Court orders DStv to suspend increase in subscription fees

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has
restrained Multi Choice Nigeria Limited,
operators of the Digital Satellite Television,
popularly known as DStv, from implementing
its new rates and increase in tariffs payable
by its subscribers across board.
The restraining order was given by Justice
C.J. Aneke sequel to a suit filed by two Lagos-
based legal practitioners, Osasuyi Adebayo
and Oluyinka Oyeniji.
In the class action suit, with number FHC/L/
CS/404/2015, Justice Aneke granted the
interim orders till the hearing of the motion
on notice for injunction on April 16, 2015.
He also ordered for the suit and the Interim
injunction to be published in national
newspapers.
Messrs. Adebayo and Adeniji are challenging
the arbitrary increase in tariffs.
The legal practitioners urged the court to
order the second defendant, the National
Broadcasting Commission, to also implement
Pay Per View where subscribers choose the
programmes they want and pay as they
watch, which is being implemented in some
other parts of the world.
In the order given on Thursday, Mr. Aneke
ruled: “That 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.”
In March, MultiChoice, owners of DStv and
GOtv, announced a 20 per cent price increase
for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria
to take effect from April 1, 2015.
Thus, the subscription fee of DStv’s
Premium, Compact plus, compact, access,
Family and extra view bouquets were all set
to increase, as is the price for GOtv Plus and
GOtv bouquet.
MultiChoice explained that the price increase
was necessary for it to continue offering the
best in local and international entertainment
to its subscribers.