The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to justify its planned subscription price hike, which is set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, announced that MultiChoice’s CEO has been ordered to appear at the FCCPC headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing.
This summons follows MultiChoice’s recent announcement on Monday of a 21% increase in the subscription fee for its DStv Compact package, raising the price from N15,700 to N19,000, along with other price adjustments.
The news sparked significant backlash from subscribers, many of whom expressed frustration on social media over the frequent price hikes.
The consumer protection body expressed concern over the ongoing unilateral price increases, warning that such practices may raise serious issues regarding fairness, market abuse, and potential anti-competitive behavior.
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“Exercising its authority under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC has directed MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO to attend an investigative hearing at the commission’s headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025,” the statement noted.
“This action follows MultiChoice’s official notification of the price adjustment, which raises alarms about the recurrence of unilateral price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and suspected anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV sector.”
The FCCPC further expressed concerns about the burden frequent price increases place on Nigerian consumers, highlighting reports of MultiChoice employing different pricing strategies in other markets, raising questions about fairness and market manipulation.
The regulator warned that any failure to provide a satisfactory explanation or breach of fair market principles could lead to penalties, sanctions, or other corrective actions.
Additionally, the FCCPC confirmed that it is engaging with the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure fair competition and stronger consumer protection within Nigeria’s pay-TV industry.
Crediblenewsng.com
