The continued deadlock between the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George, and MultiChoice (DStv) stays unresolved.
In a latest letter, the Nationwide Communications Authority (NCA) served discover of its intention to droop the corporate’s Subscription Administration Service for its Satellite tv for pc Tv Broadcasting (Pay TV Direct-to-Residence Bouquet) Authorisation.
This transfer follows the corporate’s refusal to implement a 30% subscription worth discount as directed by the Minister. In opposition to this backdrop, we discover three different African international locations which have confronted regulatory standoffs with DStv.
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Malawi
DStv’s authorized battle with Malawi started when the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) obtained an injunction from the Excessive Court docket on 31 July 2023, stopping MultiChoice Malawi from altering DStv subscription tariffs. Though MultiChoice initially secured a brief keep of the injunction, the court docket ordered on 8 August 2023 that present costs be maintained.
In response, MultiChoice Africa Holdings suspended all DStv companies in Malawi from 9 August 2023, halting new subscriptions and reconnections, citing an more and more hostile regulatory atmosphere. MACRA argued that MultiChoice Africa couldn’t set tariffs in Malawi, because it didn’t immediately present companies to clients.
MACRA additional demanded a voluntary enterprise shutdown and settlement of unpaid licence charges inside 30 days. The dispute was resolved following a gathering in Lilongwe on 4 September 2023, resulting in companies resuming on 8 September 2023, with full operations restored by December and new costs launched in January 2024.
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Liberia
DStv’s authorized confrontation in Liberia originated in 2019 when Consolidated Group Inc., DStv’s Liberian operator, accused Satcom Communication Providers, K3 Telecommunications, and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) of illegally broadcasting unique sports activities content material.
Normal Supervisor Semeon Freeman claimed that opponents have been infringing content material rights granted by MultiChoice Africa. The six-year-long authorized battle concluded in February 2025 when the Supreme Court docket of Liberia dominated in favour of DStv, setting a key precedent for mental property safety and content material rights enforcement within the nation’s broadcasting sector. Trade stakeholders hailed the ruling as a major step for the African media panorama.
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Nigeria
DStv’s dispute in Nigeria revolved round a pricing row with the Federal Competitors and Client Safety Fee (FCCPC) in 2025. MultiChoice Nigeria introduced worth hikes of as much as 25% throughout DStv and GOtv packages from 1 March 2025, citing inflation and operational prices.
The FCCPC ordered MultiChoice to keep up present costs pending an investigation, however the firm proceeded with the rise. Authorized motion ensued, and whereas Justice Omotosho initially restrained the FCCPC from performing in opposition to MultiChoice, the court docket in the end dismissed the FCCPC’s go well with in Might 2025, ruling that solely the President might set worth ceilings, not the fee.
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Ghana
The NCA has issued MultiChoice Ghana with a discover of intent to droop its Subscription Administration Service for its Satellite tv for pc Tv Broadcasting Authorisation below Part 13 of the Digital Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).
This follows MultiChoice Ghana’s refusal to implement a 30% subscription worth reduce ordered by Minister Samuel Nartey George. Talking on the Authorities Accountability Collection on 1 August 2025, the Minister criticised the disparity between Ghanaian and Nigerian subscription costs, noting that Ghanaian clients pay $83 for the premium package deal whereas Nigerian clients pay $29.
MultiChoice Ghana’s Managing Director, Alex Okyere, rejected the directive in a press release dated 3 August 2025, describing it as unrealistic and insisting that pricing should replicate the price of delivering high-quality companies. The Minister has since dismissed the corporate’s justification and warned that sanctions can be enforced if the order is ignored.
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Conclusion
The recurring disputes between African regulators and MultiChoice spotlight a fancy pressure between client safety, truthful pricing, and the operational realities of broadcasting giants. Whereas regulators search to safeguard residents from unfair prices, corporations like DStv argue that market forces, infrastructure calls for, and content material acquisition prices should be taken into consideration.
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Ghana’s standoff now joins an inventory of high-profile confrontations that proceed to form the way forward for pay-TV regulation on the continent.
