Controversy has continued to trail the latest
increase in subscription fees by satellite
television service provider, MultiChoice Nigeria,
operator of DSTv. But what has perhaps irked
many Nigerians is the blatant refusal by
MultiChoice to comply with a court order. Justice
Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in
Lagos had on April 2 restrained the company
from implementing the new subscription regime
pending the determination of a class-action suit
filed by two subscribers who have now filed a
contempt proceeding against the company. They
are also seeking an order mandating MultiChoice
to render account of all excess tariffs with the
particulars of such subscribers and crediting
their account against the next renewal and/or
remitting such excesses back to the customers.
We consider it the height of recklessness that a
foreign company operating in Nigeria would
disobey an order from our court which is the
only explanation to give for the fact that DSTv's
bouquets are currently being sold to subscribers
at the new rates. The decision seems to be in
line with the arrogant manner with which
MultiChoice treats its Nigerian subscribers who
practically have no other choice.
In developed climes, the mere fact that a suit
has been filed against a business concern and
the company has received notice of the pending
suit, is enough for such enterprise to refrain
from carrying out the act that is the subject of
litigation. But in Nigeria, many people and
companies act above the law because they know
they can get away with such impunity.
However, the fault is not entirely that of
MultiChoice. The Nigerian Broadcasting
Commission (NBC) authorities should be held
responsible for the exploitation of Nigerian
subscribers. First, DSTv does not have a
competitor and being a monopoly, it dictates
whatever price that suits it as long as the
customers desire its services. Two, with the
regulator either looking the other way or just
simply incompetent, MultiChoice has for years
been employing marketing strategies that kill off
other companies trying to provide similar
services to Nigerians. For instance, a product like
GO Tv was aimed at snuffing life out Startimes.
The reality today is that DSTv lacks competition
in the Nigerian market.
This brings to memory the monopoly which MTN
Communications enjoyed before the emergence
of GLOBACOM in the GSM arena. The impression
given by MTN then was that per-second billing
was impracticable. But GLO proved otherwise
and the rest is history. The lesson here is that
except the sleeping regulator which feigned
ignorance while some television channels were in
breach of broadcasting codes during the last
presidential election campaign wakes up from its
slumber, DSTv will continue to exploit its
monopoly status in Nigeria.
Indeed, to confirm NBC's seeming incompetence,
the commission admitted receiving several
complaints from DSTv's subscribers while
expressing displeasure at the increase in
subscriptions. But it did not provide any solution
to the challenge at hand. What should not be
lost here is the fact that world over, private
companies are not known to be nice to the
people they render services to no matter how
they pretend: their motivation is profit.
The companies have higher incentives to exploit
customers when they have market power and
there are no strong antitrust laws. However, it is
the duty of regulators such as the NBC to
provide checks and balances, including providing
incentives to deepen competition and
investigating and punishing abuse if market
power in markets prone to natural monopolies.
Unfortunately, our regulators most often look the
other way or lack the disposition and capacity
for smart regulation while the citizens they are
paid to protect get a raw deal.
Subscribers can protest or hire lawyers to file as
many class-action suits as they like but there
will be no real respite until the NBC wakes up to
break the monopoly of DSTv. Source - http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/time-to-break-dstvs-monopoly/207308/

Hi time to send them back 2 that X country who dont like us

Consat Set to break the monopoly.

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As long as Dstv have the monopoly right to EPL, Nigerians will continue to patronize them

Time is now

Raiders:
As long as Dstv have the monopoly right to EPL, Nigerians will continue to patronize them

4get it o; even if dem lose epl right, dat doesn't stop dem. Take it or leave it!

safex:
4get it o; even if dem lose epl right, dat doesn't stop dem. Take it or leave it!

nobody will patronize dstv if they lose EPL right. Why do you think HITV close up in 2008. It was because they lost the epl right. Dstv lost many customers when they lost the epl right for a yr to HITV

Raiders:
nobody will patronize dstv if they lose EPL right. Why do you think HITV close up in 2008. It was because they lost the epl right. Dstv lost many customers when they lost the epl right for a yr to HITV

Na so o

PerfectFortune:
Consat Set to break the monopoly.

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Consat has no weight.