MultiChoice Nigeria slashes DStv decoder price by 50%, offers free upgrades

MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop.

The company, in a statement on Tuesday, announced that the move aimed to attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.

The campaign, titled “We’ve Got You,” was launched on June 16 and will continue until July 31.

Also, as part of its efforts to ease economic pressure on households and improve access to digital TV services, the campaign offers a free upgrade for both active and returning customers.

Speaking on the campaign, John Ugbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MultiChoice Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and enhancing daily viewing experiences.

“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day,” Ugbe said.

“The ‘We’ve Got You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.

“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.

“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day.”

The development comes amid MultiChoice Nigeria’s legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over price hike.

On February 24, MultiChoice announced an increase in the subscription prices of DStv and GOtv packages, with effect from March 1.

The adjustments saw prices increase by up to 25 percent across various packages, with DStv Compact rising from N15,700 to N19,000.

Compact Plus increased from N25,000 to N30,000; DStv Premium moved from N37,000 to N44,500; and GOtv Supa Plus moved from N15,700 to N16,800.

The announcement, which came nearly one year after the firm’s subscription rates were hiked, led to public criticism, forcing the FCCPC to intervene.

In response, the FCCPC directed the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing to address the company’s planned subscription fee hike.

However, MultiChoice proceeded with the price increase and instituted a suit on March 3.

Delivering judgment on May 8, the court dismissed the suit by MultiChoice Nigeria, describing it as an abuse of court process.