A wave of frustration and anger has swept across Nigeria as MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, rolled out yet another price hike for its subscription packages, set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
The increase pushes the DStv Premium package from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500, Compact from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000, and GOtv Supa Plus from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800 has ignited loads of criticism amid a punishing economic climate where inflation stands at 34.8% and living costs continue to soar.
Nigerians, already grappling with fuel subsidy removal and a weakened naira, are lashing out at what they see as corporate insensitivity from a pay-TV giant that dominates the market.
MultiChoice justified the tariff adjustment in a statement to Vanguard Nigeria, citing rising operational expenses driven by currency devaluation, content acquisition costs, and satellite maintenance.
“We aim to balance quality service with economic realities,” a company spokesperson told The Guardian Nigeria.
Yet, this explanation has fallen flat with subscribers who argue the service quality—marked by frequent outages, repetitive programming, and poor customer support—doesn’t match the steep prices.
The company’s subscriber base already shrank by 243,000 in 2024 following a prior hike, raising questions about its strategy.
AFRIPOST gathered that the backlash has been loudest on social media, particularly X, where Nigerians are venting their fury.
@Ebuka on X wrote, “This is pure extortion. I can barely feed my family, and now they want nearly half my income for a decoder that blacks out when it rains.”
@Zeeek0300 tweeted, “From ₦7,500 to ₦19,000 for Compact in a few years—I’m done. MultiChoice doesn’t care about us, just our money.”
Similarly, @SimoncoleB stated, “I subscribed to Premium for football, but I need Netflix for movies. Now it’s ₦44,500? Absolute rubbish.”
The discontent runs deeper online with @TundeEdnut posting, “MultiChoice is strangling us. Same old Nollywood reruns, yet they hike prices like we’re watching Hollywood blockbusters daily.”
Another user, @AminatuL, raged, “₦16,800 for GOtv Supa Plus? For what? Half the channels are repeats, and the signal dies in bad weather. I’m switching to SLTV.”
Calls for a boycott are gaining traction, with @silentwilsn sharing links to free streaming platforms, as noted by Nigerian CommunicationsWeek. “Why pay MultiChoice when I can watch for free?” he asked.
Another angry user, @Viviandey4U, wrote, “They raise prices every year, but the service stays stagnant—same channels, same excuses. I’m tired of funding their greed.”
Meanwhile, @OgaNlaMedia tweeted, “MTN hiked data, now MultiChoice too? They’re all in on bleeding us dry while Tinubu’s government watches.”
The sentiment reflects broader frustration with unchecked corporate price surges amid economic reforms.
AFRIPOST, however, reports that The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice’s CEO for a February 27 hearing to address the hike.
This follows a 2024 case where MultiChoice faced a N150 million fine for defying a tribunal order against a previous increase.
Meanwhile, scepticism persists among most Nigerians, noting that the FCCPC will talk, but nothing changes still.
As alternatives like StarTimes and SLTV gain appeal, MultiChoice’s yet again increasing the price of their subscription plans risks alienating its base further.
It should, therefore, be well noted that with its Nigerian subscribers stretched thin and boycotts brewing, the company faces a critical test of its dominance in Nigeria’s pay-TV market.