Subscribers to pay-TV services have berated MultiChoice Group for announcing that its Nigerian unit, MultiChoice Nigeria, lost 243,000 subscribers on its Digital Satellite Television (DStv) and GOtv services within six months.
The South African-owned pay-TV operator had, in its Interim Financial Results for the period ending September 30 released on Tuesday, announced the loss of 243,000 subscribers on its DStv and GOtv.
MultiChoice had attributed the decline to Nigeria’s high inflation rate, which has exceeded 30 per cent, resulting in rising costs of food, electricity and fuel, thus causing many customers to unsubscribe.
The company further reported a 566,000-subscriber loss in the Rest of Africa operations over the past six months, with Zambia and Nigeria contributing the largest shares.
The announcement had sparked reactions from Nigerians, especially DStv and GOtv subscribers, with many saying that the company was the cause of its woes.
Some of them, who joined the buzz on social media, said that they were no longer interested in subscribing to MultiChoice services because the prices were no longer affordable, considering the current economic situation of the country.
This development is coming barely eight months after Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) ordered suspension of tariffs hike by MultiChoice Nigeria.
The company had earlier in a statement entitled: ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages’ announced price hike on both packages.
However, after the intrigues of a series of legal battles, Multichoice Nigeria brazenly hiked the subscription rates for its DStv and GOtv packages, effective from May 1.
(NAN)
