Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

FCCPC and NBC announce different stances on Pay-Per-View for GOtv, DStv

POSTED ON October 2, 2024 •   Business      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Multichoice Logo l @MultiChoiceGRP

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have informed the Federal High Court Abuja about their respective positions on Pay-Per-View subscription requests against Multichoice Nigeria products, GOtv and DStv.

Multichoice Nigeria Limited had asked the court in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2024 to refuse a plaintiff application seeking to compel it to meter its GOtv and DStv decoders to read customers’ subscriptions only per view or during viewing.

FCCPC and NBC were drawn into the fresh legal dispute by Maduabuchi O. Idam Esq, who sought an order compelling the FCCPC, NBC, and the Attorney General of the Federation to direct every TV network provider in Nigeria to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration.

In the suit, the claimant also seeks an order compelling Multichoice to roll over unused subscriptions upon expiration for Idam and other Nigerian customers, allowing them to maximize their investment in its products.

In this latest suit, Idam alleges that GOtv subscriptions, for instance, are not metered and do not account for viewing time; instead, customers are disconnected from service upon the expiration of their subscription, regardless of usage.

Idam states that apart from the alleged arbitrary price hikes that took effect in May 2024, Multichoice does not allow customers to roll over unused subscriptions, preventing them from fully utilizing their purchased services, citing this development as oppressive.

Multichoice denies the allegations of customer oppression, drawing the court’s attention to prior clarifications from Multichoice and other pay-TV operators during meetings with the NBC regarding the feasibility of the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, stating that it is not commercially or technically viable in satellite broadcasting due to current technological limitations.

 

“PAYG has been investigated several times by the National Assembly. In the 8th Assembly, the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values, led by Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, found that allegations of exorbitant Pay-TV subscription charges against Multichoice and the GOtv license holder were unsubstantiated and that the PAYG model is not technically or commercially feasible in the broadcast industry,” Multichoice stated.

 

In FCCPC’s counter affidavit dated August 16, 2024, and exclusively seen by Nairametrics, Mr. Adedeji Bankole, an officer in the Department of Legal Services of the Commission, countered the claimant’s submission, maintaining that most of the allegations regarding its Pay-Per-View request are incorrect.

Bankole stressed that the FCCPC’s mandate focuses on promoting competition and protecting consumers, but it does not directly regulate how businesses should be run.

He stated that while the FCCPC sets guidelines and enforces laws related to competition and consumer protection, it does not dictate how businesses should be operated or managed.

“The FCCPC is not in any position to direct or compel Multichoice to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration,” he stated.

He added that the FCCPC has investigated Multichoice several times before and that other subscribers/consumers have taken Multichoice to court in the past over increases in tariffs, and several of those cases are now on appeal.

Odoeme N.V., representing the NBC, submitted to the court that it received a complaint from the plaintiff dated September 20, 2023, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice TV.

In response to the complaint, it set up a committee to investigate the matter concerning requests for Pay-Per-View, among others.

He stated that Multichoice, through their letters dated October 30, 2023, and April 23, 2024, informed the NBC of their intention to increase the subscription fee.

He continued that the NBC, in its letters dated November 7, 2023, and April 30, 2024, urged and directed Multichoice to suspend the increase while inviting the pay-TV provider for a meeting for further discussion.

“But Multichoice did not honor the invitation. The NBC, on September 28, 2023, wrote to Multichoice to respond to the plaintiff’s complaint, but Multichoice did not respond or make any representation,” he added.

He explained that before the committee established to investigate the plaintiff’s complaint against Multichoice concluded its assignment, the Federal High Court Abuja delivered a judgment declaring that the NBC, not being either the Nigerian Police or the court, does not have the power to investigate or sanction.

The NBC said it is bound by the judgment of the court and cannot presently attend to any complaint against Multichoice for now.

“This judgment forestalled the implementation of the (NBC)committee’s findings. Owing to the said judgment, the NBC could not take any action in sanctioning or giving directives to Multichoice regarding the plaintiff’s complaint,” the NBC stated in its submission

 

READ ALSO
South Africa Surpasses Nigeria in Fuel Imports Amid Dangote Refinery Operations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 29, 2025 0

Nigeria has lost its long-standing title as Africa’s largest importer of refined petroleum pro...

READ ALSO
Economists Warn of Debt Sustainability Risks as Nigeria Eyes $24.14 Billion in Foreign Loans
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 28, 2025 0

Nigeria's public debt is poised for another substantial increase as President Bola Tinubu has sought...

READ ALSO
Nigeria's Solid Minerals Sector Attracts Over $800 Million in Investments Amid Policy Shift
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 25, 2025 0

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development,Dr Dele Alake announced that Nigeria attracted over $800...

READ ALSO
SNEPCo Urges Indigenous Firms to Enhance Skills for Future Opportunities
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 23, 2025 0

The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has urged Nigerian firms to st...

READ ALSO
JUST IN: Dangote refinery slashes petrol prices by N15 nationwide
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 22, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria — The Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently announced a reduction in the pump pri...

READ ALSO
Sanwo-Olu Advocates for Innovation, Accountability in Economic Policies
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 22, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated that Nigeria must hasten its pro...

READ ALSO
CBN's Rigid Monetary Policies Threaten Nigeria's Industrialization Efforts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 22, 2025 0

With the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) keeping the benchmark interest rate at 27.5 percent, local ma...

READ ALSO
FG to Auction 753 Housing Units Recovered from Ex-CBN Governor Emefiele
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 20, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Federal Government has declared its intention to sell 753 housing units that we...

OUR CHANNELS:

Aid to Trade: US Embraces a New Economic Partnership with Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

The US is transitioning from providing aid to fostering trade in Nigeria and other countries, as sta...


Students mobilise for Malaria Contest with N1b Geneith health
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases, Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd has la...


Dangote Advocate end to health tourism, Emphasize local drug- production
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - President and chief executive officer of Dangote groups, Aliko Dangote, has called...


72% of Pupils in Northern States Cannot Read - UNICEF Chief
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 6, 2025 0

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concerns over the state of youngster...


Customs Seizes N1.28bn, Arrests Seven Smugglers in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 6, 2025 0

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria C...


EFCC's Crackdown on Illegal Mining, Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Lagos Court
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged two Chinese nationa...


Trump Ban Nationals from 12 Countries amid Security Concerns
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 6, 2025 0

President Donald Trump has enacted a new proclamation prohibiting citizens from 12 nations from ente...


Enugu Proposes Bill to Curb Criminal Activities Linked to Traditional Practitioners
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 6, 2025 0

ENUGU, Nigeria - Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has proposed an Executive Bill to the Enugu State H...


Bill Gates Advocates for Improved Health Care in Nigeria Amid Budget Constraints
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

US billionaire Bill Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, expressed that Nigeria’s health bu...


Controller General Issues Urgent Security Directive for Correctional Facilities
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 7, 2025 0

The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, has issued a strict order to all Zonal Co...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu