A human rights activist, Francis Nwapa, has called on the Nigerian government to stop MultiChoice from the incessant increment of its subscription rates for GoTv and DStv packages in Nigeria.
According to an email recently sent to customers, the new prices on its DStv and GOtv packages will take effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
The new prices affect both new subscribers and existing customers renewing their packages.
Giving the reason for the fresh hike, the company said the new price adjustment came as a result of the persistent increase in the cost of production in the country.
The pay television outlet increased the subscription fee for packages on both platforms from about 20 percent to about 26 percent, depending on the package.
For instance, the cost of the DStv Premium Package was increased from the old price of N29,500 to the new price of N37,000. The cost of the Compact Plus package was increased from N19,800 to N25,000.
The Compact package moved from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam package was increased from N7,400 to N9,300; Yanga moved from N4,200 to N5,100; Padi that was N2,950 is now N3,360; HDPVR Access Service - N4,000 moved to a new price of N5,000; Access fees old price N4,000 increased to N5,000 and XtraView old price N4,000 increased to N5,000.
For GOtv package: Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa old increased from N7,600 to N9,600; Max increased from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli increased from N3,950 to N4,850; Jinja package increased from N2,700 to N3,300; and Smallie package increased from N1,300 to N1,575.
The new subscription price in the email signed by Chief Executive Officer, Multichoice, John Ugbe, explained that the move would allow the firm to provide more quality content to its subscribers' homes across the country.
Reacting to the increment, Nwapa in a post on his X account on Sunday said that between 2023 and now, MultiChoice has increased the prices of its packages five times, adding that its service is still not ‘pay as you view’.
@GOtvNg @DStvNg Between last year and now your company has increased prices 5 times, yet it's not pay as you view. This latest increment mustn't be allowed. @NGRSenate #boycottdstvgotv #boycottdstvgotv #boycottdstvgotv @MobilePunch @SaharaReporters @YRC_DSM#boycottgotvdstv
— Francis Nwapa (@FNwapa) April 28, 2024
Nwapa, who said that the latest increment must not be allowed to take effect, called for a boycott of MultiChoice services by Nigerians.
He wrote, “@GOtvNg @DStvNg Between last year and now your company has increased prices 5 times, yet it's not pay as you view. This latest increment mustn't be allowed,” tagging the Nigerian Senate.