Consumer group condemns price hike by Multichoice

A Nigerian consumer rights group, Save the Consumers, has condemned the recent price hikes on DStv and GOtv subscriptions by MultiChoice Nigeria, describing the move as “insensitive and exploitative.”

The group made this known in a statement signed by the Executive Director, Aliyu Ilias, on Sunday.

The statement partly read, “Save the Consumers, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation committed to defending consumer rights, strongly condemns the recent 21 per cent price increase imposed by MultiChoice Nigeria on its DStv and GOtv services, effective March 1, 2025.”

The group accused the company of economic discrimination, highlighting that while Nigerian subscribers face higher costs, MultiChoice has reduced prices by up to 38 per cent and introduced service enhancements for its South African customers.

“This action is not only insensitive and exploitative but also blatantly discriminatory,” the group stated.

The price hike, which took effect on March 1, 2025, comes less than a year after MultiChoice last increased its Nigerian subscription rates in May 2024.

According to Save the Consumers, the latest adjustment defies a directive from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which had ordered MultiChoice to suspend any price changes pending an ongoing investigation.

“It reflects MultiChoice’s clear disregard for both Nigerian consumers and regulatory authority,” the statement read.

The consumer rights body expressed outrage over the disparity in treatment between Nigerian and South African subscribers. It pointed out that while MultiChoice has introduced lower fees, additional channels, and improved user experiences in South Africa, it has done the opposite in Nigeria.

“This double standard, lowering prices at home while increasing them in Nigeria, amounts to economic discrimination and reinforces long-standing concerns about MultiChoice’s exploitative approach toward the Nigerian market,” the statement added.

MultiChoice has justified the price increase in Nigeria by citing inflation and the rising cost of operations. However, Save the Consumers dismissed this explanation as a “disturbing double standard”, arguing that Nigerian consumers “continue to suffer under a near-monopolistic market structure that MultiChoice exploits with impunity.”

The consumer rights group further criticized MultiChoice for failing to improve service quality despite continuous price hikes. Nigerian subscribers, it said, regularly experience repetitive content, frequent service disruptions, and poor value for money.

“Rather than resolving these issues, MultiChoice has chosen to penalize its loyal Nigerian customers with higher prices, once again proving that profit, not service or fairness, is its primary motivation,”

Meanwhile, South African subscribers have seen reductions, such as the “Add Movies” package dropping by 38 per cent to R49, alongside new channels and improved streaming features.

The group pointed out that MultiChoice CEO, Byron Du Plessis, had justified these changes by acknowledging “financial pressures faced by households”—a courtesy Save the Consumers says Nigerian consumers have not been given.

The advocacy group is demanding that MultiChoice immediately reverse the price hike, compensate affected Nigerian subscribers, and comply with the FCCPC’s directive to suspend pricing adjustments.

It also called for the National Broadcasting Commission to introduce stronger competition in the pay-TV sector, arguing that MultiChoice’s dominant position allows it to operate with little accountability.

“The ease with which it increases prices without fear of losing market share highlights the urgent need for regulatory intervention,” the group said.

Additionally, the group urged Nigerians to explore alternative platforms and consider boycotting DStv and GOtv until MultiChoice “demonstrates genuine respect for their rights.”

“The Nigerian market deserves dignity, not exploitation. No company should be allowed to operate above the law or treat Nigerian consumers as second-class subscribers,” the statement concluded.