MultiChoice Denies Launching Pay-Per-View

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

MultiChoice Nigeria, the owners of DStv brand, has dismissed fresh reports claiming the pay-TV company is about to make its services available via the Pay-Per-View model.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the company said reports currently circulating and suggesting that it is about launching Pay-Per-View are unfounded.

“MultiChoice wishes to correct the news currently being circulated and states that at no time was it announced that a Pay-Per-View service was about to be launched,” said the statement.

According to the company, before the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing fight, it explained to journalists at a media briefing that premium subscribers on its DStv platform would watch the fight as part of their package, while other subscribers  would need to pay an additional US$99 on Pay per view basis to access the fight.

“During the briefing, it was clarified that Pay Per View is a pay television service whereby subscribers of a particular television provider can purchase additional sporting events to view over and above their normal subscription package and charges. Furthermore, it was explained at the briefing that this service does not currently exist in Nigeria or anywhere else in Africa at the moment, but is being used in the United States and the United Kingdom,” the company explained.

It added that should it decide to offer a new service in the future, the media and its subscribers will be directly informed.

In recent time, reports have been swirling around of a new indigenous company, Telecomsat Ltd. (TStv) launching its service to rival the sector leader, DStv in the Nigeria’s Pay TV market.

TStv has announced plans for an October 1 launch to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration in a market entry fostered on the theme of freedom to enjoy better and cheaper payTv services.

The new company is offering a lower entry price and a monthly subscription window with a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) offerings.

According to series of campaign on the social media, the New TSTV Decoder Offers 200+ Channels, FREE 20 GB Data, Video Calls, Pause Subscription, Record & Playback Feature And More.

It is also learnt that subscribers on TStv may save themselves up to 200% in their monthly satellite TV budget as the new service provider unleash a pricing war on the purported existing monopoly.

In addition, TStv is offering internet and broadcast services all in one package similar to what Zuku offers its subscribers in Kenya to effectively compete with DStv in that East African country.