Gone are days when subscribers would sit back and put up with unsatisfactory service as more Kenyans join the fight for service they have paid for. The latest victim in this recent revolutionary trend is DStv and GOtv, local pay TV service providers under the MultiChoice umbrella.
MultiChoice Kenya seems not to be living up to its slogan: Enriching lives as more and more of its subscribers express dissatisfaction with the company’s service. Just recently, one DStv subscriber by the Facebook name ‘Ngash Mtrue’ Facebook post became a sensational topic and continues to be a sensational topic over the social network, when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of programmes aired by DStv, Check out his Facebook post below:
“I’m writing this as an esteemed client for the last couple of years and I wish to state that the quality of programmes are way below my expectations. You have been repeating movies and documentaries at an amazing rate and still charging us exorbitant fees.
Last night on M-net Action, Con-Air was being screened for the 12th time in 40 days!!! I look at the comedy channel and there’s nothing to smile about. You are screening comedies that were the in thing in the early ’90s, way before Tupac’s death!!!
While I do understand that repetitions are a must in the pay TV business, you have taken to a whole new level. Matter of fact, apart from SuperSport, ESPN, BBC Knowledge and the Discoveries channels, everything else borders a fraud.
I honestly can’t wait for my subscription to expire so that I can join either Zuku or Starcom. Zuku are offering more channels than you, internet connection and a land line at a cheaper rate than your premium package. Starcom on the other hand are screening updated reality TV programmes like the Kardashians, Amazing Race etc.
They are also screening the latest flicks like Spiderman and Batman while you are busy feeding us Con-Air and Walker, the Texas ranger! Come on, you do realize that you are milking us dry and giving us substandard programmes. Could you please introduce a sports only package, SuperSports and ESPN or I jump ship.
I have figured that I can get quality pay TV from Starcom for Kshs. 500 per month and a one time connection fee of Kshs. 4,000 which I shall raise from the sale of my DSTV dish as scrap metal. Then, I shall be watching the EPL/La Liga games at my local pub where even if I consume four beers per game every weekend, it will be way below the Kshs. 6,900 you are charging me for substandard programmes and outdated movies.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Chuck Norris on my screen! Over to you DStv Kenya.
PS- I’m actually watching another repeat on the Universal Channel even as I type this letter!!!
Ngash Mtrue got support from fellow DStv subscribers who share the same sentiments.
Similar sentiments are shared by GOtv subscribers who have feel like they are being denied service for their money. Below are a few complains.
“Morning, what is the procedure of renewing subscription and while we are at that, I feel cheated on my first subscription, I was off air for 3 weeks with your knowledge, I was taken round in circles until I had to carry my decoder to your offices, yet you were VERY prompt to cut me off when my 3 months was up… you should be aware that pay TV like GoTv is for middle to low income Kenyans and it is a luxury and I believe we should get MAXIMUM value for what we pay for, I have to admit I am not impressed at all!! I’m paying up cos my mum is around and she enjoyed it for the last one week, I will stop paying after she leaves”
“Uv talked n promised 6 mnths now fx ,fox bbc,mtv ey aint working what realy do u guyz want ama ni maridadi kwa decorder yangu ata kama ni soaps cjui star muviz haziwak what type of multichoice are u?”
As posted on GOtv Facebook page, below are a few responses by GOtv to some of the above sentiments:
“Your comments regarding repeats have been noted. However, please note that, in the Pay TV environment, each channel strives to offer balanced viewing to its audiences and repeats are one way of allowing viewers a flexible viewing time for their convenience. Also whilst GOtv Africa continuously strives to showcase new content, repeating content is a fundamental part of licensing agreements (which is an international standard). Additionally, given the cost of productions as well as the amount of time that each channel runs (24 hours) it is impossible to screen premier programming at all times. Though it proves impossible to identify the perfect repeats pattern, we will ensure that the interest of subscribers in Kenya are kept in mind every time the issue of progamme scheduling comes up and hopefully this will lead to the development of optimal repeat patterns.”
“We would like to assure you that the concerns expressed with regard to the Programming content in your post has been noted. We unfortunately have to contend with the reality that taste in program preference differs – what pleases you may disinterest another completely. However, we are happy to receive feedback from subscribers in order to determine their preferences so that we are able to pass this information to Multichoice Africa who are in charge of programming content.”
With competition in Kenya’s pay TV sector fast gaining momentum, DStv and GOtv will have to come up with strategies that will satisfy its customers.