Tough days ahead as 243,000 Nigerian subscribers dump DSTV, GOtv

MultiChoice Group has reported a significant loss of 243,000 subscribers in Nigeria for its DStv and GOtv services over the past six months, a development attributed to economic pressures.

In its Interim Financial Results for the period ending September 30, the South African-owned pay-TV company cited Nigeria’s soaring inflation rate, which now exceeds 30%, as a primary cause.

Rising costs of essentials like food, electricity, and fuel have made many customers reconsider their subscriptions. Across Africa, MultiChoice also recorded a broader 566,000-subscriber loss, with Nigeria and Zambia as the most impacted markets.

The announcement sparked criticism from Nigerian subscribers, many of whom voiced their frustration on social media. Subscribers argued that MultiChoice’s pricing was increasingly unaffordable and that the company’s woes were self-inflicted due to frequent price hikes and a lack of compelling content.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that social media users expressed their dissatisfaction with some pointing out the availability of cheaper streaming alternatives. “Imagine paying 25,700 for a premium subscription,” tweeted @cashoggy, highlighting that internet and smart TVs offer cheaper, flexible options. @realbl quipped, “MultiChoice lost 243,000 subs because there is multi-hunger in Nigeria.” Others echoed the sentiment, advocating for a “pay-as-you-go” model.

This backlash comes just eight months after Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) ordered MultiChoice to halt a planned tariff increase—a directive the company later bypassed by hiking prices as of May 1.