Tribunal fines DSTV, GOTV N150m, orders one-month free subscriptions

Multichoice, the owners of DSTV and GoTV have been fined N150 million by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.

This comes after the broadcasting company disobeyed its orders that restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the determination of the suit brought before it.

The tribunal also ordered that the company provide its customers in Nigeria with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.

Recall, that a lawsuit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade had restricted Multichoice from increasing its fees without proper notice.

The suit filed by Onifade said the 8-day notice given for the previous price increase was inadequate.

Multichoice, on its part, argued that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues.

Onifade insisted the length of notice was inadequate and more pressing than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and ruling against Multichoice.

The court fixed July 3 for a hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.