The House of Representatives moved on
Tuesday to contain the “arbitrary” subscription rates charged by
Multichoice for its Digital Satellite Television services in the
country.
The House observed that high
pricing by Dstv had made access to its “premium” programming difficult
for the majority of Nigerians.
It
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.”
A bill to stop such stranglehold on the industry passed second reading at the House on Tuesday.
The
bill, which was sponsored by a member from Adamawa State, Mrs. Aisha
Dahiru-Modibbo, 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.”
Leading the debate on the
bill, Dahiru-Modibbo said while Nigeria was not against foreign
participation in the local economy but such involvement should not be to
the detriment of Nigerians.
She
noted that there were indigenous firms which could also render premium
satellite broadcast programming to Nigerians, but complained that
“deliberate actions” by monopolies stifled the firms.
“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,” she stated.
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.
“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?” Ogor asked.
He
cited Kenya as one of the countries that had taken measures to contain
the excesses of Dstv and other foreign digital satellite TV service
providers.
Seasoned broadcaster and
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
lent her voice to the debate, supporting a call for more
subscriber-friendly pricing in Nigeria.
SOURCE: Punchng.com
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