Nigerian MPs move to end “DSTV Monopoly”
Parliamentarians in Nigeria are moving to contain what has been described as the “arbitrary” subscription rates charged by Multichoice for its Digital Satellite Television services in the country.
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According to a report by Punchng.com, the House of Representatives Tuesday indicated that high pricing by DSTV had made access to its “premium” programming difficult for the majority of Nigerians.
The House, according to the report, also noted that lack of competition in the digital satellite broadcast industry had encouraged a monopoly giving firms such as Multichoice the “undue advantage” of blocking the efforts of other firms to enter the market and crash prices.
Lawmakers particularly opposed a “rigid” subscription policy that permanently billed subscribers “whether they are at home viewing programmes or not,” the report added.
A bill to stop such stranglehold on the industry passed second reading at the House on Tuesday, the report added, noting that it was sponsored by a member from Adamawa State, Mrs. Aisha Dahiru-Modibbo.
The bill sought to amend the National Broadcasting Commission Act to guarantee openness and competition in the industry.
The long title of the bill reads, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Broadcasting Commission Act to Provide for Competition in Nigeria, to Promote Efficiency and Expand Opportunities for Participation of Nigerians in World Markets, while at the same time recognising the Role of Foreign Competition in Nigeria and for other Matters Related thereto.”
One MP, Dahiru-Modibbo, said while Nigeria was not against foreign participation in the local economy, such involvement should not be to the detriment of Nigerians.
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According to her, indigenous firms which could have been rendering premium satellite broadcast programming to Nigerians, had complained that “deliberate actions” by monopolies stifled them.
Dahiru-Modibbo : “In every country, measures are taken to protect the people.
“What is happening to us in Nigeria does not happen elsewhere on the continent.
“It is high time our regulatory body, the NBC was positioned to protect Nigerians from this arbitrary actions.”
According to Punch.com.gh, the House Deputy Leader, Mr Leo Ogor, wondered why Nigeria, one of the countries with the largest subscriber base of DSTV services, hardly received the kind of “subscriber-friendly offers” that were offered to the citizens of other African countries.
He said: “You have a situation in the telecommunications industry, for example, where you are billed as you go or use your mobile phones.
“You pay for what you use. We should be having pay as you view or watch as well.
“Why should Nigerians continue to pay for DSTV services whether they are at home using the service or not?”