The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) has given the federal government and Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) 20 days ultimatum to order South African cable service provider, Multichoice Limited, to revert its increased tariffs on DSTV and GOTV bouquets which commenced on June 1, 2020.
In a statement yesterday, the president of the association, Hon. Sina Bilesanmi, warned that the 190.8 million members of the association would embark on mass protests across Nigeria if the tariffs are not reverted.
Following public outcry over charges, President Muhammadu Buhari is reportedly considering compelling Multichoice to implement pay-per-view options to subscribers in the country.
The Acting Director-General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Amstrong Idachaba announced this while briefing members of an ad-hoc committee looking into the hike of DSTV tariffs in Nigeria.
According to Idachaba, Multichoice has been directed to suspend the new tariffs.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the sporting right monopoly enjoyed by DSTV would be broken by the federal government, adding that the broadcasting code would be amended to prevent MultiChoice from monopolising its channels and the contents of broadcast.
Mohammed further disclosed that his office had signed a code to break the sole right to cable service broadcast in Nigeria being enjoyed by Multichoice in the country.
