FCCPC Orders MultiChoice to Suspend Price Hike Until It Concludes Ongoing Investigation

The Federal Committee on Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) has ordered Multi-Chien Nigeria to suspend its expected prices increase for DSTV and GOTV subscriptions to the conclusion of an in progress survey.

The regulatory intervention comes as Nigerians express an increasing frustration on frequent price increases by the South African paid television operator.

This directive follows the request for a multichicoice for an extension concerning its program The appearance before the FCCPC, initially set on February 27, 2025. The consumer guard dog granted the request but postponed the investigation audience for March 6, 2025. The company must now appear with all the officers concerned and provide a complete response concerning the justification of its proposed price increase.

Meanwhile, the multicoice is necessary to maintain its current price structure.

In a statement published Tuesday, the FCCPC said clearly That Multichoice must refrain from implementing price changes until the end of the survey.

“Under this, Multichoice is expressly responsible for maintaining the structure of existing prices on February 27, 2025, pending the committee examination and the final determination on the issue,” said the FCCPC.

The Commission stressed that the suspension of the price increase is necessary to prevent the exploitation of consumers and guarantee equity on the television market on television.

The history of multi -hikes of price increases and regulatory battles

Multichoice Nigeria has developed a reputation for frequent pricing adjustments, often citing economic factors such as inflation, foreign exchange and operational costs as justification. However, whenever the company announces an increase in prices, it faces a regulatory examination.

This is not the first time that Multichoice has been summoned by the FCCPC or other agencies. The company previously faced surveys and prices on prices, regulatory organizations accusing it of not having offered flexible and competitive price models for Nigerian consumers.

However, Multichoice has historically emerged victorious in most regulatory battles, because Nigerian laws do not impose strict prices control over private companies. This allowed the company to proceed with its increments after having justified them as necessary for sustainability.

Will FCCPC approve another price increase?

Unlike the previous price increases which were finally approved, there is no certainty that the FCCPC will allow this latter to be unwinding. A key reason is that multichoice Already increased its subscription prices twice in 2023, first in April, then again in November. Another hike was implemented on May 1, 2024, further supplying the indignation of consumers.

With three price increases in less than two years, the FCCPC can take a stricter position this time.

Distribution of the increase in multi -hole subscription prices

Monday, Multichoice Nigeria informed its customers of Again Another price increase, which should take effect from March 1, 2025. The planned increments are significant in all DSTV and GOTV packages.

DSTV price adjustments:

• DSTV Compact: 15,700 N19,000 N (increase of 25%)
• DSTV Compact Plus: N25,000 – 30,000 N (increase of 20%)
• DSTV Premium: N37,000 – N44 500 (increase of 20%)

GOTV price adjustments:

• Gotv Jinja: N3,600 – N3,900
• Gotv Jolli: N4 850 – N5,800
• Gotv Max: N7,200 – N8,500
• GOTV SUPA: N9 600 – N11 400
• Gotv SUPA Plus: N15 700 – N16,800

Repeated price increases had a direct impact on the basis of multi -hole subscribers. The company said that in six months (April to September 2024), its Nigerian operations lost 243,000 subscribers in the DSTV and GOTV services.

Multichoice awarded this decrease to high inflation (more than 30% at the end of 2024) and to the increase in the cost of living.

These losses highlight the growing disconnection between the multichoice pricing strategy and the economic reality facing Nigerian households.