Reps suspends Multichoice’s subscription hike, orders investigation

The House of Representatives has instructed Multichoice, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to suspend its planned subscription rate increase, citing concerns over the financial strain on Nigerians amid ongoing economic challenges.

Multichoice had recently announced a price adjustment set to take effect from March 1, with the DStv Premium package rising from N37,000 to N44,500, while Compact+ subscribers would pay N30,000 instead of N25,000. The Compact bouquet would also increase from N17,000 to N19,000.

The directive came after a motion was moved by Esosa Iyawe, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Edo State, during plenary on Tuesday.

“Multichoice recently announced a hike in subscription rates across all its packages, citing rising operational costs. However, this marks the second increase in less than a year, with the last adjustment made in May 2024,” Iyawe stated.

Read also: FCCPC orders MultiChoice Nigeria to halt price hike amid ongoing investigation

He highlighted that the previous hike triggered widespread public outrage, with many Nigerians, already struggling with economic difficulties, abandoning their decoders due to a lack of competition in the pay-TV sector.

“Multichoice’s dominance in the market means any price increase has a widespread impact, putting consumers under undue financial pressure,” he added.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved that Multichoice should suspend the proposed hike pending a thorough investigation.

The lawmakers further mandated the Committee on Commerce to probe the recurring increases in subscription fees and ensure cost-effective policies for Nigerian consumers. The committee has been given four weeks to submit its findings.