Multichoice vs FCCPC: Who Controls the Price of TV?

MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are locked in a legal showdown over DStv and GOtv price hikes, with both sides appealing a recent court ruling. In this report, Segun Awoniyi examines how the outcome could redefine consumer protection and corporate regulation in Nigeria.

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In what has become one of Nigeria's most defining showdowns over consumer protection and corporate autonomy, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, operators of DStv and GOtv, is locked in a tense legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). At the heart of the dispute lies a critical question: In a free market economy, who gets to decide what consumers pay — the company offering the service or the regulator safeguarding public interest?

This high-stakes confrontation, now before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, not only tests the limits of FCCPC's regulatory reach but also raises broader questions about monopolistic behavior, price control in unregulated sectors, and the rights of consumers in a system ostensibly driven by free market principles.

The Road to the Courtroom

The clash between FCCPC and MultiChoice began when the pay-TV giant announced a fresh round of price increases for its DStv and GOtv packages, effective March 1, 2025. This marked the second major hike in less than a year, following a similar move in May 2024. MultiChoice justified the increases as a response to surging inflation, foreign exchange instability, and rising operational costs — all too familiar reasons in today's Nigerian economic climate.

However, the decision triggered outrage among subscribers, many of whom accused the company of price gouging and exploiting its dominance in the pay-TV space. With limited alternatives, Nigerian viewers felt cornered. Festus Onifade, a lawyer and consumer rights advocate, petitioned the FCCPC, calling on the Commission to intervene and investigate the alleged abuse of market dominance.