Pay television giant, Multichoice Nigeria Limited, has been restrained from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services from April, by a Competition and Consumer Protection (CCP) tribunal sitting in Abuja.
This is coming 8 days after Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv increased subscription fees for its services across board with effect from April 1.
The order was given by the 3-member tribunal presided over by Thomas Okosun, following an ex-parte motion moved by Festus Onifade, a legal practitioner, on behalf of himself and the Coalition of Nigeria Consumers.
According to NAN, other members of the tribunal include Sola Salako Ajulo and Ibrahim EL-Yakubu, in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/1/2022, in which Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
What the applicants were seeking in the ex-parte suit
The ex-parte motion that was filed by the applicants on March 29 was brought pursuant to Section 39 (1) & (2) of FCCPC Act 2018; Order 26, Rule 5 (2), (3) & 26 Rule 6 (1) & (2) Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Section 47(a), (b), (c),(d), of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
The applicants had prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendants/respondents, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal.
“An order of the Honourable Tribunal mandating the 1st defendant/respondents to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“And for such further order or other orders as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
What the tribunal said in its ruling
The tribunal in its ruling ordered Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited to stop the planned hike in tariffs and cost of its products and services pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
The tribunal ruled, “The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby restrained, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022 until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this Honourable Tribunal.
“The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby mandated to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“All parties in this suit are to appear before this Honourable Tribunal on the 11th day of April, 2022.’’
What you should know
Nairametrics had on Tuesday, March 22, reported that MultiChoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv, had through a statement, announced an increase in subscription fees across board with effect from April 1, 2022.
Highlights of new rates include;
- DStv package now cost: Premium (N21,000), Compact + (N14,250), Compact (N9,000), Confam (N5,300), Yanga (N2,950), Padi (N2,150),
- Business (N2,669), Xtraview + PVR access fee (N2,900)
- Gotv Max for N4,150, GOtv Jolli for N2,800, GOtv Jinja for N1,900, GOtv Lite for N900.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) subsequently revealed that it is engaging MultiChoice Nigeria for clarity on its recently announced increase of subscription fee across all bouquets for its DStv and GOtv services.
The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera, pointed out that its engagement with the pay-television company is to find out if the company implemented a change in terms and conditions in line with the Commission’s mandated steps.
Government is so unserious!
DSTV is running a private business, open to competition and market forces. The prices of everything has gone up! Why not subscription rates? I dare them to bring down the cost of fuel and diesel and see if their rates will not come down.
Besides, DStv services are luxury services, why are they not crying on the price of garri and beans that has tripled? Let them focus on bringing down the prices of the basic things that will impact the majority of Nigerians and not DStv that only them enjoy and depend on!
If d suit is implemented it will be fine as it will benefit we d consumers besides what’s d point of increase in price in things like dis of which after a hectic day off work u have what can view n keep u entertained amid dis already hard times we r facing in dis country, no it’s not acceptable..
They should increase their tariff only after implementing pay and you watch.
They should increase their tariff only after implementing pay as you watch.
We are not particular about there price increment but for them to adopt the Pay as you view option. This package Is operational in South Africa and some other countries,so why is Nigeria’s different?
Please, DSTV is a luxury service, it is not mandatory. Price of Diesel, Gas, Fuel, Kerosene etc has increased, why won’t TV subscription increase? Do they run the offices with Water? Government should focus on bringing down the cost of basic amenities and DSTV will not have much reasons to increase prices. Why are they not contesting the increase in price of Fuel, Garri, Rice, Beans, Diesel etc? There is too much hate of DSTV by Nigerians. Moreso, PAY AS YOU GO does not exist anywhere in the world cause you can’t break a TV stream, it is not like Mobile Telecommunication where you can break the stream, it is basic Physics., you can make your findings. What is obtainable is PAY PER VIEW and I pray DSTV does not implement this in this country cause they will end up making 100 times what they are making now. Nigerians always claim to know so much yet, they don’t. We have internet at our disposal, yet we can’t find out stuffs before opening our mouths to say certain things. Please, other Cable TV Companies should step up and acquire all these broadcast rights that DSTV is having so competition will be there, let us see whether their prices won’t be worse than what DSTV or Multichoice is charging. If you want to do a legit business in this country without cutting corners, be ready to spend out of your skin to maintain it. Leave DSTV alone and focus on the basic things that will eliminate hunger from the populace. I rest my case.