In a bold move to rekindle subscriber interest, MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the cost of its DStv HD decoder by 50%, reducing the price from approximately $13 to just $6.50. The promotion, part of the ‘We’ve Got You’ campaign, runs until 31st July and includes a complimentary one-month subscription to the Compact bouquet.
The dramatic price cut comes amid mounting economic pressures in Nigeria and a steep decline in subscriptions. MultiChoice has been contending with a significant customer exodus, with Nigeria alone accounting for 1.4 million lost subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025 — more than three-quarters of the losses reported across the broadcaster’s ‘Rest of Africa’ operations.
While DStv and GOtv continue to face tough market conditions, the company’s streaming service, Showmax, is faring better. Over the past year, Showmax has reported a 44% rise in paying subscribers. Despite the growth, the platform has yet to turn a profit.
Meanwhile, regulatory headwinds persist. The Nigerian Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is pursuing legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, its CEO John Ugbe, and several senior officials for allegedly obstructing an official investigation and failing to comply with summonses.
However, in a separate matter, the FCCPC recently dismissed a class action brought by nearly 1,000 DStv and GOtv customers. The suit, which challenged subscription price hikes introduced in November 2023 and May 2024 as excessive and unjust, was thrown out on jurisdictional grounds. The Commission clarified that pricing regulation falls exclusively under the authority of the President of Nigeria.
As competition stiffens and the economic climate remains challenging, MultiChoice’s latest price drop signals a clear effort to retain its relevance in Africa’s largest TV market.
