Court stops DStv from hiking subscription fees
C J Aneke, a justice of the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted an order of interim injunction restraining Multichoice from enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing of its pay TV, DSTV.
The judge asked parties to maintain status quo in support of the motion ex parte with an affidavit of urgency sworn to by the plantiff.
“That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the order read in part.
“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.
“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action”.
The suit, filed by Adebayo Osasuyi, a DSTV subscriber/customer, at the federal high court registry Ikoyi, Lagos was adjourned to the 16th April 2015 for hearing.
In March, MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, announced a 20 percent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria to take effect from April 1, 2015.
Thus, the subscription fee of DStv’s Premium, Compact plus, compact, access, Family and extra view bouquets were all set to increase, as is the price for GOtv Plus and GOtv bouquet.
MultiChoice explained that the price increase was necessary for it to continue offering the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers.
Where is this judge from? Subscribing to DStv is voluntary, I can’t see the point of this lawsuit! Waste of time!!
This Judge is from Nigeria and he is eminently qualified and well within his legal purview to deliver the ruling he has just given. I agree- subscribing to DSTV is voluntary but you must also note that globally, nations put in place measures to protect the interest of their citizens against undue mercantilist tendencies, and Nigeria cannot be an exception. Since the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has abdicated its duty of protecting the consumers, then resort to legal options by affected individuals and groups is perfectly normal. The barefaced exploitation of Nigerians by South African firms, which they dare not try in their home country has to stop and somebody has to pick the gauntlet which the litigants in the case have done.
@Mammam Bako. You are not serious! Can’t you see that DSTV is enjoying monopoly? Tell me the options that Nigerians have – NTA, AIT? The court is in order, please. They should explain why they should not make refund to their subscribers. And how much they charge in South Africa and Malawi. Yeye dey smell!
DSTV is shylock and a monopolistic opportunist who has cornered some controllers of our economy as share holders and using same to impose unnecessary bills on their epileptic services. They also know that in Nigeria anything goes without fuss so they can wake up any morning and increase their tariff. They dare not try this in South Africa. I congratulate the plaintiff on this case. This is a test in democracy.
subscribers should ideally get rebate rates now in view of their ever increasing clientele base
I admire the courage of the complainant to take on this capitalist. The same increment issue was announced here in Zambia and the petitions only went as far as facebook and the minister of information stating that they would surmone dstv management who turned out so adamant arguing that scribers had a choice. What foolishness and the unfortunate fact that people who are supposed to protect the consumers seem to have no idea of what they do. Big up Nigeria. Someone must be able to stand and face such. These guys tread very carefully in South Africa but can behave as they please in our nations. Choice my foot when you are a monopoly. Yak!