Catholic church appeals to MultiChoice to reduce fees

On Tuesday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) summoned MultiChoice to its investigative hearing to explain the rationale behind the proposed subscription price increase, set to take effect next month.

The migration of CTV to the MultiChoice platform marks a significant step in expanding the reach of Catholic content and fostering accurate storytelling within the religious community.

The Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV) wants MultiChoice to prioritize the interests of its customers by reducing subscription prices, which have seen consistent increases recently.

The appeal was made by Reverend Father Patrick Alumuku, Director of CTV Nigeria, during a press briefing to announce the migration of the religious television station to MultiChoice’s GoTV platform.

Father Alumuku emphasized the need for affordability, urging MultiChoice to consider the financial burden on its subscribers.

He also highlighted that CTV’s content would complement existing church programmes rather than compete with them. The station aims to promote evangelization and make Catholic teachings and content more accessible to households across Nigeria.

Father Alumuku revealed that the initial plan to launch CTV on DAARSAT did not materialize, leading to the decision to partner with MultiChoice.

He noted that this move would enable the Catholic Church to share its narratives and address its challenges accurately, rather than relying on external sources that may misrepresent its message.

Additionally, the CTV Director urged Nigerian media outlets to exercise greater diligence in verifying stories and sources before publication as he cited the recent false reports about the Pope’s death, which caused unnecessary panic and embarrassment, as an example of the dangers of spreading unverified information.

On Tuesday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) summoned MultiChoice to its investigative hearing to explain the rationale behind the proposed subscription price increase, set to take effect next month.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, about nine months ago, had also fined Multichoice Nigeria N150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction. The court also ordered the company to provide Nigerian subscribers with a one-month free subscription.

The pay-TV industry in Nigeria faces ongoing debates over pricing models. While consumers advocate for a pay-per-view system, operators like MultiChoice have stated that such models are not feasible due to technological and content acquisition constraints.

As the situation develops, the outcome of the FCCPC’s investigation and MultiChoice’s response will be pivotal in determining the future landscape of pay-TV services and pricing in Nigeria.