The Federal Government has disclosed its plans to shut down monopoly as enjoyed by cable television service providers, especially Digital Satellite Television, owned by MultiChoice, a South Africa-based company.
The government said it had amended Nigeria’s broadcasting code to prevent DStv and others from monopolising their channels and contents.
The House has been probing DStv for allegedly cheating its Nigerian subscribers by restricting them to prepaid plans and increasing its subscription rates on June 1, 2020, despite the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the people.
At the continuation of the investigative hearings organised by an ad hoc committee of the House on the matter in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had dismissed claims by DStv that pay-per-view was not proper for the Nigerian market.
Mohammed noted that StarTimes, the cable arm of the Nigerian Television Authority, was already operating for some years.
In an audio recording obtained by our correspondent, Mohammed could be heard responding to questions from the lawmakers.
The minister said, “On the issue of increase in price for subscribers, with the onset of COVID-19, one of the first things we did in the ministry with the NBC (National Broadcasting Commission) was to provide succour to broadcasters.
“We suspended payment for the initial two months to all broadcasters so that they would be able to absorb the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, it will be unfair for those for whom we have suspended payment to also at the same time increase their own fees. And I’m sure that the DG of NBC will take up this matter.”
On the issue of monopoly, Mohammed stated that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had in 2019 set up a board of enquiry to look into the activities of broadcasting stations, to ascertain the potency of the broadcasting code and broadcasting act to curtail and regulate the industry against excesses.
The plan is said to include ending exclusive rights to sporting events.
Only DStv currently broadcasts major football competitions in Nigeria, especially the English Premier League.
