In a country where the Naira already struggles for breath amidst stifling inflation, the almighty overlords of satellite television, DStv, have once more descended from their high towers to deliver another blow to the wallets of the Nigerian masses.
With the flourish of a peacock and the avarice of a thousand misers, they have dared to inflate the already exorbitant prices of their TV packages. Where once Nigerians might have grudgingly paid homage to their empire of entertainment, now they seek to bleed folk dry, demanding even greater tribute for the same tired channels and recycled content.
Their justification? Oh yes, the same old empty excuses about fluctuating exchange rates and rising costs, as if the ordinary Nigerians do not wrestle these same economic demons daily. It’s an outrage!
They speak of improved customer experiences and premium packages, as though these are pearls cast before swine.
While families grapple with the price of food, DStv flaunts its decadent feasts. When the roofs leak and the children yearn for school fees, the overlords of DStv demand we prioritize their mediocre dramas and repetitive football matches.
Let us call a spade a spade, or in this case, a satellite dish a symbol of exploitation. DStv, it seems, mistakes our patience for weakness. Their coffers overflow, yet their hearts remain barren wastelands untouched by empathy.
Perhaps they forget that in a land of vibrant alternatives and resourceful spirits, their reign cannot stay unchallenged forever. The whispers of cord-cutting grow louder with each price hike.
Many people with smart TVs have already gotten the memo and consigned their DStv decoders to the storeroom. And yet, Multichoice remains oblivious, like most dictators are, to this growing resentment against their evil and exploitative practices.
When you have to pay the equivalent of minimum wage simply to watch Big Brother Naija or the English Premier League, it means the joke has been taken too far.