In a twist that follows mounting regulatory pressure and customer backlash, MultiChoice Nigeria has announced a sweeping 50% price reduction on its DStv decoders—from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000—while launching free subscription upgrades for loyal customers. This major move comes on the heels of ongoing litigation filed by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against the pay-TV giant.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, is part of MultiChoice’s newly launched “We Got You” campaign, a strategic push to reconnect with subscribers and regain public trust following a turbulent two years of subscription hikes and customer dissatisfaction.
MultiChoice and its CEO, John Ugbe, are currently facing legal action from the FCCPC over allegations that they violated regulatory directives by increasing DStv and GOtv prices on March 1, 2025, despite an active investigation and a caution to suspend such changes.
In May, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out a case filed by MultiChoice seeking to halt the FCCPC’s probe. The court’s decision allowed the Commission to proceed with its investigation into what it describes as “unlawful conduct” and “willful disobedience” of regulatory authority.
The FCCPC has now filed criminal charges against the company and six of its executives, citing failure to comply with investigative summons, obstruction of justice, and refusal to provide essential documents. The case is scheduled for arraignment on October 7, 2025.
Amid the legal storm, MultiChoice has rolled out what appears to be a charm offensive aimed at both regulators and consumers. The 50% slash in decoder prices is accompanied by an attractive incentive: any customer who renews their subscription in full between June 16 and July 31 will automatically be upgraded to the next higher package at no extra cost.
This means a Compact subscriber gets upgraded to Compact Plus, Compact Plus subscribers to Premium, and so on.
John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO, framed the offer as a heartfelt response to customer loyalty.
“We are committed to ensuring that our customers feel seen, heard, and valued,” Ugbe said. “This campaign is our way of giving back to millions of homes that have stayed with us—offering more value, more content, and more joy every day.”
He added that the “We Got You” campaign reflects MultiChoice’s vision of delivering entertainment beyond just sports, covering drama, kids’ content, news, reality shows, and documentaries that bring families together.
The move follows alarming losses for MultiChoice in the Nigerian market. According to figures disclosed by the company, it lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025. Analysts attribute this sharp decline to Nigeria’s economic downturn, the rise of streaming alternatives, and successive subscription price hikes—three in total since April 2023.
MultiChoice’s effort to reverse the trend through this pricing campaign could be seen as a concession to both regulators and customers, at a time when confidence in traditional pay-TV is waning.
While MultiChoice tries to steady its subscriber base with friendlier pricing, the company still faces a serious legal battle that could test the boundaries of regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s pay-TV sector. The October court date will be critical not only for MultiChoice’s operations but also for consumer rights enforcement and pricing transparency in the industry.
For now, subscribers can enjoy cheaper access and better value, but the story is far from over.
