Angry reactions trail DStv price increase

Nigerians have continued to react to the recent announcement of a major price increase in the money payable on the DStv bouquets as announced by MultiChoice, the owner of the DStv satellite pay television station.
MultiChoice had penultimate week announced a new range of subscription price increase on all DStv bouquets. According to the company, “effective from April 1st, subscribers to DStv premium would have to pay N13,980 against the former N11,65 0, while subscribers to DStv compact plus would pay N9,420 from N7,850 and DSTV compact now costs N6,000 from N5,000 while DSTV family subscribers would pay N3,600 from N3,000. Also, DSTV Access subscribers would pay N1, 800 from N1, 500 just as DStv extra view now costs N2, 100 from N1, 800. In addition, GOtv subscribers now pay   N1, 800 from N1, 500 for GOtv plus and GOTV Bouquet now goes for N1, 200 from N1, 000.”
In justifying the new increment, the company in a statement signed by its Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma, said the increase was necessitated by increasing satellite, channel and operational costs.
‘‘In determining its price increase, MultiChoice takes into account many factors including; the impact on the subscriber, current inflation, and efficiencies effected within the company that may offset the necessity for a price increase.
‘‘MultiChoice implements annual subscription price increase in all its operating countries, however, a price increase was not implemented in Nigeria last year.
‘‘We would like to reassure our subscribers of our best intentions and reaffirm our commitment to Nigeria which is clearly demonstrated through our continuous investments in the country,” the statement said.
However, many Nigerians have reacted angrily to the news and the social media has been filled with reactions to the development. Also calling on people to resist the latest increase, noting that it amounted to exploitation. They said they were going to mobilise subscribers to boycott the satellite TV as a way of driving their point home. Adding that, MultiChoice has been short-changing them already with boring repetition of contents, just as they said they would have been pleased with pay as watch format rather than the current monthly subscription basis.
Some subscribers who spoke to Infotech on the issue opined that, relevant agencies, particularly the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has let Nigerians down by allowing MultiChoice to increase prices without considering the welfare of the people.
A subscriber, Ajeigbe Ibrahim, who was more scathing in his reaction when he said “government and the national assembly especially were too busy with their own personal welfare than to come to the rescue of Nigerians in matters like this.”
Another subscriber said he would sever his relationship with the company, lamenting that the lack of vibrant competition in the sector made MultiChoice swollen headed.
Adewale Olubiyi, a subscriber, told Infotech that, the percentage of the increase was too high and that a little adjustment would have been welcomed rather than the astronomical increase.
Speaking on the need for the company to justify his position, he said Nigerians are being affected by the economic situation in the country, adding that he has not recorded any increase in his salary in the last four years. Besides, he said a large percentage of Nigerians use generators in their homes, especially to watch these programmes. Thereby, urging the company to review its position, noting that it is not too late to do this rather than tow this arrogant position.
Efforts to get the reaction of the NBC, proved abortive as at the time of writing this report but Infotech learnt from some sources that the NBC has been receiving complaints from subscribers on the issue and that it would make its position on the issue known in a short while.