Nigeria's consumer protection agency drags MultiChoice Nigeria and CEO John Ugbe to court for defying order not to implement 22% DStv price hike

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's consumer protection agency is dragging MultiChoice Africa's Nigerian division to court over its 22% DStv price hike - MultiChoice Nigeria's second price increase in the struggling West African country in a year.

Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) ordered MultiChoice Nigeria and its CEO John Ugbe to halt the company's 22% price hike that came into effect from March and in late-February was summoned to an "investigative hearing".

Nigeria's FCCPC which hasn't gone after other private commercial companies in Nigeria that have also jacked up its prices due to Nigeria's ongoing worsening economic environment and weakening local currency, in a statement slammed MultiChoice for defying its "order" not to increase its prices.

"MultiChoice Nigeria had been expressly directed by the FCCPC on 27 February 2025 to maintain its current pricing structure for DStv and GOtv pending the conclusion of an examination of its proposed price hike."

"However, despite this directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on 1 March 2025 in clear defiance of the commission’s directive."

"Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences for willfully obstructing the commission's inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives," the FCCPC noted in a statement.

"The commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law."

"By disregarding the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the commission's investigative hearing on 6 March 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition," the FCCPC says.

It's not the first time MultiChoice Nigeria has ignored Nigerian government orders not to go ahead with price increases and not the first time MultiChoice Nigeria has been dragged to court over price increases.

Over the past number of years MultiChoice Nigeria has been singled out several times by Nigerian politicians and agencies over its price hikes.

Yet, numerous private companies trying to do business in Nigeria's struggling economy with rampant inflation have been forced to increase prices for their goods and services regularly.

Besides the FCCPC, Nigeria's House of Representatives also called on MultiChoice not to go through with its latest price hike, passing a resolution during a sitting on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

ALSO READ: Nigeria's consumer protection agency summons MultiChoice Nigeria CEO to explain looming 22% DStv price hike at urgent 'investigative hearing'

MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is once again hiking both monthly DStv and GOtv subscription fees for the second time in a year, with a shocking increase of up to over 22%, in the West African country from March 2025.

Nigeria is MultiChoice's second largest market on the African continent after South Africa.

MultiChoice Nigeria's last DStv price hike was in May 2024.

"Please note that effective 1 March 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages. This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology," MultiChoice Nigeria said in a message sent to customers.

In a press statement MultiChoice Nigeria said "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".

"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."

From March 2025 DStv Premium is increasing 20.2% from N37,000 to N44,500, with DStv Compact Plus increasing 20% from N25,000 to N30,000, and DStv Compact increasing 21% from N15,700 to N19,000.

DStv Confam will increase a whopping 22.2% from N9,000 to  N11,000, DStv Yanga is increased 17.6% from N5,100 to N6,000, while DStv Padi is increased 22.2% from N3,600 to N4,400.

MultiChoice Nigeria is increasing GOtv by 8.3% from N3,600 to N3,900 and GOtv Plus by 19.5% from N4,850 to N5,800. 

GoTV Max is increased 18% from N7,200 to N8,500 while GOtv Supa is increased 18.7% from N9,600 to N11,400 and GOtv Supa Plus is increasing 7% from N15,700 to N16,800 monthly from March.

GOtv Jolli is increased from N4,850 to N5,800, GOtv Jinja is hiked from N3,300 to N3,900, while GOtv Smallie is increased from N1,575 to N1,900.

Across Africa, MultiChoice is battling slowing subscriber acquisition and subscribers abandoning its pricey pay-TV offering, while the company is the target of an aggressive corporate buyout from France's Canal+.

MultiChoice Africa is having an especially difficult time in African countries outside of South Africa where worsening economic conditions have dampened consumer spending, combined with runaway inflation in several markets like Nigeria, coupled with constantly weakening local currencies like the Naira.

MultiChoice Nigeria allowed to hike DStv subscription fees as lawyer suddenly withdraws Tribunal case.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is allowed to hike prices in the country whenever it wants after a lawyer was forced to withdraw the case he brought against the pan-African pay-TV operator in the West African country.

On Monday the Nigerian Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal allowed lawyer Festus Onifade to withdraw the case he brought against MultiChoice Nigeria over price hikes to DStv and GOtv subscriptions in May in the country.

The Tribunal initially fined MultiChoice Nigeria N150 million and ordered MultiChoice to give Nigerians one month free subscriptions. 

MultiChoice Nigeria appealed the fine and the order and the case was postponed to November. Festus Onifade then suddenly decided to withdraw his case.

"The oral application of the claimant to withdraw this suit is hereby granted. No cost is awarded," the Tribunal ruled.

MultiChoice does 3rd DStv price hike in Nigeria in a year of up to 20% as country's economy and currency continue to tank.

by Thinus Ferreira

As Nigeria's economy and naira currency continue to worsen MultiChoice Nigeria has done a third DStv price hike this year in the troubled West African country.

In MultiChoice's second DStv price hike within 6 months in Nigeria, DStv Premium has been hiked by 20.4% from N24,500 to N29,500, while MultiChoice is making DStv Compact Plus subscribers pay 19.2% more from N16,600 to N19,800. 

DStv Compact subscribers in Nigeria have to pay MultiChoice 19% more, with the package price hiked from N10,500 to N12,500.

MultiChoice has increased the Comfam package by 19.2% from N6,200 to N7,400.

MultiChoice hiked DStv prices in Nigeria in May 2023, and then again in November 2023.

The MultiChoice Group continues to absorb ongoing foreign exchange losses in Nigeria due to its operations there.

MultiChoice Nigeria does another 20% DStv and GOtv price hike - the 3rd price increase this year - from 6 November 2023 as it 'acknowledges the difficult economic climate'.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is once again hiking prices of DStv and GOtv subscribers from 6 November, the third shockingly high price hike this year in the West African country after the last extreme increase of up to 22% in monthly subscriber fees that was done in May.

DStv Nigeria sent SMS messages to subscribers' phones and also did an on-screen message through decoders to tell them that it's hiking fees just six months after the last increase in May. 

The new pricing will come into effect from 6 November 2023.

MultiChoice didn't give its customers in Nigeria any reason or explanation for the price hike and only said "MultiChoice acknowledges the difficult economic climate".

DStv Nigeria told subscribers to "please note the following price adjustment".

From 6 November DStv Premium is hiked by 20.4% from N24500 to N29500, while DStv Compact Plus is increased cc% from N16600 to N19800.

DStv Compact is increased 20.4% from N10500 to N12500, while DStv Confam is increased 19.3% from N6200 to N7400. 

DStv Supa is increased to N7600, DStv Max is increased to N5700, DStv Jolli is hiked to N3950, while DStv Jinga is increased to N2700. 

DStv Yanga is getting a 20% price hike from N3500 to N4200.

MultiChoice Nigeria is also hiking the prices of all of the DStv GOtv packages in Nigeria.

PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv prices again from May 2023 by up to 22.2% with cheapest GOtv bouquet seeing biggest price hike.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is doing another price hike for DStv subscribers and GOtv subscribers in Nigeria from May 2023 with increases up to 18.6% as the country battles with runaway inflation.

Shockingly, MultiChoice Nigeria is hitting poorest pay-TV consumers the hardest and with the biggest increase, with GOtv Lite subscribers on the cheapest package, seeing a whopping 22.2% increase from 900 naira to N1 100 from May.

Nigeria is battling a stagnant economy and antagonistic political policies and attacks against multinational companies driving them away, making them reluctant to invest and operate in the country, and making them opt not to consider Nigeria as an investment destination.

Over the past few years, Nigeria's government has become openly hostile towards MultiChoice Nigeria and MultiChoice Africa with an increase in legal against MultiChoice in the country, as well as toxic and damaging utterances by Nigerian politicians and regulators who continue to scapegoat the pay-TV operator.

MultiChoice Nigeria last increased prices in March 2022 and says the latest price increase is "due to the rising costs of business operations" in the West African country.

DStv Nigeria is hiking the DStv Premium subscription fee from N21 000 to N24 000, an increase of 14.3%.

DStv Compact Plus will increase by 16.5% from N14 250 to N16 600.

DStv Compact will increase by 16.6% from N9 000 to 10 500 naira, while DStv Confam subscribers who paid N5 300 will now pay 17% more at the new monthly fee of N6 200.

DStv Yanga is increasing 18.6% from N2 950 to N3 500, and DStv Padi is rising 16.2% from N2 150 to N2500.

For Gotv subscribers the Supa package price is increasing 16.3% from N5 500 to N6 400 while GOtv Max increases 16.8% from N4 150 to N4 850. 

The GOtv Jolli package price in Nigeria will increase 17.8% from N2 800 to N3 300, while GOtv Jinja is increasing 18.4% from N1 900 to N2 250, and GOtv Lite is increasing 22.2% from N900 to N1 100 from May 2023.

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

ALSO READ: Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission orders MultiChoice Nigeria to sublicence some of its DStv channels to Metro Digital that wants SuperSport and English Premier League content.

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to sublicence some of its DStv TV channels to Metro Digital which asked MultiChoice for over 50 of its TV channels, including SuperSport and English Premier League (EPL) content.

In a letter sent on 25 October 2022 to MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe, George Obi, NBC head of legal, writes that MultiChoice Nigeria is "hereby directed to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended pursuant to Metro Digital's request for channels sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal".

Metro TV has been embroiled in a three year legal tussle with MultiChoice Nigeria to force the pay-TV operator to resell some of its content and TV channels to other operators.

Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, Metro Digital managing director, says "The growth of the broadcast industry in Nigeria has been limited due to monopolistic practices of the dominant player in the industry. All indigenous companies licensed in the last 20 years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity and warehousing".

"The federal government of Nigeria, realising the inherent danger, outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity, through amendments to the Broadcast Code. Furthermore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees."

"The end of monopoly in Nigeria's broadcasting industry will enhance competition, innovation and quality of service delivery. The industry will experience rapid growth and consumers will benefit from the competitive pricing that follows."

Ifeanyi Nwafor says it commends the NBC for "repositioning of the industry and ending the monopolistic practices that have held the industry down for a long time".

Ayo Ajala upped as MultiChoice Nigeria chief operating officer.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria has promoted Ayo Ajala as MultiChoice Nigeria's chief operating officer (COO) from April 2022.

Ayo Ajala who joined MultiChoice Africa in 2004, previously worked at the African pay-TV operator's Africa division in various positions and was group executive head for human resources at MultiChoice Africa since 2019.

MultiChoice Nigeria, in a statement it issued a month and a half after his appointment since April, says Ajo Ajala as MultiChoice Nigeria COO will now "oversee customer functions and the business operations of the Nigeria business and ensure that processes and systems are sufficiently robust to support the company's growth".

"A self-proclaimed people champion, Ajala's knack for understanding people and focusing their strengths where is most suitable, is a critical aspect of his success story, even as he continued to gain cogent and extensive experience in human resource management in particular and the multi-dimensional requirements of business operations on a wider spectrum."

Ayo Ajala has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, an MBA from the University of Sunderland and a certificate in human resources development from the Edinburgh Business School.

He also completed the Vision Achievement programme with the Pacific Institute and the Harvard Business Programme with the Naspers Group and recently completed the senior leadership programme at the Duke Business School (Fuqua School of Business).

MultiChoice Nigeria hikes subscription fees of DStv and GOtv over 14% from April 2022, Huriwa group calls increase 'outrageous'.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is once again doing a price hike from April 2022 of DStv and GOtv subscription fees in the West African country blaming Nigeria's inflation rate and business operations becoming more expensive.

"In light of the rising costs of inflation and business operations, we have had to review the price of our packages to keep delighting our customers with great entertainment, anytime and anywhere," MultiChoice Nigeria says in a statement.

"Therefore, from 1 April 2022, a new pricing regime for both our DStv and GOtv packages will be in effect."

DStv Premium is increasing to N21,000 naira (R732) up from N18,400, DStv Compact Plus is increasing to N14,250 (R497) from N12,400, DStv Compact will now cost N9000 (R314) from N7900, Confam is now N5300 (R185) from N4615, Yanga N2950 (R103) from N2565, and Padi N2150 (R75) from N1800.

The DStv Business package will now cost N2669 (R93) and Xtraview and the PVR Access Fee will now be N2900 (R101), up from N2500.

MultiChoice Nigeria is hiking GOtv Max to N4150, GOtv Jolli to N2800, GOtv Jinja to N1900 and will cost GOtv Lite N900.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (Huriwa) slammed MultiChoice Nigeria's price hike in a statement, saying "The hike in prices of MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv packages in Nigeria is outrageous and should be reversed with immediate alacrity before 1 April 2022".

"It is no longer news that MultiChoice has consistently exploited billions of dollars from Nigerians in the last three decades since its operations in Nigeria in 1993. The South African company has also used unfair competitive strategies to force indigenous Nigerian competitors to close show," Huriwa claimed.

MultiChoice Nigeria's South African exec and chief customer officer Martin Mabutho (47) dead after short illness.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria's chief customer officer Martin Mabutho has died. He was 47.

MultiChoice staff was told of Martin Mabutho's death on Tuesday. 

Martin Mabutho, a South African born Martin Gaone Mabutho, worked in Nigeria for the pan-African pay-TV company and his death comes shortly after the passing of MultiChoice's content boss Aletta Alberts from Covid-19 complications last month

Martin Mabutho died in Cape Town after a short illness after he travelled to South Africa for a vacation. He is survived by his parents, wife Thato, and their four children.

Martin Mabutho joined MultiChoice Botswana as a customer service supervisor in 1999, and later became a brand manager at M-Net in 2003.

"He led the marketing and sales effort for DStv Mobile in Sub-Saharan Africa before his appointment as MultiChoice Nigeria's general manager, sales and marketing in 2013.

In 2018 Martin Mabutho was appointed as MultiChoice Nigeria's chief customer officer, responsible for driving the MultiChoice Nigeria customer group strategy.

John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria CEO, in a memo to MultiChoice staffers said that "It is with deep personal grief that I inform you of the passing of Martin Mabutho, our chief customer officer. Words cannot adequately express our sadness at this moment. We have lost a friend, colleague, mentor and a genuine amazing human being"

"Martin passed away earlier today, Tuesday 24 August 2021, after a brief illness. He was a valued member of our team and an industry stalwart for many years. He will be sorely missed."

"We are grateful for the opportunity we had to work with him and experience his exemplary drive. As colleague and as a business, we will continue to honour his memory in all that we do."

"Martin was not just a colleague but a very close friend and most trusted adviser. He was well-loved by everyone for his energy and hard-work, his warmth, good humour and the creativity and positive attitude he always brought to the team. He will be greatly missed."

MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa kick off season 6 of Big Brother Naija with 22 housemates including a Dubai-based realtor and a Princess taxi driver.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 6th season of Big Brother Naija with the theme "Shine Ye Eye" has started with 22 new housemates ranging from a Dubai-based real estate agent, a doctor, models and even a princess who is a taxi driver, cloistered in the camera-filled, Covid-19 safe bubble-production.

Big Brother Nigeria, that MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa are doing from their studio complex in Lagos, Nigeria, is running for the next 10 weeks and 72 days on the Big Brother Naija channel on 198 in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, and DStv channel 197 in South Africa.

Highlight programmes will once again be shown on various Africa Magic channels on DStv, with MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax that is doing The Buzz as an additional programme with more content around the show.

SMS voting has been dropped from this season, with voting only taking place on the show's website and the DStv app.

The reality series introduced 11 male housemates in the first of two launch shows on Saturday night, followed by the second launch show on Sunday night as 11 female housemates were introduced and walked into the house. 

Notably, host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu encouraged viewers to interact with the show on social media on its official Instagram and Facebook accounts but conspicuously ignored any mention of its Twitter account with over 1.4 million followers that fell silent in June after the Nigerian government banned companies, like MultiChoice Nigeria based in the country, from being active on and using the social media service.

Here are the 11 men:

Boma

This housemate shows off his modeling skills on stage. He mentioned he has been modeling for 10yrs and he takes modeling opportunities as it comes.

Saga

He is 28-years-old but considers himself a 21-years-old. He mentioned he's a free spirit, as well as young and fun. He's an engineer but would love to go into the entertainment industry as he has a passion for art and other creative things.

Yousef

He loves looking good for the camera. He’s very confident and he’s from J-Town. He is looking to bring some fun, sexiness and entertainment to Big Brother and is "single and ready to mingle" and looking for a soul mate. He's a teacher in electrical technology.

Pere

This 36-year-old says he's not in the house to "sing kumbaya" - he prefers "gbas gbos". He loves drama and considers himself an actor.

Whitemoney

He's from Enugu and he plans on bringing fun to the house. He loves to entertain people around him and says he dislikes dirty people. He might be known in the house for saying "who dey breathe" constantly.

Niyi

He loves people happy and feeling comfortable. He's married with a child and also owns a business in South Africa.

Yerins

He's a medical doctor. People think he's introverted but he's the complete opposite. To sum up his personality, he says that he is creative, dramatic and "plain crazy" and is curious to see what parts of him come out in the house.

JayPaul

He is a 29-year-old from Calabar. He considers himself a social butterfly and a "complete entertainer" due to his acting, singing and TV presenter experience as well as the tourism company he owns. JayPaul says people assume he's a playboy due to his hairstyle. He dislikes people who can't stay true to themselves.

Emmanuel

The 24-year-old is from Akwa Ibom state and he loves modeling, fashion, reading and exploring new cultures. He says that he is also very competitive. He says that he has "the mind of a hustler and the heart of a king".

Sammie

He's from the north Kaduna state. He has no strategy but he has a goal, which is not to leave the Big Brother Naija house too soon. He says his personality is a "vibe itself" and that he came to the house to enjoy himself.

Cross

He's a part animal and loves clubbing 4 days a week - Thursday till Sunday. He also mentioned he loves to workout, do yoga and craves drama.

Here are the 11 women:

Angel

She's 21 years old, and hails from Akwa Ibom. She considers herself to be friendly and interactive. However, she claims to be a bit bossy. Angel aspires to become a film producer.

Peace

The 26-year-old entrepreneur runs a fashion brand. She loves food and considers herself a nice person. She hopes to generate more exposure for her fashion brand after the show.

Jackie B

This single mum is from Adamawa state. She loves good vibes and spontaneity. She hopes to crush all the challenges that come with winning the money.

Tega

She's from Cross-river state. She loves to dance, and she believes that she has a fiery personality. Her mission in the house is to sell herself and add spice to the boredom.

Arin

She's a 29-year-old fashion designer who loves to read and research. She’s also an art curator. Arin hopes to bring energy to the show.

Maria

She's a Dubai-based Realtor who loves food and thrives in a bubbly environment. Her goal is to venture into the Nigerian market immediately after the show, as well as maximizing the opportunity.

Liquorose

She is a professional dancer from Edo state. She’s 26-years-old, but she started her dancing career when she was 12-years-old. She says that she has different personalities and she’s on the show to display all of it.

Beatrice

She's a fashion model, who aspires to sell her brand on the show. She owns a clothing brand and is working towards establishing a modelling agency.

Princess

She's a 30-year-old Taxi Driver from Imo state. She loves to cook and drive.

Saskay

The 21-year old artist and model is from Adamawa state. One of her dreams is to set up an art gallery.

Nini

She is from the Edo state. She loves challenges and looks forward to exploring more of them on the show. She's a model and owns a fashion brand. Her goal is to officially launch her fashion brand after the show.

ALSO READ: The 6th season of MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija to start with a double-show launch on 24 July after it will run 72 days, drops SMS voting so the rest of Africa can vote.

BREAKING. Nigeria's revenue service orders banks to immediately freeze MultiChoice Africa's Nigerian bank accounts citing refusal to give access to servers, demands R63 Billion.

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's revenue service has told the West African country's banks to immediately freeze MultiChoice Africa and MultiChoice Nigeria's bank accounts in the country, demanding to be paid R63 million, and saying that MultiChoice Africa and its Nigerian subsidiary had refused access to their servers for auditing.

Reuters reports that Nigeria's revenue service ordered the banks to "recover 1.8 trillion naira ($4.4 billion, R63 billion)" according to Muhammad Nami, Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) executive chairman.

So far there been no statement from the MultiChoice Group, MultiChoice Africa, or MultiChoice Nigeria. (See the UPDATE below.)

According to FIRS, MultiChoice Africa and MultiChoice Nigeria "would not promptly respond to correspondences, they lacked data integrity and are not transparent as they continually deny FIRS access to their records",

"Particularly, MultiChoice Nigeria has avoided giving the FIRS accurate information on the number of its subscribers and income."

"It is further requested that the FIRS be informed of any transactions before execution on the account, especially transfers of funds to any of their subsidiaries," FIRS said.

"The companies are involved in the under-remittance of taxes which necessitated a critical review of the tax-compliance level of the company."

The Nigerian government and its various broadcasting regulatory bodies have been waging a years-long war on multiple fronts - including company raids - against the multi-national pay-TV company that is seen as "South African", with many other South African and multinational companies that have decided to pack it in and leave Nigeria over the past few years. 

MultiChoice Africa attempts to turn around its Nigerian business that has been loss-making for years and dragged down its combined "Rest of Africa (RoA)" financial results outside of South Africa, have been hampered by draconian existing and proposed broadcasting legislation, the ongoing depreciation of the naira currency, Nigeria's stifling and deteriorating economic conditions, unreliable electricity supply, as well as growing political instability.

Currently, for instance, MultiChoice Nigeria can't communicate to its subscribers or potential customers on Twitter and did so last in June, following the dictatorial Nigerian government's sudden, unilateral "ban" on companies to use Twitter in the country.

Besides Nigeria's public dislike of M-Net West Africa productions like Big Brother Naija on ministerial level, the country has also dragged MultiChoice Nigeria to court over its subscriber operating and billing system.

The Nigerian government also wants to subject MultiChoice Nigeria to a system of having to "apply" and get government permission for subscription price increases as part of a system of forced price setting in what is supposedly a free market economy, and also wants to force MultiChoice to implement an impossible "pay-per-view" system that is wholly out of touch with reality.

In the past financial year MultiChoice saw a 9% growth in DStv and GOtv subscribers in Nigeria, with subscription revenue in the country growing by 20% to R6.8 billion.

UPDATE - Thursday 8 July 2021 15:00: MultiChoice is responding.

"MultiChoice Nigeria has not received any notification from Firs," says the MultiChoice Group in a statement. 

"The matter is apparently based on unfounded allegations that MultiChoice Nigeria has not fully disclosed all existing subscribers to authorities."

"MultiChoice Nigeria respects and is comfortable that it complies with the tax laws of Nigeria. We have been and are currently in discussion with FIRS regarding their concerns and believe that we will be able to resolve the matter amicably."

"Our operations are continuing in Nigeria."

Subscribers' anger rise as MultiChoice Nigeria is forced to increase DStv subscription fees in Nigeria again amidst rampant inflation while naira devalues and with latest government tax increase.

by Thinus Ferreira

DStv subscribers in Nigeria are furious with MultiChoice Nigeria that is following China's StarTimes that hiked its pay-TV subscriber fees by roughly 22% in the country since 1 August, with MultiChoice that is now also hiking DStv subscription fees from September because of increase government tax, rampant inflation and the ongoing currency devaluation of the struggling naira.

Meanhile Nigeria's government wants to prevent both private pay-TV operators to increase their prices, with the government that wants to legislate price increases and determine what companies are allowed to ask customers to pay in the West-African nation's supposed "free market economy".

MultiChoice Nigeria will increase DStv Premium from N16 200 to N18 400 (R807.52) per month from 1 September 2020, while the monthly fee of DStv Compact Plus in Nigeria will increase from N10 925 to N12 400 (R544.20), and DStv Compact subscribers at N6 975 will now pay N7 900 (R346.71).

The monthly subscription fees of MultiChoice's lower-tiered Confam, Yanga and Padi pay-TV packages will remain unchanged.

MultiChoice and StarTimes have been forced to increase prices because of the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, as well as the decision by Nigeria's federal government to hike value-added tax (VAT) in the country by 2.5% since August 2020.

Nigeria struggles with a worsening economy marked by rampant inflation, the local naira currency that continues to devalue and a government that is seemingly hellbent on making trading conditions as difficult as possible for foreign-based companies in the country and with South Africa's Shoprite the latest casualty of brand devestment that is leaving Nigeria.

MultiChoice Nigeria in a statement says that "In order to provide some relief for customers, MultiChoice Nigeria has absorbed the cost of the increase in VAT for the past 4 months, keeping its products and services at the old 5 percent VAT; however this is no longer possible and the mandated 7.5 percent VAT will be applied accordingly".

In its message to DStv subscribers MultiChoice Nigeria says that "We periodically review our pricing, taking into consideration factors such as inflation and operational costs".

"We acknowledge that the people of Nigeria are living under increased economic pressure and we have made efforts to freeze the subscription prices in the last year, barring any extreme factors such as devaluation of currency and changes to VAT mandated by government."

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 29 July 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

Netflix breaks HBO's record for the most Emmy nominations ever.
HBO's Watchmen earned 26 nominations - the most of any show - and the Television Academy gave newcomers Disney+ and Apple TV + their first nominations.
- Emmy 2020 snubs and surprises: Baby Yoda breaks through.
- TV critics on whether television should be celebrating itself when the Covid-19 pandemic rages on.


■ "Kosher Netflix" launches in Israel.
No dancing to be seen as religious Jewish subscribers can press the "Skip" button to protect their modesty and flick past "problematic" scenes in the new video streaming service, Tov.

■ What is the optimum number of seasons for a TV sitcom before it jumps the shark?
Season 7, episode 3.

■ Television cinematography takes a Quantum Leap.

■ Pay-as-you-go for solar-powered pay-TV in Africa.

■ Convicted paedophile worked on the set of New Zealand children's show.

■ Britain's Sky pay-TV operator embraces the possibilities of showcasing Art on television.

■ How 2020 pressed Fast Forward on the video streaming wars.
- And the early winners and losers: The "What's gone right", What's gone wrong" and the "Verdict".


■ Major League Baseball (MLB) shown on ESPN might get cancelled this season because of Covid-19.
- Slimmed-down baseball on TV has broadcast workers worried about job cuts.
- Major League Baseball pulls the rug out from Amazon Prime Video with shortened season.


■ Apple's Apple TV+ video streaming service is off to a very slow start and isn't generating revenue.


■ "Shame on Big Brother Naija."
Is Edafe Ufoma Holy on drugs or something? In a c-r-a-z-y and hilarious rant over MultiChoice and M-Net's latest 5th season of Big Brother Nigeria, "Ebuka, the presenter got penis erection while interviewing that lady with massive breasts", and "The most handsome of all the male contestants is a yellow skin guy but with little manhood".


■ DStv now charging the same for less, says a subscriber, while DStv Customer Service says "We do not have replacement channels".
"We are left with 20-year old repeats and channels which give us films with excessive violence".

■ If Facebook and social media is the new cigarettes, then this is what we must learn fro the 1970's.

■ Hollywood's lost summer.


■ Adewunmi Ogunsanya, MultiChoice Nigeria chairperson recovers after Covid-19.
Unadulterated joy blossoms in the bosoms of relatives, friends and associates of the successful, beefy lawyer who had coronavirus with the news about Erujeje's healing that has sent his people rejoicing and felicitating with him.

■ Australia's version of Farmer Wants a Wife wants to bring back "wholesome reality TV".

■ Nigeria finally adds sign language to national news briefings on TV.
- While South Africa's SABC puts out a new tender looking for sign language service providers for 3 years.

■ The future of video streaming services is ongoing subscriber churn.
Viewers will subscribe and unsubscribe as new content comes and goes that they might be interested in.

■ SABC chief financial officer Yolande van Biljon says the South African public broadcaster wants to get to a place where it doesn't have to ask for government bailouts again.