You have probably seen posts on social media asserting that MultiChoice Nigeria has reversed the increase in its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv packages.
Several news media also reported that MultiChoice reflected the readjustment on the DStv and GOtv apps on June 16.
The claim was also shared across different social media platforms.
On June 17, an X user @Maritemise_AD posted a purported breakdown of the old and new rates.
“Multichoice succumbs, readjusts subscription for DStv and GOtv. The revised prices are: DStv Premium package: N29,500 (down from N37,000) DStv Compact+ package: N19,800 (down from N25,000) DStv Compact Bouquet: N12,500 (down from N15,700) DStv Confam package: N7,400 (down from N9,300,” the user posted.
“DStv Yanga package: N4,200 (down from N5,100) DStv Padi package: N2,950 (down from N3,600) GOtv subscribers will also benefit from reduced prices: GOtv Super+ package: N12,500 (down from N15,700) GOtv Super package: N7,600 (down from N9,600) GOtv Max package: N5,700 GOtv Joli package: N3,950 GOtv Jinja package: N2,700 (down from N3,300).”
The post has gathered about 841 reposts, 237 quotes, and 1,813 likes.
Another user, @MensahEstherOmo, on the same day, posted that “Dstv and GOTV revert to old subscription rates after losing 8.1m subscribers in two months”.
The post has about 76 reposts, 39 quotes, and 431 likes.
Some other X users also shared the misinformation.
ARE THE REPORTS TRUE?
On April 24, MultiChoice Nigeria announced plans to hike its DStv and GOtv packages.
The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.
Following the upward review, a competition and consumer protection tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja, on April 29, stopped the company from increasing its subscription prices.
The tribunal ruled that MultiChoice is restrained from proceeding with the price adjustment pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
On June 7, CCPT fined MultiChoice N150 million for challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
The tribunal also ordered the company to provide one month of free subscriptions on DStv and GOtv to subscribers.
MultiChoice disagreed with the ruling and vowed to appeal.
Contrary to the claims that the company had bowed to the tribunal pressure and reduced its rates, TheCable observed that this was not the case.
Checks by TheCable on both GOtv and DStv apps showed that all categories of subscription packages remained the same.
The rates were still retained as announced on April 24.
Customers who spoke to TheCable also said they did not receive any emails announcing a downward review of prices.
“Last I received was in April for the price adjustment,” a DStv customer told TheCable.
Several bank apps were also checked and it was seen that prices were still the same.
Caroline Oghuma, public relations manager at MultiChoice Nigeria, also confirmed to TheCable that there were no price reductions and it was never communicated anywhere or at any time.
“We haven’t reduced subscription prices, but we reduced our decoder prices,” Oghuma said.
“Subscription prices remain as it is, but the decoder prices were reduced from June 1.”
NEW SUBSCRIPTION RATES OR NOT?
MultiChoice Nigeria has not reduced its subscription prices. The company, however, reduced the prices of Dstv and GOtv decoders. New subscription rates introduced on May 1 are still in place.
