A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria, has ordered MultiChoice to stop its recently implemented increase in DStv subscription fees.
The new price regime had started last week true to an announcement from MultiChoice in March.
According to DStv, “the annual price increase, usually in line with the current inflation is necessary in other for it to continue offering quality content to its local and international subscribers.”
In a “class action” case filed by Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, DStv subscribers, the presiding Judge granted an interim order against the subscription increase for DStv.
“That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DStv) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the ruling reads in part.
DStv subscribers in Nigeria will weather a 20% increase in monthly subscription fee if the court decision is turned around in the next hearing. Subscribers in other African countries had similar experience, Zambia for instance saw a massive 21%, 22%, 24% and a whopping 30% in the various DStv packages.
Beyond the social media outpourings from DStv customers in other African countries mostly via social media, Nigeria is the first country to take a legal action on the price hike.
Photo credit: Noyava via Compfight cc
