The Rainbow
The Federal Government is tackling MultiChoice over recent price increases in its products in Nigeria.
The Acting Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Armstrong Idachaba on Tuesday directed the company to to suspend the implementation of its new tariffs regime on different bouquets on its DSTV, while Minister of Information Lai Mohamed said plans were afoot to break the company’s monopoly over sporting rights.
The most compelling attraction to the MultiChoice services in Nigeria is international sporting activities especially football over which the South Africa company holds the rights to most of them.
Idachaba and Lai Mohammed briefed members of an Ad Hoc Committee looking into the hike in tariffs.
“I want to agree with the Committee and call on DSTV to suspend the hike in tariffs, “Idachaba told the law makers.
The Minister on his part said that he had already signed a code to break the monopoly of MultiChoice in Nigeria.
“Our amendments to the Broadcasting Act, will affect the break in the monopoly of MultiChoice,” he said
*Amendments to Section 628 of the Broadcasting Act, is in our broad national interest.”
Under the new tariffs regime which kicked in June, premium subscribers on DStv pay N16,200 against N15,800. This is addition of N400.
Compact Plus subscribers pay N10,925 as against N10,650. Similarly, Compact bouquet price has been adjusted from N6,800 to N6,975. Subscribers on Confam bouquet will now pay N4,615 against N4,500 while Yanga subscribers will pay N2,565 against N2,500.
Subscribers on Max on GOtv will pay N3,280 from N3,200 while Jolli and Jinja subscribers will pay N2,460 and N16,640 respectively.
The lawmakers who quizzed the government officials on the new payment template issued by the MultiChoice on payment of DSTV subscription, lamented the high cost of tariffs.
According to the lawmakers, the increase in the price of subscription of satellite television was an affront that must be suspended with immediate effect.
The Rainbow gathered that the lawmakers and determined to enact laws that would compel the implementation of per view billing system.
MultiChoice had explained that the increase in fees was in line with the legislation of the Federal Government which increased VAT in January 2020, with implementation effective 1 February 2020.
“In order to provide some relief for customers, MultiChoice Nigeria has absorbed the cost of increase in VAT for the past four months, keeping its products and services at the old 5% VAT, however this is no longer possible and the mandated 7.5% VAT will be applied accordingly”.
