MultiChoice Nigeria Offers 72 Hours of Free Access to All Channels to Attract DStv, GOtv Customers
MultiChoice presents this offer as a gift as a strategy to regain customers who have abandoned their decoders in recent months
MultiChoice Nigeria has announced a 72-hour free access period to all its DStv channels, starting from Friday, December 27, 2024. This seasonal offer is also available to all GOtv subscribers.
The pay-TV operator, which lost 243,000 customers between April and September of this year due to price increases, stated that even disconnected customers can benefit from this offer. Describing the promotion as a “gift like no other,” MultiChoice noted that subscribers on all packages will have access to premium channels during this time.
“As we approach the end of the year and celebrate the holidays, DStv is excited to announce this special offer. From Friday, December 27, to Sunday, December 29, we are offering all DStv customers—both connected and disconnected, regardless of their current package—access to every channel and every show at no extra cost,” the statement read.
“Whatever package you’re on, connected or not, this is your chance to unlock the full power of DStv Premium and enjoy a world of endless entertainment. For 72 hours, the only thing standing between you and the best in sports, children’s programming, movies, and local dramas is your decoder. No payments or calls are required,” it added.
While MultiChoice presents this offer as a gift, it may also be a strategy to regain customers who have abandoned their decoders in recent months. The South African MultiChoice Group highlighted in its Interim Financial Results for the six months ending September 30, 2024, that the company faced challenges that contributed to the loss of 243,000 subscribers in Nigeria during that period.
High inflation in Nigeria, exceeding 30% and driven by the rising costs of food, electricity, and fuel, has forced many customers to forgo their subscriptions. Although specific figures weren’t disclosed at that time, MultiChoice had earlier reported a loss of 18% of its Nigerian subscribers in its financial report for the fiscal year ending March 2024.
According to MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela, the company is also adapting to global pay-TV challenges, as streaming services, the rise of social media, and shifting consumer preferences impact traditional broadcasting.
In light of rising inflation, MultiChoice Nigeria raised its DStv and GOtv bouquet prices twice last year and once this year, totaling three price increases within 12 months. The first increase occurred in April 2023, followed by another in November of the same year. The third increase was announced in April this year and took effect on May 1.
Prior to the implementation of the new prices on May 1, a Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja issued an order preventing the price increase based on a case filed by a Nigerian customer.
However, MultiChoice disregarded the court order and proceeded with the price increase, leading the Tribunal to impose a fine of N150 million on the company for challenging the court’s jurisdiction. In June, the Tribunal ruled that MultiChoice must offer Nigerians a one-month free subscription for DStv and GOtv. Read More
