Reps Move Against Planned Increase In Dstv, Gotv Subscription

BEVERLY HILLS, April 05, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives has waded into the plan by statelite television company, Multichoice, to hike the amount it charges Nigerian consumers as subscription for  DSTV and GOTV contents.

This was as it mandated its committees on Information and Culture, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to interface with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and conduct an inquiry into the planned introduction of a new price regime by the company.

The joint comittee, which was tasked to also investigate the failure of Multichoice to adopt the “pay as you go” option for Nigerian subscribers, is to report back to the House in eight weeks for further legislative action.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Need to Investigate the Exorbitant Charges and Refusal of Multi-choice Statelite Television to Adopt Pay- as -You -Go Pakage Option” moved during plenary by Rep Abbas Tajudeen.

The sponsor, in his lead debate on the motion, described as highly insensitive, the trend in which the prices of different bouquet of Multichoice satellite television outlets have been increased in recent years.  

He also condemned the refusal of the company to offer “pay- as- you- go” option on its digital satellite television, which he noted was causing a financial strain on its Nigerian subscribers.

Tajudeen observed that it has been the practice for the company to increase the price of its various packages almost on a yearly basis.

“In 2013, the monthly subscription increased by 7-10 percent in 2014 by 10-15 percent and in 2015 by 10-22 percent and just recenltly, the company sent a notification of another price increase with effect from May.

“DSTV does not have a pay- as- you- go plan like most similar communication companies around the world , thereby making its subscription plan to expire at the end of the monthly subscription period, whether or not the subscriber uses the services,” he said.

The lawmaker argued that the regular increase in the prices of the various bouquet and Multichoice’s failure to adopt a “pay- as -you- go” payment option are against globally acceptable fair business practice.

He expressed concern on the seeming inability of the relevant regulatory agencies to police the industry.

When the motion was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, who presided over the day’s session, it was unanimously adopted by members of the House.