*Followers vow to boycott MultiChoice services
A Port Harcourt-based cleric and founder of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has declared that he will not renew his subscription of DStv pay television service after his current account expired, signposting a protest against the recent hike in tariffs by the company.
Apostle Chinyere said going forward, he will not renew his DStv subscription until the tariffs are slashed.
The General Overseer announced this in a post on the Facebook page of OPM, which has thousands of followers across Nigeria and globally.
Apostle explained that the decision not to renew the DStv subscription is one he was reluctant to make, but was necessary to do for him.
The televangelist said: “Millions of Nigerians can no longer meet up with the current prize of DStv/GOtv subscription because of the current economic reality in Nigeria.
“So, as my current subscription is expiring, I shall not be renewing my DStv subscription until DStv reduces the price.
“Starting from today I will be searching for alternatives that I will be watching news because basically is majorly news and OPM TV which is a 24 hours television station I watch when am chanced.
“But DStv, NO to renewal of subscription until prizes are reviewed downwards.”
Apostle Chinyere, unarguably has millions of followers and viewers of his church programmes streamed on channels on DStv/GOtv bouquet and as such, his decision may has a knock-on effect on other subscribers.
Apostle Chinyere’S OPM Ministry has attracted global attention because of its huge involvement in philanthropy and humanitarian services like provision of free schools for the underprivileged, free medical care, free accommodation for the homeless, free overseas scholarships for the indigents, free schools for the autistic and those with Down syndrome challenges and so on.
Few minutes after he posted his decision, thousands of his followers on Facebook started applauding it with promise that they will follow his footstep by also boycotting DStv/GOtv pay television services.
One of them said: “Thank you Sir, it’s a good discussion. I wish every person and corporate offices that use them will follow this idea.
“MultiChoice in the last 12 months has increased their price 3 times and plans to increase it again from May 1; it is wickedness.
“Since our government and customer protection agency can’t speak for us, let’s reject their services. Their customer care personnel will call to find out why you have failed to renew your subscription, simply tell them that the new price review is UNACCEPTABLE,” among others.
Early this week, Multichoice Nigeria announced an increase in the cost of subscriptions for the different packages on its DStv and GOtv bouquet beginning from May 1.
This meant that customers on the DStv premium bouquet will pay N37,000 as against the current N29,500.
Customers on Compact+ would pay N25,000 from N19,800 while those on Compact bouquet will pay N15,700, up from N12,500.
Also, to subscribe to Confam, Yanga, and Padi packages, customers will pay N9,300, N5,100, and N3,600 from N7,400, N4,200, and N2,950 respectively.
It is this development that the OPM founder was lamenting given the current economic hardship.