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Pay TV subscribers battle DSTV, GOTV over new subscription rate

The proposed increment in the subscription tariff for DSTV and GOTV users billed to kick start on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, is not going down well with subscribers.

ENCOMIUM Weekly’s findings revealed that DSTV and GOTV subscribers are opposed to the sudden price increase. Nigerians have taken their grievance to the social media lamenting and protesting the sudden increase, insisting that DSTV and GOTV should drop the increment or they will switch to other readily affordable pay television.

“DSTV, enough is enough. Fellow Nigerians, let’s all boycott DSTV and GOTV services Of Multichoice Nigeria Limited from April 1, 2015, for their planned and exploitative tariff increase which they want to foist on the over two million subscribers in Nigeria on April 1, 2015. Enough is enough, Nigerians will no longer tolerate this. We will no longer tolerate the lack of pay as you watch services they offer in South Africa and other countries but in Nigeria, they keep our accounts running even when we travel and there is no one at home to utilize the service even though they know these countries have less subscribers than Nigeria. They must implement pay as you watch in Nigeria on April 1, 2015 and lower tariffs. We insist on it, we are not April fools. They must make that pay as you watch service easy for Nigerians to access with no tricks or long queues to sign up for it. No more substandard decoders, their monopolistic, exploitative tendencies must end in Nigeria. As the Arab spring brought change of government in the Middle East, this DSTV spring must bring change, better services and lower prices come April 1, 2015. If we all unite as one, please, rebroadcast this to everyone on your bbm, whatsapp, we chat contact list, tweet it, post it on your Facebook status till our voice is heard and heeded in their South African head office and this is done. DSTV, enough is enough.”

Apparently, Nigerians not only want a reduction in price, they also want to be charged on pay as you watch services as they claim it is done in other African countries.

According to our findings, the new tarriff is not only applicable to Nigerians, it affects all subscribers in other African communities as well. The new price list, we gathered, will take effect as from April 1, 2015.

As from Wednesday, April 1, 2015, DSTV subscribers will start paying N13,980 for DSTV premium as against N11,650 they were paying before. Subscribers are entitled to watch 120 channels.

starterKitDSTV Compact Plus now goes for N9,420 as against N7,850. Viewers can watch more than 70 channels.

For those on DSTV Compact Plan, they will start paying N6,000 as against N5,000 and subscribers can watch 65 channels. DSTV Family Plan is now N3,000 as against N2,000 tariff being paid before. Those on this plan have access to more than 50 channels.

Subscribers using GOTV will now be paying N1,800 as against N1,500 they were paying for GOTV plus service. N1,200 for GOTV as against N1,000 they were paying before. Those in need of extra views on GOTV will now pay N2,160 as against N1,800 they were paying before.

Comparing these tariff to other African nations, ENCOMIUM Weekly’s findings revealed that, there is a slight difference. Other African nations pay more for subscription. For example, in Kenya, subscribers pay $84 (N16,800) for DSTV Premium, Ghana pays $78.75 (N15,750), Zimbabwe pays $72 (N14,400), South Africans pays $58.67 (N11,734), Nigerians pay N13,980 for the same DSTV Premium.

Those on DSTV Compact in Kenya pay $33 (N6,600), Ghana pays 31.67 (N6,334), Zimbabwe pays $32 (N6,400), South Africans pay $25.81 (N5,162), while Nigerians pay (N9,420), Kenyans pay $10 for access plan(N2,000), Ghana pays $9.58 (N1,916), South Africans pay $9.29 (N1,858) while Nigerians pay (N1,800).

ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with DSTV and GOTV providers Multichoice about this development. Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager of DSTV replied us through email. According to her, Tariff increment was necessitated by increasing satellite, channel and operational costs. And in determining the price increase, Mulitichoice takes into account many other factors, including the impact on subscribers, current inflation, efficiencies effected within the company that may offset the necessity for a price increase.

She further stated that Multichoice implements annual subscription price increase in all its operating countries. However, a price increase was not implemented in Nigeria last year. She decline comment on the pay as you watch allegation for other African countries.

“April 1, 2015: Multichoice Nigeria has implemented a subscription price increase on all Dstv Bouquets. This increase is necessitated by increasing satellite, channel and operational costs.

“In determining its price increase, Multichoice takes into account many other factors including, and amongst others, the impact on the subscriber, current inflation, and efficiencies effected within the company that may offset the necessity for a price increase.

“Multichoice implements annual subscription price increase in all its operating countries. However, a price increase was not implemented in Nigeria last year.

13008“We would like to reassure our subscribers of our best intentions and reaffirm our commitment to Nigeria which is clearly demonstrated through our continuous investments in the country.”

A source who pleaded anonymity stated that no DSTV subscriber is charged on pay as you use. All subscribers are charged the same way both in Nigeria and international communities. Once you load your decoder, it starts reading even when you are not at home.

Founded in 1995, with headquarters in South Africa, Multichoice’s DSTV has over 6.7 million customers with majority in South Africa (4.5 million) and Nigeria around 2 million. With 120 channels on display.

ENCOMIUM Weekly sampled the opinion of subscribers about this development…

 

‘It’s ridiculous and outrageous’ -MRS IGBE OHABA

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription?

My reaction to the DSTV increase is that it is ridiculous and outrageous. It’s unfair and exploitative. Why would we always be at the receiving end in Nigeria. If it is not MTN, it’s DSTV. We can’t enjoy anything in our country again?

How much were you paying before for subscription?

We pay full subscription which is 11, 650.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

With their planned increment, I don’t know what we will do. Maybe we would discipline ourselves and forget about them till they heed our request.

 

‘It’s exploitative’ -ABIODUN MOHAMMED

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription?

I felt that is exploitative. Again, I felt they might have been pushed to it, the cost of running business in Nigeria is crippling. Again, I felt they have been left to do things without being cautioned. Why is the National Broadcasting Commission not taking serious their responsibility to control Pay TV in Nigeria.

How much were you paying before for subscription?

I pay N4800. They call it Compact Plus.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I haven’t paid the new hike, so I don’t even know what I will be charged. I am paying blank attention to this, because it is the least of my worries. Once my subscription is almost expired, then I will know the new price for Compact Plus.

What is so unique about DSTV?

There are some specific channels I will always love to see simultaneously, like NatGeo Wild, Islam Channel, Aljazeera, Mzone and so on. These stations are good for learning. And my little son loves the frenzy on some station.‪

Then I guess Big Brother Africa. But for sports, it isn’t right they have the exclusive right to air some of them. It shows greed.

 

‘Their services should be improved’ -SEGUN ADEWALE

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

The whole thing is cheating on our side, because we don’t have stable light and they are taking our money every day.  The decoder should read along with the way we have light.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I pay N1,500.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I will be paying N1,800. The money is not the problem, but they should give us services.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I love DSTV. Every area is perfect but the only thing I am complaining is when there is no light, the card should stop reading. Something should be done concerning that.

What is so unique about DSTV?

Everything is good, but their services should be improved.

 

‘All I want is good service’ -KOREDE JAMES

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

I am not happy about it because most times I don’t enjoy what I pay for because of bad network.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I subscribe with N5,000 every month.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I will pay N6,000. Although the money is not my problem, all I want is good service.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I will because it is entertaining.

What is so unique about DSTV?

Everything is unique about it. The only problem I have with them is network. It is very good when you subscribe and there is steady network.

 

‘DSTV is the best’ -CHIOMA CHUKWU

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

It is not a bad idea provided they will add more channels and give us good services. I don’t have problem with the adjustment.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I pay N7,850 every month for DTSV Compact.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I will be paying N9,420.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I don’t have any problem with the adjustment, but where I have problem is when the card is reading when you don’t have light and at the end of the month the card expires. I think they have to work on that.

What is so unique about DSTV?

DSTV cannot be compared with Startimes. DSTV is the best. Everything about them is unique.

 

‘I will stop using DSTV’ -ANDY IHE

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

Why would they increase it? They have no genuine reason for the increment.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I am paying N9,000.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I don’t know, but I won’t pay anymore.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I will leave it. I can’t be a slave to it, if it’s not convenient. I don’t really need it.

What is so unique about DSTV?

Nothing is unique about DSTV. If it’s too expensive for me, I will throw it away.

 

‘I won’t subscribe every month’ -ADEBOYE VICTOR

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

I think it’s unfair to Nigerians.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I pay N1,500 every month.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I will pay N1,800.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

I won’t subscribe every month. They serve a better package in South Africa where their headquarters is situated. I think our government should intervene.

What is so unique about DSTV?

The only thing that attracted me to DSTV is Super Sports Channel.

 

‘I won’t subscribe every month ‘ -YOMI ADEBAYO

What is your reaction to the price adjustment of DSTV subscription from April 1?

The increment for me, is not the problem. They should give good service.

How much are you paying for your subscription?

I pay N1,500 every month.

How much will you pay as from next month?

I will now pay N1,800.

With this adjustment, would you like to continue using DSTV?

DSTV is still the best cable service provider. The only problem is my subscription won’t be as frequent as usual.

What is so unique about DSTV?

The only thing keeping me on DSTV are two channels I watch regularly, E! Entertainment and HipTV.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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