Zambia’s leading pay-to-view television channel, DStv, on Saturday defended its decision to increase subscription fees, which have raised a public outcry.
Multichoice Zambia, a subsidiary of Africa’s leading pay-to- view television channel, DStv, said its decision to increase subscription fees effective next month was a normal practice.
Mwiika Malindima, the company’s public relations manager said in a statement that some figures circulating on social media on the new fees were mere fabrications.
He also clarified the disparities in the pricing of DStv bouquets among different regions of Africa.
Earlier, subscribers launched a petition to stop the company from going ahead with its decision to increase subscription fees.
Subscribers have launched a public outcry and launched a petition on social media to press the company from going ahead with its new fees.
Numerous subscribers have also taken to social media to complain over what they are describing as the company’s “exaggerated fees” and are calling for a boycott.
The subscribers have called on the company to standardize its subscription instead of basing it on the U.S. dollar which is being affected by fluctuation of the local currency.
A petition circulating online calling on the company to standardize subscription fees has surpassed over 1,000 signatures.
The subscribers have charged that the company should not use its monopoly to abuse its customers and that the poor service provided does not warrant the company to adjust its fees.
According to the petition, the company needs to find a way of preparing its books of account in the local currency and find ways to hedge against foreign exchange losses.
“There is need for them to understand the unstable environment and deal with it in a proper manner,” the petition reads. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
