The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plan to put an end to cable television service providers’ monopoly, one such is the Digital Satellite Television (DStv) which is owned by MultiChoice, a South Africa-based company.
Federal Government plans include ending the exclusive rights to sporting events enjoy by DStv.
Currently, only DStv has the right to broadcast major football competitions in Nigeria, especially the English Premier League.
According to the government, Nigeria’s broadcasting code has been adjusted to prevent DStv and others from the monopolization of their channels and contents.
Before now, the DStv has been under probe by the House for allegedly restricting Nigerian subscribers to prepaid plans and increasing its subscription rates on June 1, 2020, despite the economic impact of the coronavirus lockdown on the people.
During an investigation by the ad hoc committee of the House on the matter in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed dismisses the claims by the DStv that pay-per-view was not proper for Nigerian market.
The minister noted that StarTime, the cable arm of the Nigerian Television Authority, has been operating for some years.
While responding to questions, the minister says, “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 monopoly, Mohammed hinted that in 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari set up a board of enquiry to look into the activities of broadcasting stations, to confirm the strength of the broadcasting code and broadcasting act to curtail and regulate the industry against the excesses.
He says, “We took that opportunity also to make right recommendations to Mr President, including the breaking of the monopoly of the various giant operators. It is to the credit of Mr President that he did approve those recommendations.”
The minister also says that some of the recommendations would require that the National Assembly amend the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Act.
Mohammed adds that, “You will notice, in recent weeks, a lot of attacks on the ministry as a result of these amendments. These amendments have actually struck at the heart of monopoly. These amendments are, for once, giving back to Nigerians their own industry.”
Before then, the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Unyime Idem, asked the minister and the acting Director-General of the NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, to order the DStv to suspend the recent increment.
Idachaba is immediately ordered by Mohammed to issue the notice.
Idem also asked the Minister and all stakeholders present to ensure and commence full implementation of its directives.
The order of the House committee includes “a marching order to the service providers, particularly Multichoice’s DStv, to reverse the recent June 1, 2020 price hike and revert to the old price as this is not the best of times to increase the prices of services, no matter the reasons for such increase, taking into consideration the ravaging effect of COVID-19 on the economy of Nigerians.”
It added, “Come up with a robust strategy to break the monopoly and open up the industry for larger participation. PAYG regime for digital TV broadcasting in Nigeria, with particular reference to DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, and Kwese TV.
“Deregulation of content right by DTH (direct-to-home), DTT (digital terrestrial television) and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) operators. Encouraging local content participation through content sharing.”