celebrity radar - gossips

Subscription for DSTV and GOTV may increase from September 2021

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2021

Rapheal Akinwunmi

Subscription for DSTV and GOTV may increase from September 2021

Rapheal Akinwunmi

Multichoice Nigeria will increase subscription fee across all its DSTV and GOTV packages from semptember 2021.

A source close to the company revealed that subscription prices may increase by about 10% with premium package going as high N21,000, Compact Plus will go above N14,000 and GOtv Max subscription jumping to slightly above N4000, once the new price takes effect.

This is not a lone occurrence for Nigerian subscribers, as Multichoice has increased the subscription charges in other African countries over the last 6 months. This week, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania announced a new price regime from September 1.

MultiChoice Ghana’s latest increase is coming just 6 months after its last price hike. MultiChoice Ghana gave no reasons to its customers or the media for its latest price hike. From September 1, DStv Premium will rise by 5.6% from GHS369 (R913) per month to GHS390 (R965) per month, DStv Compact Plus by 5.26% from GHS228 to GHS240, while DStv Compact will increase by 5.2% from GHS152 to GHS160.

MultiChoice Tanzania equally announced a 5 – 9 percent increase on its DStv subscription charges on all bouquets with effect from September 1, but didn’t provide its customers with any reason. According to the reports and text messages sent to subscribers, the Premium bouquet will now cost Sh145,000 (formerly Sh139,000), the Compact Plus tariff plan will cost Sh93,000 (formerly Sh89,000), while the Compact tariff plan will cost Sh51,000 (formerly Sh49,000) for monthly subscriptions.

Just last week, MultiChoice Kenya announced price increases ranging from 5 to 9 percent for DStv and GOtv customers, effective September 1, 2021. Customers on the Premium tariff will pay KES 8,400 per month (formerly KES 7,900), the Compact Plus will increase from KES 4,800 to KES 5,100, while Compact will increase from KES 2,650 to KES 2,800. DStv Family will now cost KES 1,500 (from KES1380) while DStv Access will cost KES 1,050 (from KES1 000). Similar increases are also seen across the GOtv packages.

Multichoice Uganda also announced a 6 percent increase in subscription prices for all packages.

In South Africa, a 1 – 6 percent price increase took effect on Thursday 1 April 2021. Premium, Compact, and Compact Plus subscriptions were increased by R10 monthly to become R829, R409, and R529 respectively. The DStv Family package went up from R279 to R295, while DStv Access increased from R110 to R115.

Despite the probe by the Nigerian Senate in 2016, over alleged unwholesome practices and unreasonable subscription hikes, Multichoice Nigeria still makes price adjustment a yearly ritual. The company has hiked its subscriptions by an average of 31% in five years.

In 2020, the pay-TV increased subscription price twice within a space of three months. Recall that there was a price increase in June 2020 (to reflect a 2.5% VAT) and another 9 – 14 percent increase in subscription prices in August 2020. The 10 – 14% increase across board from September 2021, is coming exactly one year after the last one.

Although Multichoice Nigeria is yet to make an official announcement to this, this is the same trend experienced last year before the charges were increased in Nigeria and Nigerians are not happy about what is now seen as an annual price hike.

“This appears to be a yearly affair. Last year, there was an increase and now again? If this actually happens, I might have to look for an alternative source of entertainment. I mean, how much television do I watch in a month that I should be spending as much as N20,000 on premium subscription?”, Mr. Henry Ojei, a DStv subscriber in Lagos said.

“Going at this rate, Multichoice might be asking people to spend as much as half their salaries on pay-TV subscriptions in the coming years. Who knows? Salaries do not increase on an annual basis so why should Multichoice increase its charges every year? Maybe there is a class of consumers that they are out to serve, but it doesn’t look like the average Nigerian worker is part of this”.

Another subscriber bemoaned his decision to buy the DStv decoder during the decoder slash price in July, stating that it now seems like the promo was a strategy to reel in more customers before announcing this increase.

Multichoice appears to have an annual tradition of hiking prices, after doing some sort of promotion to get in more customers. The first subscription fee increase was in September 2009, and the next came in April 2011 (8 to 12 percent hike). August 2012 had a 10% increase in all its bouquets, and August 2015 brought a 20% increase in all its bouquets.

There has been at least one price hike in subscription fees every year and the result is that most of the packages have almost doubled since then. For instance, DStv Premium has gone N9,000 in 2009 to N18,400 in 2020. This is over 100 percent cumulative price change already. The new price which takes effect in September 2021 will bring the price to N20,902, a total of 132 percent price hike in 12 years.

Reacting to the last increase in August 2020, commentators had said the DStv price increase would put more pressures on subscribers who were managing to sustain themselves amid the Covid-19 pandemic, causing some of them to downgrade to lower packages.

The reaction from Simon Camerer, Chief Operating Officer for MultiChoice, that customers should negotiate a ‘long-term contract’ rather than the monthly plans, to save themselves some money is in itself a pointer that Multichoice might keep on with this annual price hike in the coming years

celebrity radar - gossips

Ayra Starr’s Mother Sparks Buzz with Confession About Her Mystery Crush

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Ayra Starr’s Mother Sparks Buzz with Confession About Her Mystery Crush

The mother of Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Ayra Starr has sent social media into a frenzy with a playful revelation about having a crush on someone who, humorously, calls her “mummy.” In a video that quickly went viral, she expressed her excitement about the possibility of meeting her crush at Ayra Starr’s upcoming show on Christmas Day.

Captioning the video, Ayra Starr’s mother wrote: “Wahala, my crush is calling me mummy. Anyways, we will meet at Ayra’s show on the 25th.” Her candid and lighthearted confession immediately captivated fans, sparking a wave of speculation about the identity of her mystery crush.

Many have taken to social media to guess the individual who has captured Ayra Starr’s mother’s affections. A popular theory among fans is that the crush might be none other than Don Jazzy, the renowned Nigerian music mogul and the boss of Ayra Starr’s record label, Mavin Records. However, Ayra’s mother kept the identity of her crush under wraps, leaving fans to wonder and eagerly anticipate any clues that might surface.

As the excitement for Ayra Starr’s Christmas Day show builds, fans are eagerly awaiting the event, with many now watching closely to see if Ayra’s mother’s cheeky prediction about meeting her crush will indeed come true.

Stay tuned for updates and watch the video below as the mystery continues to unfold!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Tattle Room 🇳🇬 🌎 (@thetattleroomng)

celebrity radar - gossips

Self-Anointed Financial Guru, Geh Geh, Celebrates the Launch of His Luxury Hotel

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Self-Anointed Financial Guru, Geh Geh, Celebrates the Launch of His Luxury Hotel

Popular financial influencer and self-proclaimed guru, Geh Geh, has officially opened the doors to his new hotel, marking another milestone in his ever-evolving career. The hotel, a modern and tastefully furnished establishment, was unveiled on December 22nd amidst a wave of excitement from his followers and supporters.

Taking to his X page a few days prior to the launch, Geh Geh teased his fans with the announcement, hinting at the grand opening. True to his word, the influencer shared clips from the event, including a moment where his pastor prayed over the establishment during its official dedication.

The event was attended by friends, family, and well-wishers, who gathered to celebrate his achievement. Online reactions, however, have been a mix of admiration, skepticism, and humor as netizens took to social media to share their thoughts on Geh Geh’s latest accomplishment.

Social Media Reactions

The news of Geh Geh’s hotel opening has sparked lively conversations across social platforms. Some users congratulated him on his success, while others questioned the legitimacy of his wealth and mocked the idea of a pastor blessing a hotel.

@BIG🌍 AP❣️: “Finally, Geh Geh don get the congratulations 🎉 way him dey find since lol 🤣🤣 Congratulations 🎉 Opueh Presido.”
@ucheuch2 MMM: “Geh Geh no get hotel.”
@Quency baby 🫂🥹: “Dem open hotel, pastor dey pray 🤦‍♀️.”
@Elbulletin: “So this guy gets money?”
@Boy alone💜🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️☹️: “Omo, wait oh, na Geh Geh really get am? Omo, if na him, I go start worship Geh Geh online oh 😞.”
@Babatunde Phillip: “Imagine a pastor attending the opening ceremony of a hotel where Geh Geh said girls go cryyyy.”
@user97174499693224: “So pastor dey pray for hotel opening 😂😂😂.”
@ABIODUN__🌴💙🚬: “I dey cryyyyyyy now, if to say I know, I for worship Geh Geh online 😭😂.”

While the reactions may vary, one thing is clear: Geh Geh knows how to command attention. As he steps into the hospitality business, all eyes will be on him to see if the financial guru can translate his influence into success in this new venture.

@unclenasco_

Congratulations to Geh Geh , he has finally opens his hotel 🏨

♬ original sound – Nasco

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Ukrainian boxing sensation Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight championship titles and cemented his place in boxing history with a unanimous decision victory over Britain’s Tyson Fury in their rematch on Saturday night.

The judges scored the bout 116-112 in Usyk’s favor across the board, marking his second consecutive win over Fury. This victory extended Usyk’s flawless professional record to 23-0, with 14 knockouts, adding another chapter to a career already highlighted by Olympic gold and an undisputed cruiserweight championship.

A Masterclass Performance

Usyk, 37, showcased his signature precision and relentless pace, repeatedly catching Fury with clean left hooks and dominating the latter stages of the fight. Fury, at 6ft 9in (206cm) and weighing a career-high 281 pounds, attempted to impose his physicality but was unable to break Usyk’s composure.

The fight, held in Saudi Arabia, saw Usyk wearing traditional Cossack attire during his entrance, while Fury entered the arena dressed in a festive Santa-inspired robe to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

The early rounds were competitive, with Fury landing powerful jabs and body shots. However, Usyk’s endurance and tactical brilliance began to shine in the middle rounds. The Ukrainian landed sharp combinations and dictated the tempo, including a stunning uppercut in the final round that left little doubt about the outcome.

“I thought I’ve won both fights,” Fury said post-match, sporting a bruised right eye. “But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.”

A Legacy Sealed

Usyk’s victory solidified his standing as one of the greatest heavyweights in history. Already the first undisputed heavyweight of the four-belt era, Usyk joins the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson.

The bout, reported to have a prize purse of $190 million, also underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports. Usyk, who served briefly as a soldier during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, celebrated his victory by hoisting a symbolic sabre belonging to Ukrainian nationalist hero Ivan Mazepa.

Fury’s Uncertain Future

The defeat leaves Fury’s future in doubt. Once unbeaten across 35 fights, Fury now stands at 34-2-1. His attempt to reclaim glory after a brief retirement in 2022 has been marred by back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Usyk, on the other hand, continues to add to his already remarkable resume, leaving fans and critics alike in awe of his technical skill, resilience, and determination. As the heavyweight division looks ahead, Usyk’s reign appears unshakable, and his place among boxing’s all-time greats is firmly secured.