Subscribers in Nigeria have protested and called for a boycott of the country’s DStv and GOtv services in response to the parent company, MultiChoice, raising the prices for both services on Tuesday.
The South-West Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given MultiChoice Nigeria a seven-day deadline to stop the proposed price increase or face fines.
MultiChoice issued text messages to its subscribers announcing a 17 percent increase in the price of its DStv and GOtv bundles. also specified that the higher rates would go into effect on May 1, 2023, and also included an explanation of why the increase was necessary due to increased corporate operating costs.
Subscribers has vet their displeasures over the subscription hike on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms, a possible cut is expected in a number of DStv and GOtv users in the country.
In contrast, NANS expressed opposition to the subscription hike in a statement signed by its coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, its deputy coordinator, Alao John, and its public relations officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa. NANS claimed that the South African company was putting Nigerians through hardship and extorting them without taking into account their standard of living.
Additionally, it suggested that tariffs be assessed on a “pay as you view” basis.
As a result, it urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Communication to “break the sporting right of MultiChoice” and provide an alternative service provider in Nigeria so that “Nigerians can stop being exploited daily.” It was noted that Nigeria accounts for over 45% of the global market share for DStv.
In opposition to the increase in subscription fees, NANS gave MultiChoice Digital Satellite Television a seven-day deadline to change its mind and implement pay-as-you-view fees, or the company’s offices would be locked until the demands of Nigerians were satisfied.
