Nigerian CommunicationWeek

DStv Unscathed by Attacks on Many Fronts

Multichoice, owners of DStv and GOtv is being attacked on all fronts as the pay-tv operator grows stronger with better content and constant evolution.

 

From the home country to Nigeria; to the threat over-the-top (OTT) services; and to new pay-tv operators moonlighting as competitions; Multichoice is under a deluge of attacks.

 

In its home country- the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) plans to break DStv’s monopoly.

 

According to ICASA, as a result of MultiChoice’s dominance, it is proposing various license conditions to address the market failure; claiming support from stakeholders to reduce contract duration; split rights; unbundle; and so on.

 

In Nigeria, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a final order to MultiChoice Nigeria for showing alleged bad faith in enforcing a mutual agreement on tariffs review and other services.

 

Recall that in July 2018, MultiChoice announced the upward review of the monthly subscription rates for its cable television systems, DSTV and GoTV, with effect from August 1, 2018.

 

But the Consumer Protection agency had kicked against the review and ordered DSTV to immediately reverse the decision.

 

Also, in Nigeria there is increasing call on the pay-tv operator to implement pay-per-view method of subscription- a call which Multichoice said it will answer presently.

 

Perhaps, one unseen threat to pay-tv business is so-called over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix.

 

These services have social implication, economic implication, security implication and if they are not licensed, that means they are not regulated and if they are not regulated, there is no limit or scope to what they can do.

 

And no control over ther services and content they can provide.

 

Only recently, NextTv, a new media and entertainment platform, a joint venture partnership between Nigus International, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) said it was set to challenge the monopoly enjoyed by Multichoice.

 

But there have been many before NextTv including the much hyped TSTV which was dead on arrival.

 

To many Multichoice’s resilience in the face of these challenge evoke both envy and admiration.

 

Exit mobile version