Reactions trail DStv, GOtv subscriptions’ hike

Mixed reactions have greeted the planned hike of subscription rates announced by pay Tv company, Multichoice, in Nigeria. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone gave the pay-tv firm a seven-day ultimatum to reverse its planned hike.

Opposing the subscription hike, NANS said the South African company was bringing hardship on, and extorting Nigerians, without considering their standard of living. Its also noted that tariffs should be charged on a “pay as you view”. 

Also, a social media user, @AsiwajuLerry, said: “The only reason DSTV keep getting away with this ridiculous subscription rates with no significant value is because they have no competition in Africa.

Lola Okunrin in a protest tweet said: “Can we just agree to boycott Multichoice and their products (DSTV and GOTV)?

“The increment in tariffs is getting too much. After every market day, they increase the price while showing the same movie over and over and over again till you know the next scene word for word. Can we?”

Another user, Daniel Regha said: “MultiChoice increasing their subscription rates makes no sense; Cos asides from news & sports channels, most stations on DStv plus GOtv are boring to watch.

“Old movies are often shown, while documentaries are always repeated. If anything, MultiChoice should be reducing prices.”

The company had announced an increase in its DStv and GOtv subscription rates.

It was gathered that the upward review of the prices was by 17 per cent.

In a text message, it told customers that the new rates will take effect on May 1, 2023.

“Please note that from May 1, your monthly subscription (premium) will be N24,500. To retain your old price of N21,000 for up to 12 months ensure you are active by April 30,” the text message reads.

The pay-tv firm said the price adjustment was due to the rising costs of business operations.

The new regime would also see the price on the Compact+ bouquet move to N16,600 from N14, 250 monthly. Subscribers on the Compact bouquet would, under the new price regime, pay N10,500 as against N9,000, with those on Confam set to pay N6,200 as against N5,300.

Those on DStv Yanga and Padi would pay N3,500 and N2,500 respectively as against N2,950 and N2,150.

On the GOtv service, subscribers on GOtv Supa package would pay N6,400 as against N5,500, with those on GOtv Max paying N4,850 as against N4,150.

GOtv Jolli subscribers are due to start paying N3,300 as against N2,800, with the tariffs on GOtv Jinja and GOtv Lite also rising from N1,900 to N2,250 and N900 to N1,100 respectively.

To cushion the effect of the price review, MultiChoice, made a price lock offer to subscribers, who renew their subscriptions before their due dates.