultiChoice keep mum on DStv, GOtv price adjustment

Broadcasting company, MultiChoice Nigeria, has kept mum on the reported readjustment of the subscription rates for DStv and GOtv users in the country.

A report emerged on Tuesday claiming that the pay TV company had reduced its prices following a court order which mandated the company to stop the move to increase its monthly subscription.

The court ruled that the company halts the move to increase its subscription fees pending the determination of the suit brought before it by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade.

In a suit before the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja, Onifade had said the eight-day notice given for the price increase by the company was inadequate.

He then proceeded to file contempt charges against MultiChoice after it disobeyed the court order and proceeded with its price hike as announced via email to its customers.

In a ruling on June 7, the Tribunal fined MultiChoice the sum of N150 million for disobeying its order and ordered the company to provide its Nigerian customers with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.

Following the court ruling, the company vowed to appeal the order of the Tribunal, saying that it disagreed with the ruling.

However, some reports (Not The According) claimed that the company had reflected the price readjustment on the DStv and GOtv mobile applications and its self-service website page.

Reports claimed that due to the adjustments, DStv subscribers will now pay N29,500 instead of N37,000 for the Premium package, while Compact+ package subscribers can now pay N19,800 instead of the new price of N25,000.

It also said that the readjustment now has Compact Bouquet subscribers paying N12,500 previously charged instead of N15,700, while Confam package subscribers will pay the old price of N7,400 instead of N9,300 per month.

For the Yanga package subscribers, the old rate of N4,200 will be paid against N5,100 placed as the new rate; while Padi subscribers will pay the former price of N2,950 instead of N3,600.

The same goes for GOtv subscribers, who are now required to pay the old rates of N12,500 for the Super+ package instead of N15,700.

GOtv Super users are required to pay N7,600 from N9,600, which the company charged; GOtv Max subscribers are to pay N5,700; GOtv Joli, N3,950; and N2,700 for GOtv Jinja.

However, responding to According Online’s inquiry in an email on Wednesday, the company refused to confirm or deny the reported readjustment of the subscription rates in accordance with the court ruling.

MultiChoice added that it will not comment on the tribunal ruling because the matter is still in court, and it is planning to file an appeal against the judgment.

It reads: “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter. We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling.

“As the matter is currently sub judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”