MultiChoice Slashes Decoder Prices Amid Legal Battle and Subscriber Losses
MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, has announced a 50% reduction in the cost of its decoders. This move comes as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) prepares to arraign the company’s CEO, John Ugbe, over alleged obstruction of an ongoing investigation and other related charges.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Ugbe himself, the company explained that the decision was driven by the current economic realities facing Nigerians.
“We want our customers to feel appreciated and enjoy access to top and quality entertainment every day,” the company statement read.
However, the timing of the price cut has sparked speculation, as it follows the FCCPC’s legal action against MultiChoice Nigeria. Earlier on the same day, the Commission filed charges to prosecute Ugbe and other top executives for allegedly obstructing regulatory investigations.
Adding to the pressure, a Federal High Court in Abuja had, on May 8, 2025, dismissed a lawsuit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria. The company had sought to defend its recent DStv and GOtv price hikes, but the court’s decision marked a win for the FCCPC and a setback for MultiChoice.
Meanwhile, the company has reportedly lost about 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025. Industry analysts link this decline to repeated subscription price increases.
Within just one year, MultiChoice raised the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages three times — first in April 2023, then again in November 2023, and most recently in April 2024, with the changes implemented on May 1.
