A non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, Save the Consumers, has charged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to take decisive actions towards fostering genuine competition in the pay-TV sector in a bid to “dismantle MultiChoice’s stranglehold on the market”.
Save the Customers gave the charge against the backdrop of what it described as the company’s double standard and bias treatment of its Nigerian subscribers.
It accused MultiChoice Nigeria of reducing prices for its DStv and Gotv services in South Africa while hiking the same in Nigeria.
According to the NGO, MultiChoice allegedly “reducing prices of DStv and Gotv services in South Africa sub by up to 38 percent and also enhanced value for its South African subscribers”, while hiking the same in Nigeria.
247nextnews.com reports that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), recently had a face-off with MultiChoice that led to litigations following alleged indiscriminate price hike in Nigeria.
The recent confrontation from FCCPC followed a 21 percent price hike by the South African company on its customers in Nigeria effective March 1, 2025.
Despite directive by the FCCPC asking the company to halt the move pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation, MultiChoice went ahead to implement the price hike.
Angered by the development, the customers’ right group in a statement issued on Sunday by its Executive Director, Dr. Aliyu Ilias lamented that the company allegedly “reduced prices by up to 38% and enhance value for its South African subscribers”.
According to the organization, in South Africa, MultiChoice “lowered fees on various products, added new channels, and introduced features that improve the user experience, while acknowledging the financial pressures faced by South African households”.
Lamenting the alleged double standard by MultiChoice, the organization declared that “lowering prices at home while increasing them in Nigeria, amounts to economic discrimination”, accusing the company of engaging in an exploitative approach toward the Nigerian market.
“We call on Nigerian consumers to explore alternative platforms and consider boycotting DStv and GOtv until MultiChoice demonstrates genuine respect for their rights.
“MultiChoice’s discriminatory pricing, rewarding South African subscribers with lower costs and better services while exploiting Nigerians, is a glaring example of unchecked corporate greed.
“Save the Consumers stands firmly with Nigerian subscribers in rejecting this injustice and calls on all stakeholders to hold MultiChoice accountable,” the statement added.
