The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to justify its planned subscription price increase set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, announced that the regulator had ordered MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing.
The summons follows MultiChoice’s Monday announcement of a 21% increase in the subscription fee for its DStv Compact package, raising the price from N15,700 to N19,000, among other adjustments.
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The price hike sparked widespread backlash, with subscribers voicing their frustration on social media over the frequent increases.
The FCCPC expressed concern over the recurring unilateral price adjustments, warning that such practices could indicate unfair market dominance and potential anti-competitive behavior.
“Exercising its authority under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the commission has directed MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO to appear for an investigative hearing on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
“This action follows MultiChoice’s notification of the price adjustment, which raises serious concerns about repeated unilateral increases, possible market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV sector.
“The FCCPC is particularly troubled that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price hikes, while reports suggest MultiChoice applies different pricing models in other markets, further fueling concerns about fairness and market abuse,” the statement read.
The regulator warned that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation or any breach of fair market practices could lead to penalties, sanctions, or other regulatory actions.
Additionally, the FCCPC confirmed ongoing engagement with the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to promote fair competition and enhance consumer protection in Nigeria’s pay-TV industry.
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