FCCPC summons Multichoice over plan to increase DStv, GOtv subscriptions by 21%

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice following its latest plan to hike subscriptions. The call was for the parent company of DStv and GOtv to explain the increase set to take effect on March 1, 2025. 

According to a statement released on Tuesday by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the commission had ordered MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing.

The regulator claimed that the recurring unilateral price adjustment raises critical questions on the ethics of fairness, market abuse, and potential anti-competitive practices.

“Exercising its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC directed the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at the commission’s headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025,” the commission states. 

FCCPC expressed that it is deeply concerned as Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases. It added that the hike comes amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse.

The regulator warned Multichoice that failure to provide a convincing explanation or any violation of fair market principles could result in penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures.

For the rest of the telecoms sector, FCCPC added that it is engaging the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure fair competition and stronger consumer protection in Nigeria’s pay-TV industry.

On its authority over the telecom industry, a federal high court in Lagos recently ruled in favour of the commission in a telecom regulatory authorization dispute between the FCCPC and telecoms provider, MTN Nigeria. 

The verdict further affirms the commission’s regulatory authority over competition and consumer protection in the telecom industry. It also upheld the regulator’s right to investigate MTN for potential anti-competitive practices.

Read More: Court affirms FCCPC’s regulatory authority in the telecom industry.

A recount of MultiChoice’s subscription hike

Recall that yesterday, Technext reported that MultiChoice is set to increase subscription prices across various packages starting in March 2025. The DStv Compact bouquet will rise from N15,700 to N19,000, representing a 21 per cent increase. This adjustment comes nearly a year after the last price review.

The company attributes the price increase to Nigeria’s economic challenges such as naira depreciation, high energy costs, and inflation which stood at 24.48 per cent as of January 2025. 

In a statement, the Dstv/Gotv parent company said:

“Dear customers, please note that effective from March 1, 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DSTV/GOTV packages. This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology.”

Other Dstv bouquets will also be affected. As of next month, the premium package will go for N44,500 The Family package will increase from N9,300 to N11,000, while the Access bouquet will increase to N6,000. Similarly, GOtv subscribers will see a hike, with the Value package increasing from N3,600 to N3,900, and the Plus package moving from N4,850 to N5,800.

Notably, the majority of MultiChoice users are members of the Compact, Access, and Family bouquet subscriptions. 

The development comes amidst the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike which has seen mobile network operators adjust the cost of voice and data calls. All including the skyrocketed price of consumer goods have attributed various increases to the depreciation of the naira and rising energy expenses. 

Businesses across various sectors have struggled with the impact of government reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and electricity tariff hikes. As a result, several companies, including those in telecoms and broadcasting, have adjusted their prices.