On Wednesday, Multichoice, a broadcasting company, announced an increase in the prices of its services in Nigeria, just four months after the last adjustment.
The company implemented price revisions across its package offerings, which will come into effect on May 1, 2024.
Following the recent price hike, the DStv Premium package surged from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ subscription increased from N19,800 to N25,000, while the Compact package saw an increase from N12,500 to N15,700.
Additionally, the Comfam package rose from N7,400 to N9,300, the Yanga package climbed from N4,200 to N5,100, and the Padi package was adjusted from N2,950 to N3,600. Moreover, the HDPVR subscription was raised from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package increased from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.
Meanwhile, the pricing adjustments extended to the Gotv packages, with the Supa+ package rising from N12,500 to N15,700, the Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and the Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.
Furthermore, the Jolli package saw an increase from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved up from N2,700 to N3,300, and the Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.
The upward revision of the broadcasting company’s subscription rates has sparked varied reactions online, with social media users debating that the timing of the increase is inappropriate.
In response to the price hike on X, social media user Kelvin Odanz, tweeting as @MrOdanz, suggested that Nigerians should explore alternative options rather than merely complaining about the increase.
He expressed, “If you have access to stable Internet, there are numerous other services available besides DSTV for football and other entertainment. Apart from football, there isn’t much on DSTV. Explore these alternatives instead of lamenting.”
Echoing similar sentiments, @Letter_to_Jack remarked, “Increases in electricity tariffs, skyrocketing cement prices, diesel reaching 1700/L at one point, and even Indomie priced at 13k – all elicit minimal reactions. Yet, when DSTV raises its prices, there’s outrage! It’s as if DSTV/MultiChoice is the sole cause of frustration for Nigerians.”
David Ofor also shared his perspective, emphasizing the importance of Multichoice justifying the price increase by offering improved value for money.
He commented, “I acknowledge that Multichoice operates in a free market economy, with limited government control mechanisms. However, the primary concern isn’t solely the price hike but the stagnancy in content provided. Despite numerous price hikes over the years, DSTV and GoTV have not enhanced their services.”
Ofor further added, “They need to demonstrate the value of the payments made, especially considering the recent decrease in diesel prices and the strengthening of the Naira.”
As the discussion persists, PUNCH Online explores alternative options that Nigerians can explore for their entertainment.
DSTV – Despite the varied responses to the price hike, a significant number of Nigerians will opt to stay with the broadcasting company. Despite multiple price adjustments, Multichoice continues to retain the loyalty of customers compared to other available alternatives providing similar services.
Many households opt for DStv and GOtv for their entertainment needs, largely due to the company’s emphasis on international sports broadcasting, particularly European leagues and the UEFA Champions League.
When reached for comment on Friday, Caroline Oghuma, the spokesperson for Multichoice Nigeria, mentioned that despite the price increase, subscribers can maintain their current subscription rates for up to a year with the “Price Lock” incentive.
“With Price Lock, you can continue enjoying your current subscription rate for up to a year by paying before your due date each month,” Oghuma informed our correspondent.
StarTimes – This company, a significant player in the Pay-TV market in Asia, holds a considerable market share in several African countries, including Nigeria and Kenya. StarTimes offers a variety of channels, including news, music, movies, and football, with exclusive rights to certain football content.
The company recently acquired the non-exclusive broadcast rights for the Spanish top-tier football league, LaLiga EA Sports and LaLiga Hypermotion, for the next five seasons.
LaLiga EA Sports stands as the premier football league in Spain and is esteemed as one of the foremost professional leagues globally, featuring 20 teams.
SLTV – SLTV emerges as a leading satellite television provider situated in Nigeria. This direct-to-home satellite TV platform is managed by Metro Digital Limited.
Metro Digital SLTV offers over 50 HD channels, including 10 Sports channels showcasing live football matches from the Premier League, Champions League, LaLiga, Serie A, and UEL, among others, with monthly subscription fees ranging from N5,000 to N2,500.
“The objective of SLTV is to furnish premium digital TV content to households encompassing sports, entertainment, and news at affordable rates.
“SLTV prioritizes customer satisfaction and endeavors to ensure that all our customers are content,” the company states on its website.
Android TV Box – An Android TV Box serves as entertainment equipment connected to a TV set, enabling users to enjoy their preferred films, videos, series, live programs, and games.
These versatile devices enable streaming content to your television, playing locally stored files, video games, and more. They are cost-effective, offering options to subscribe to preferred streaming services. An Android TV box connects to a TV via the HDMI port, allowing access to various streaming services and apps directly on the TV screen, eliminating the need for a tablet or laptop.
FireStick – The Amazon Fire Stick is a streaming device that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, granting access to a wide array of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max.
While there is no monthly fee for using the Fire TV Stick itself, a Prime membership enhances its functionality.
