Startimes subscribers lament hike in subscription fees

Subscribers of rising pay television, Startimes Nigeria, have decried the service provider’s recent 40 percent hike in tariff.

The subscribers, who expressed their resentment over the tariff hike in Lagos and  Abuja, said the new subscription fee was a way of exploiting and cheating them, adding that it was also a strain on their finances.

Prior to the increase of its tariff, the NTA Star-TV network gave notice in April that it would increase subscription fees for its different bouquet plans, commencing April 18.

Speaking with Hallmark on the rationale behind the Startimes subscription fee hike, the public relations manager of the company, Israel Bolaji, said each of the bouquet now has new and  thrilling channels.                                       

According to him, “We want more people to feed. We don’t only a few people to be up there. That is why we have brought some premium channels to our most affordable bouquet.

We may not have the English Premier League (EPL) which is seasonal.

But our National Basketball Association (NBA) sport is well and widely watched. Only Startimes has the exclusive right of NBA. Also, we have the FIFA world cup games, including the women and under-20 games broadcast exclusive right.

Some premium channels on Classic bouquet are now being enjoyed by those on Basic bouquet, while customers on Classic bouquet can now watch some Unique bouquet channels. In the vein, new special channels have been added on Unique bouquet.

I think our customers can attest to our commitment. “

Explaining further, Bolaji said: “The NOVA bouquet we introduced at the beginning of the year came with 15 channels for as low as N500.

But with an increase of N100 which now makes it N600, customers can now watch almost 30 channels.

If you calculate the percentage increase, you will arrive at 20 percent.

That cannot really be compared with the value we are offering. And we are not relenting in giving more to our customers. The same thing applies to our Basic, Classic and Unique bouquets.”

The new monthly subscription fees are Basic bouquet which now attracts N1,200; Classic bouquet, N2,400, and Unique bouquet N3,600.

Prior to the fees increase, Basic bouquet used to be N1,000, Classic bouquet N2,000 and Unique bouquet N3,000 respectively.

 Expressing his anger over the tariff increase, a customer in Ifako-Gbagada area of Lagos state, Godfrey Maku, said that the increase is ill-timed.

“It is true that the amount added to the old rate is minimal. But Startimes should not have increased their tariff now, since DStv raised fees became a controversial issue which made some of its customers to migrate to Startimes.  This is a bad marketing strategy. The only consolation the customers have is the additional channels on all the bouquets,” Maku posited.

In the same vein, another customer in Abule-Egba in Lagos state who simply identified as Felix, told Hallamark that the additional channels introduced on some of Startimes bouquets do not justify the increased subscription fees.

In his words: “I am on Basic bouquet. Of all the said new channels Startimes introduced, it is only (Wale Adenuga Production) WAP I can reckon with. But of what value is WAP channel to me? What makes me to continue to patronise Startimes is the Dove channel which relays Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) programmes.

Mrs Rabi Adamu, a subscriber in Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, said she was disappointed in the company for hiking its tariffs.

Adamu said that the company made no prior announcement of the decision to hike its tariffs.

“Presently, the country is facing a lot of challenges with the increase in dollar rate, fuel scarcity. But it is now compounded by additional charges on the TV cable network that we relax with,” she said.

Mr Nuhu Abdul, a Businessman at Wuse market, said he subscribed to the network due to the cheap rates that it offered at the commencement of its operation in Nigeria.

Abdul said, however, that had changed, adding that “Right now, I am disappointed in how this people enticed us to purchase their products and later cause us to weep. I was enticed to the pay television by one of the Startimes marketers with a monthly subscription of N500, now it has risen to N1,000 after I subscribed.

 I was not given a satellite, I used my old satellite with the antenna that was given but I paid the installer an extra-charge contrary to what I was told at the point of purchase. As if that was not enough, the N1,000 recharge I do buy has now increased to N1,200 and the dealers still request for N100 before they hand over the card,” he said.

Another subscriber, Mr Muhammad Tola, said that he was embarrassed when he went to renew his subscription, and had to pay for an additional cost he was not prepared for or aware of.

“I felt embarrassed last weekend when I went to renew my monthly Startimes subscription by the sudden 40 per cent tariff increment and extra N100 charges by authorised dealers and vendors. There was no prior notice. I believe it’s high time for the Consumers’ Protection Council and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to rise up to protect the interest of consumers.

I also urge Startimes and other TV service providers to be humane enough to improve on providing more quality services instead of exploiting people,” Tola said.

Mr Ngozi Okpara, a journalist, also said “there cannot be a better opportunity for the government agencies overseeing this satellite TV stations to protest and protect the public through their offices than now.

Reacting to the complaints, Ms Irete Anetor, Manager, Public Relations NTA Star- TV Network, said Startimes had in three years revolutionised the pay TV industry with over 80 channels.

“StarTimes can boast of unbeatable quality channels that reflect over 40 per cent local content portraying the Nigerian culture and creative diversity in a positive and proper perspective.

“Any changes in our services is for positive reasons and cannot be against the public that we serve, we shall remain steadfast in giving our subscribers value for their commitment to Startimes,” Anetor said.

On his part, the Public Relations and Communication Manager, Startimes, Mr Israel Bolaji, said that the developments and direction were borne out of the company’s desire and commitment to offer value by enhancing access, improving content.

According to Bolaji, “Startimes services are to break barriers between the people and the platform further, deepening digital TV penetration in Nigeria. Our efforts are also geared towards closing the huge gap between the people and Digital TV switch campaign. By creating a robust and improved digital television experience that is constantly refreshing. Increasingly, more Nigerians can also gain access to an impactful and explosive digital television experience.”

Similarly, Alhaji Salisu Awwalu, the Public Relation Officer, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said that the commission was aware of the latest development.

“On the issue of Startimes, we are going to hold a meeting within the week before any decision can be taken,” Awwalu said.