By JAMES KUNDA and  HOPE BWALYA –
GOVERNMENT has summoned Multichoice Zambia Limited over the proposed increment in Digital Satellite Television (DStv) subscription fees effective next month.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili said at a media briefing in Ndola yesterday that he would meet Multichoice management at his office in Lusaka this Thursday.
Mr Kambwili who is also Chief Government spokesperson said the proposed increment of about 30 per cent in DStv subscription was too exorbitant for ordinary Zambians to afford.
“I have summoned Multichoice Zambia management to my office for a meeting on Thursday at 10:00 hours over their proposed increment in monthly subscription for DStv.
“The proposed increment of about 30 per cent is just too much and we need to table this issue and find an amicable solution,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said Government did not want to introduce price controls hence it was the duty of service providers to harmonise the cost of their services in Zambia.
He encouraged potential investors to take advantage of the business environment in Zambia by investing in the digital television industry.
“There is no limit of investment even in the digital television industry that is why we are calling on more players to join the market and enhance competition and service provision,” he said.
Multichoice Zambia has indicated that DStv subscription on all bouquets will increase effective April 15.
Subscribers on the Premium bouquet would now pay K710 from the current K613, with those on Compact Plus paying K413 from 337.
Those on the Compact bouquet would be paying K248 from K203, with Family bouquet subscribers paying K158 from K127 and the Access bouquet would be pegged at K83 from K64.
Meanwhile, Multichoice Zambia has attributed the increment on all DStv bouquets to the increase in operational costs and the devaluation of the Kwacha against the US dollar.
Multichoice Zambia General Manager Simon Bota announced yesterday in Lusaka during a press briefing that the pay Digital Satellite TV provider had taken into account other factors like impact on the subscribers and inflation rate.

. Bota

Mr Botha said the company had adjusted its pricing to reflect the actual costs because it was running on a fixed pricing plan as of July 2014.
“One of the major reasons for the increase is that the company considers high piracy levels in the country against enforcement of the law on offenders,” he said.
Mr Bota however, said the business environment in Zambia was good and that it would continue trading despite the challenges.
Mr Bota said despite the increment, Multichoice Zambia was among the cheapest in the region while Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remained among the most expensive.