Last month, MultiChoice increased the subscription fees for its DStv packages, prompting MACRA to secure an injunction against the tariff hike.
MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH) has announced its decision to discontinue DStv services for subscribers in Malawi, effective immediately. This decision comes in response to a court injunction issued by the High Court in Lilongwe, stemming from a legal dispute between MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). The court order restrains any alterations to DStv tariffs.
In a statement, Multichoice Africa said: “MCM does not provide DStv services to the general public and is therefore not authorised to set or modify tariffs for this service. This point has been consistently conveyed to MACRA. Although the injunction applies to MCM, it is impractical for them to execute, yet it carries serious repercussions for the leadership and management of MultiChoice Malawi, potentially leading to imprisonment. Given the ramifications on its affiliate (MCM) and the increasingly challenging regulatory climate, MAH has been left with no alternative but to indefinitely terminate the provision of DStv services.
“We hereby request all customers to immediately suspend payments for the DStv service. Those customers who have already made payments for the new DStv subscription will continue to enjoy their services until the current 30-day viewing cycle concludes on or before September 10, 2023. As of Wednesday, August 9, 2023, no new subscriptions or reconnections will be processed.”
