TheCable

Multichoice Nigeria has announced an increase in the cost of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages.

The new rates would take effect from May 1, Multichoice said in an email to customers seen by TheCable.

The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.

When it comes to pricing, Multichoice seems to have become a first-class enemy of the public, having hiked prices three times in one year.

The company had increased prices in April and November 2023, over surging operational costs.

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 33.20 percent in March 2024 — drying up the disposable income of citizens and putting pressure on the operations of companies.

This has triggered a general price increase in goods and services by big firms like the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria, StarTimes, and Netflix — including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which recently raised power tariff.

“We understand the impact this change may have on our valued customers and partners, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision,” Multichoice said in the email.

From May 1, the pay-TV firm said customers on the DStv premium bouquet will begin to pay N37,000 from N29,500, and those on Compact+ would pay N25,000 from N19,800.

Customers on Compact bouquet will pay N15,700 — up from N12,500 — the organisation said.

To subscribe to Confam, Yanga, and Padi packages, customers will pay N9,300, N5,100, and N3,600 from N7,400, N4,200, and N2,950 respectively.

The price of HDPVR Access Service, Access Fees, and Xtraview bouquets was also increased from N4,000 to N5,000.

Multichoice also said GOtv Supa+ subscribers will pay N15,700 in contrast to the old price of N12,500.

Similarly, subscribers on GOtv Supa package are expected to pay N9,600 from N7,600; while customers on the GOtv Max bouquet will pay N7,200 instead of N5,700.

The GOtv Jolli package will cost N4,850 from N3,950, the company added.

Multichoice also said the price of the GOtv Jinja package would rise from N2,700 to N3,300; adding that subscribers of the GOtv Smallie would be required to pay N1,575 instead of N1,300.