Broadcasting
MultiChoice Unfolds Plans for Digital Migration
MultiChoice, the leading provider of premium pay television on the DStv and GOtv platforms, has renewed its commitment in boosting content on its channels with the digital migration plan scheduled to take place by June 2015.
The company said that its subscribers need not worry as it has perfected plans to ensure that contents are enhanced on its platform, thereby declaring its readiness for the digital migration.
In line with the Digital Switch over propagated by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in tantrum with the International telecommunication Union (ITU’s) mandate, MultiChoice said through DStv and GOtv respectively, it has plans to collaborate with the Commission to ensure effective delivering of contents, especially, locally developed contents.
Speaking during a media parley at the weekend, in Lagos, Mr. Martin Mabutho, general manager, marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, said that DStv would offer the best to its subscribers during and after the ongoing world cup in Brazil on its channels.
He added that the excitement of the games would be taken from the event scenes to the television screens of the subscribers without disruption.
Mabutho added that the broadcast right, as already secured by MultiChoice, would be effectively utilized within the period and other sporting seasons, as well as the Big Brother Africa (BBA) season 9 due to commence soon.
He said, “Plans are on the way to ensure that we deliver this content on GOtv platform which is the first for us, and we would also unveil year end programming which cannot be disclosed at this time. And from the programming point of view we are looking really solid”.
On her part, Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, general manager, GOtv, said that the pay TV Company would increase its programme, enhance picture and audio clarity without increase in subscription rate.
According to her, GOtv would be partnering with NBC in the digital migration process to ensure it delivers the best service to its customers which cuts across the country.
Amkpa further explained that the defects from payment vendors in terms of subscription issues would be thoroughly addressed and that subscribers should always direct their complaints to its customer care unit which was attested to have been efficient.
Explaining further, Mabutho said that MultiChoice has done much in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that border around education and health.
He said as part of its CSR, MultiChoice has embarked on the resource centre project, an educational scheme committed to the effective use of information technologies (ICTs) for enhancing teaching, learning and management processes in the nation’s education system
The MultiChoice resource centre project is currently up in 284 schools in 28 States of the Federation.
Recently, ten public secondary schools in Bayelsa State were added to the list of beneficiaries of the scheme.
Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), citing lack of jurisdiction.
The suit challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative, and unfair.
Diala and others sought to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model, such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.
They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.
MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.
In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised, which were pricing and tariff regulation, fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the President, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.
“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okosun stated.
While the tribunal acknowledged it holds both original and appellate jurisdiction under the FCCPC Act, it emphasized that such authority does not cover general price control unless abuse of market dominance is established—a point the claimants failed to prove.
On the procedural matter of filing a class action without prior approval, the tribunal noted that although it is ideal to obtain leave, failure to do so was not fatal in this instance since the claimants demonstrated a shared grievance and common interest.
Nonetheless, the tribunal upheld MultiChoice’s objection, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
“The preliminary objection of the first defendant succeeds,” the panel held. “This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”
This ruling follows a similar outcome on May 8, when a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld MultiChoice’s price increases after the company sued the FCCPC.
In that judgment, Justice James Omotoso declared that the FCCPC lacked the authority to fix or suspend subscription rates.
MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop, in a aim at attracting 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’veGot 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.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on Oct. 7, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers, over allegations bordering on breach of FCCPC Act, 2018.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are Stella Ihediwa, the Account Manager of the airline; Kennedy Chirchir, the Country Manager and Eva Ojeje, who is the Sales Manager of the company.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, the matter could not proceed.
Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.
FCCPC.’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of their inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.
Nsitem then sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/200/2025, dragged Qatar Airways, Birdzell, Ihediwa, Chirchir and Ojeje to court as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
FCCPC, in the application dated May 26 but filed May 27, had preferred a two-count charge against the defendants.
The defendants were alleged to have failed to appear before FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons of the commission dated Sept. 6, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) Act, 2018.
They were also accused to have on Sept. 18, 2024, intentionally withheld the production of documents in compliance wth a lawful summons of the commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of FCCP Act, 2018.
In count three, they were alleged to have on Sept. 18, 2024, engaged in the contravention of the consumer rights, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 124(1) and punishable under Section 155 of the same Act.
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