In a surprising development, yesterday, some DStv subscribers were informed about impending price increases. For instance, DStv Compact subscribers were informed to expect a 13.3% price increase to N7,900 up from N6,975, starting September 1st.
Similarly, the subscription fee for DStv Compact Plus was increased by 9.8% from N10,925 to N12,000. Nairametrics also understands that the subscription fee for DStv Premium was increased from N16,200 to 18,400, indicating a 13.6% hike.
Part of the notice by the leading pay-tv provider said, “Dear Customer, please be advised of a price adjustment on your DStv Compact package from 1 September. Your new monthly subscription will be N7,900.”
READ: Pay-as-you-view: Startimes, Multichoice in a tussle for the Nigerian market
Note that this is happening barely a few days after lawmakers in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber summoned the company’s management to explain an earlier price hike in June.
As widely reported, DStv’s owners informed customers at the end of H1 2020 that it would be increasing prices for its bouquets in a bid to reflect the new Value Added Tax. The company said it had been absorbing the additional 2.5% tax, in hopes that the federal government would revert to the old tax rate before the end of Q1 2020. It also claimed that it would no longer be able to continue absorbing the extra costs, hence the decision to shift the burden to the customers.
READ: CBN’s N154.38 billion T-bills auction over subscribed by 46% as rates fall marginally
Nigerians are dumbfounded and outraged
In the meantime, thousands of Nigerians have reacted to this development on Twitter. The reactions range from shock to pure outrage, with many people wondering why the government is not doing enough to checkmate DStv which is owned by South Africa’s MultiChoice.
DStv has successfully bribed lawmakers in this country for this impunity to continue. Some people in government raised the issue of the costly price for DSTV bouquet, now no one is talking price is up again. Please we need #dstvpayperview , retweet if you are concerned #bbnaija pic.twitter.com/7rJcJKiaW1
— odubayo Nathaniel (@natoodus) August 21, 2020
Perhaps the saddest part of this development is the fact that it is happening amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating economic hardship that has come with it. And even though Multichoice tried to explain why the hike has become inevitable at this point, many customers would not be placated.
WTF ?♂️…
MultiChoice is heartless … inside this covid-19 hardship #DSTV #DStv pic.twitter.com/h0xnqdZdfV— your favourite stubborn boy (@lovest0147) August 21, 2020
Dont blame DSTV. When the cat is a dummy,the house becomes the abode of rats. This country’s gerontocracy is not so much kinder and gentler as paralytic.
Why are we complaining? The customers are d problem here. Is it compulsory u must have dstv? We have startime in Nigeria and no one is patronizing it. If all dstv customers moved to startime there will be fund for the company to expand. Bcos of football we diverted all our attention to dstv. Make u na dance to dstv music na. U na dey wait for our corrupt law makers to fight for u na. U can’t even go to the streets and protect. We r all here making noise.
Why should subscribers complain,the simple and honourable thing to do is just migratell to STARTIME and leave multichoice for good.because it now seems they are only interested in just to EXPLOIT Nigerians even when the are giving us epileptic services, mind you whenever it’s raining the services goes off.
Yet,they are giving us subscription increment instead of multichoice thinking of how they can stop the negative epileptic services.
Pls let’s complain less and move to STARTIME.
Lolz.People should take action rather wait on the govt. You can simply boycott their services altogether and opt for the available alternative. But most nigerians act as if they are charmed.
And I though there is this people called Consumer Protection Commission? The only thing they know is how to steal money. Zoo Country