Court Stops Multichoice From Increasing DSTV, GO TV Subscription Fees

A Judge of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Justice C J Aneke, has granted an order of interim injunction restraining Multichoice from enforcing an increase in the cost of its different classes of pay TV, DSTV and GO TV until the determination of the motion on notice.
The Justice requested both parties to maintain status quo in favour of the motion ex parte with an affidavit of urgency sworn to by the plantiff, Adebayo Osasuyi, who is a DSTV subscriber.
According to the Judge, “an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.

“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action”.

The suit, which was filed at the federal high court registry in Ikoyi, Lagos State was adjourned to April 16, 2015 for hearing.

DAILY POST recalls that MultiChoice, operators of DStv and GOtv, had last month announced a 20 percent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria to take effect from April 1, 2015. It at that time explained that the new price regime was necessary to enable it offer best local and international contents to its customers.