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.
According to DStv, “the annual price increase, usually in line with the current inflation is necessary in other for it to continue offering quality content to its local and international subscribers.”
In a “class action” case filed by Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, DStv subscribers, the presiding Judge granted an interim order against the subscription increase for DStv.
“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,” the ruling reads in part.
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.
It will recalled 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.