Her appointment closes one chapter for MultiChoice Nigeria and opens another led by an executive who has spent over a decade inside the business, enhancing how it acquires, keeps, and grows customers across Africa.

Omotosho’s climb to the top job did not follow a straight line. Trained initially as a biochemist, she entered the workforce through customer service roles before finding her footing in telecommunications. 

At Airtel Nigeria, where she spent more than ten years, she moved steadily through sales, enterprise accounts, and postpaid retention. By the time Omotosho left, she was managing high-value customers, corporate portfolios, and profitability metrics in one of Nigeria’s most competitive sectors.

That grounding in telecoms would later define her value at MultiChoice.

She joined the company in 2014 as Head of Retention in Nigeria, at a time when pay-TV operators were beginning to feel pressure from pricing sensitivity, piracy, and changing viewing habits. Her brief was to keep subscribers active and paying. What followed was a restructuring of how MultiChoice approached customer value.

Under her leadership, retention stopped being reactive. Campaigns were built on data, segmentation was refined, and outbound operations were scaled to support millions of subscribers across DStv and GOtv. 

Omotosho introduced customer groupings based on spending behaviour, device type, and tenure, a shift that allowed the business to target offers with more precision and improve average revenue per user without blunt price increases.

She stayed as close to the numbers while still keeping people at the centre of strategy. That balance became her calling card.

By 2018, Kemi Omotosho was trusted with bigger responsibilities, first as Head of Customer Lifecycle Management, then as Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Africa. 

From Dubai, she oversaw strategy, budgets, and execution across multiple markets, driving key indicators such as churn reduction, digital product uptake, and revenue growth. 

She also led internal transformation initiatives, from programme management adoption to agile planning, helping align operations across regions that rarely move at the same speed.

In 2023, she was appointed Regional Director for Southern Africa, expanding her scope beyond customer strategy into full operational leadership. The role placed her in charge of subscriber growth, revenue, profitability, and execution across several Southern African markets, with responsibility for brands including DStv, GOtv, and Showmax. 

It was a test of scale and complexity, and by all accounts, she delivered.

Her leadership style is usually described as customer-first, but that undersells the discipline behind it. Omotosho is known for operational rigour, clear accountability, and teams that understand exactly what success looks like. 

She mentors extensively, builds systems that outlast individuals, and favours measurable impact.

Academically, she has continued to invest in herself, earning an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School and completing executive programmes at institutions including Harvard and INSEAD. The mix of local business training and global exposure shows up in how she runs organisations, grounded, but not inward-looking.

Her appointment as CEO will ensure continuity rather than disruption. MultiChoice Nigeria is currently facing challenges including slimmer consumer spending, growing competition from streaming platforms, and a change in content consumption. 

Omotosho steps into the role with institutional memory, regional perspective, and a solid understanding of Nigerian customers.

In the new role, Kemi Omotosho is expected to ensure steady, informed change across MultiChoice Nigeria, and this is exactly what’s needed in today’s media market.

The post MultiChoice Nigeria: Who is Kemi Omotosho? appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

At the heart of this issue is whether a private company operating in a free market should be restrained by a regulatory agency from adjusting its prices, and to what extent.

Both parties are appealing parts of a judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which essentially restricted the FCCPC’s authority over MultiChoice’s pricing decisions while also accusing the pay-TV giant of abusing court processes.

For MultiChoice, the priority is to overturn the label of “abuse of court process” that Justice Omotosho attached to its earlier suit. Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the company’s appeal argues that Justice Omotosho erred both legally and procedurally.

“The issues in the instant Suit and Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2025 between Festus Sanmi Onifade vs. MultiChoice Nigeria Limited & Anor, are different. The parties in both suits are also different,” Onigbanjo insisted. He further argued that the judge independently introduced this issue without giving MultiChoice a chance to address the court on it.

Onigbanjo’s argument extends to how the case was concluded. He told the Court of Appeal that the High Court had “erred in law” by dismissing MultiChoice’s suit outright rather than striking it out, thus preventing the company from refiling. 

He says the Appeal Court should invalidate the dismissal and confirm that MultiChoice’s lawsuit was legitimate.

On the other side, the FCCPC’s legal team, led by Prof. Joseph Abugu (SAN),  is challenging the High Court’s ruling which weakened its enforcement powers. 

According to the FCCPC, it acted within its statutory authority when it issued interim directives to stop MultiChoice’s proposed price hike. Abugu argued that “the FCCPC does not have the power to and has not engaged in price fixing,” but rather moved to stop everything that could exploit Nigerian consumers.

The FCCPC’s stance is that MultiChoice’s argument of operating in a free market doesn’t exempt it from regulatory oversight. “The television and broadcast industry, in which the pay TV is a participant in, is also a regulated sector in Nigeria,” Abugu noted. He stressed that the FCCPC has a legal mandate to intervene when a dominant market player threatens consumer welfare.

In its eight-point appeal, the FCCPC said the High Court’s interpretation of its powers was flawed and led to a miscarriage of justice. The Commission pointed to the evidence it submitted, including MultiChoice’s consistent price increases, to show that consumers were being exploited. 

“The price increase charts presented by the FCCPC…clearly proved a trend of capricious, arbitrary and incessant exorbitant price increases by the pay TV,” the Commission stated.

Interestingly, the FCCPC also responded to the court’s comment that other companies were not similarly targeted. The Commission dismissed this as irrelevant to the case, asserting that its investigation was specifically triggered by a complaint against MultiChoice.

A date is yet to be fixed for the Appeal Court hearing. In the meantime, the ruling from the High Court remains enforceable unless a stay of execution is granted.

At stake is more than just a legal technicality. MultiChoice’s March 1, 2025, price hikes, the second in less than a year, led to objections and complaints from Nigerian consumers, who feel trapped in a market with limited alternatives. 

Though the company attempted to counter this perception by halving the price of its decoders from N20,000 to N10,000 in June, the public is not satisfied.

The post MultiChoice, FCCPC Head to Appeal Court Over DStv, GOtv Price Hikes appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

According to a charge sheet, FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, the commission alleges that the accused wilfully failed to appear before it on March 6, 2025, following an official summons issued on February 25. 

The document lists John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other directors as defendants.

This follows the Federal High Court’s dismissal of a suit filed by MultiChoice on May 8, which sought legal backing for its controversial price hike on DStv and GOtv subscriptions. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the suit was “an abuse of court process”.

The FCCPC claims that the accused deliberately failed to submit documents relevant to its probe, a breach of section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018. 

The charge sheet states: “Being Directors of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, [they] caused the aforesaid MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents which the Company was required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons issued and dated 25 February, 2025, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018.”

Beyond failing to appear, the commission says MultiChoice’s leadership actively hindered its investigation by refusing to disclose requested documents, an act the FCCPC considers a direct challenge to its regulatory authority.

When the matter came up in court on Tuesday, the Commission’s lawyer informed Justice Omotosho that while the company had been served, the individual directors named in the charge had not yet received personal service. Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case until October 7, 2025, for arraignment.

This issue is rooted in FCCPC’s concerns over repeated and unexplained price increases by MultiChoice. In February, the Commission summoned Ugbe to explain what it described as “frequent price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and anti-competitive practices.” It warned that failure to provide clear justification could trigger regulatory sanctions.

MultiChoice objected, filing a case through its legal team led by Onigbanjo SAN. The company argued it had not been given a fair hearing and sought to block the Commission from taking further action, citing a letter dated March 3, 2025. The court, however, dismissed the suit, stating that it was an attempt to stall accountability.

The post FCCPC Slams Charges on MultiChoice Nigeria, CEO John Ugbe appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The commission had directed MultiChoice Nigeria on 27 February to maintain its existing subscription rates for DStv and GOtv while it conducted a review of the company’s proposed price increase. However, MultiChoice proceeded with the price hike on 1 March, disregarding the order.

In response, the FCCPC filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, accusing MultiChoice and its CEO of wilfully obstructing the commission’s inquiry, impeding an ongoing investigation, and attempting to delude the regulatory body by proceeding with the hike despite clear objections.

The commission described the company’s move as a deliberate attempt to overlook regulatory oversight and market adequacy, stating that such conduct denies consumers the protections guaranteed by law. 

Beyond the legal proceedings, the FCCPC is also considering additional enforcement measures, including sanctions and penalties, to ensure compliance and accountability. 

The commission reiterated that it will continually protect consumers from exploitative businesses and hold all industry bodies accountable.

The Statement read in full:

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, obstructing an ongoing inquiry and engaging in conduct deemed violations of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

MultiChoice Nigeria had been expressly directed by the FCCPC on February 27, 2025 to maintain its current pricing structure for DStv and GOt pending the conclusion of an examination of its proposed price hike. However, despite this directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on March 1, 2025, in clear defiance of the Commission’s directive.

Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences under the FCCPA 2018, specifically for willfully obstructing the Commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives (Section 33(4)), impeding the ongoing investigation by ignoring instructions to suspend the hike (Section 110), and attempting to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without objection (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)).

The Commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law. By disregarding the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the Commission’s investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition.

In addition to these legal actions, the FCCPC is reviewing further enforcement measures, including sanctions, penalties, and regulatory interventions, to ensure compliance and accountability.

The FCCPC is committed to protecting Nigerian consumers from exploitative business practices and ensuring that dominant players in any sector adhere to fair market principles and legal compliance.”

The post FCCPC Sues MultiChoice Nigeria Over Price Hike, Regulatory Violations appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) argues that the suit is baseless and constitutes an abuse of court process.

The lawsuit, filed by Maduabuchi O. Idam Esq. on 29 April 2024 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2024), demands that Multichoice allow customers to roll over unused subscriptions. The case also lists the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as defendants.

During proceedings on 19 February 2025, Multichoice’s counsel, Moyosore J. Onigbanjo (SAN), opposed the case. The legal representatives of the FCCPC and NBC confirmed that they had filed counter-affidavits against the suit, while the AGF’s lawyer also confirmed submitting a motion on notice. 

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, asked the claimant whether he had received and responded to all submissions. He confirmed this but stated that further affidavits needed to be exchanged. The court then scheduled the hearing for 6 May 2025.

The AGF’s motion, dated 25 October 2024, insists that the case should be struck out as the claimant failed to establish any wrongdoing by the AGF. The AGF’s lawyer, Maimuna Lami Shiru, stated:

“The AGF is not a regulatory body in respect of the subject matter of the claim and has no business in the suit. The AGF is not a proper or necessary party to the suit. The originating process is premature and defective as it relates to the AGF.”

The AGF’s office further asserted that its role does not extend to regulating Multichoice or any other TV service provider in Nigeria. It also accused the claimant of filing the case without the necessary court approval.

Background

Multichoice has had repeated issues in Nigeria over its pricing structure in recent times. The company previously justified its subscription adjustments by pointing out factors such as exchange rate fluctuations, rising content acquisition costs, and increased electricity tariffs.

The FCCPC, while acknowledging its role in consumer protection, clarified that it does not directly regulate business pricing. The NBC also noted that a prior court ruling had limited its authority to intervene in such matters.

In 2024, a tribunal fined the company ₦150 million and ordered a one-month free subscription for violating interim orders. The ruling was later overturned after the case was withdrawn.

However, Multichoice recently announced a fresh price increase across all DStv and GOtv packages, effective 1 March 2025. The company has blamed previous subscriber losses on multiple price hikes, inflation, and economic challenges.

The post AGF Urges Court to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Multichoice Over Pay-Per-View Billing appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The offer, which begins on Friday, 27th December, and runs until Sunday, 29th December 2024, will allow subscribers across all packages, including those with inactive accounts, to enjoy premium content at no extra charge.

In a statement released on Thursday, the company described the initiative as a unique seasonal gift to its customers. “As we wind down the year and celebrate the holidays, DStv is happy to announce that we are making this December one to remember. 

“For 72 hours, the only thing standing between you and the best in sports, kids’ programming, movies, and local dramas is your decoder. No payments or calls required.” the statement read.

The initiative comes as MultiChoice faces some challenges in Nigeria’s competitive pay-TV market. Between April and September 2024, the company reported a loss of 243,000 subscribers due to economic pressures, including high inflation and increased living costs. 

MultiChoice Nigeria has raised its subscription prices three times within the past year, which may have further contributed to the decline in active users.

In addition to economic difficulties, MultiChoice has faced regulatory issues. Earlier this year, a Nigerian tribunal fined the company ₦150 million for implementing a price hike despite a court order. 

The tribunal also directed MultiChoice to provide one month of free access to its services as compensation for customers.

The South African-based company has acknowledged the growing competition in the media sector, with the rise of streaming platforms and changing consumer habits challenging the traditional pay-TV model. 

MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela, noted that the firm is adapting to these changes while struggling with economic challenges in key markets like Nigeria.

This free-access initiative appears to be part of the company’s initiatives to reconnect with lapsed customers and strengthen its place in the Nigerian market.

With no payments required, subscribers only need to activate their decoders to enjoy the full range of DStv’s premium offerings during the 72-hour period.

The post DStv Offers Free Access to All Channels for Three Days appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

MultiChoice said the Big Brother Naija contributed to the economy, by creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“This year, we employed over 1,200 people, directly and indirectly. We touched every bit of the economy. We had over four to ten thousand people across various industries working on this show.

“Also, over a billion people voted all through the duration of the show,” it added.

Recall that for the first time since the reality show made its debut, this season was the first time the organisers provided three houses for the organisers.

All three houses named level 1, level 2, and level 3 houses respectively were all expensively furnished.

The post MultiChoice Spends N4.7bn to Produce BBNaija Season 7 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

MultiChoice made this known during a one-day public organized by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee investigating “Pay-Tv hikes and demand for the pay-per-view subscription model in Nigeria” in Abuja.

The PPV model allows a subscriber to watch some special one-off events, usually of the high-ticket variety in sports and entertainment, by paying for such events in addition to having an active subscription.

While Pay-As-You-Go accommodates a metered mode of service, where consumers are billed only for the service they consume and not for a fixed period.

John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, said several legal and legislative moves made to compel the firm to operate the pay-per-view model did not work because it was not feasible.

“Whilst it may appear to be a noble intention for this Committee to be concerned over the rising cost of subscription services; however, the Pay-Per-View (PPV) model being canvassed by this Committee will not work either to the benefit of the consumer or the industry.”

“It would appear that this problem is because of some confusion in understanding the basic definitions and distinctions between some of the existing operational business models in telecommunications and pay-tv broadcasting.

“The desire by this Committee to adopt PPV is further challenged by the non-existence of any technology that can detect and or determine the viewers are tuned in per time.

“Once it is impossible to have this knowledge, billings based on ‘per view’ become difficult if not almost impossible.

“It is, therefore, my humble submission, therefore, the distinguished committee that due to the nature of content acquisition and technological limitations that PAYG model is not practical for broadcasting and thus is not practiced and basically cannot be implemented anywhere in the world.”

The post “Pay-Per-View Model not Feasible,” MultiChoice Responds to Lawmakers appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.