MultiChoice’s DStv has been fined $14 million (R180 million) in
South Africa for price fixing. The satellite television’s Media
Sales division was found by South Africa’s Competition Commission
to have contravened the country’s Competition Act in relation to
“price fixing and fixing of trading conditions”.
In Nigeria, which is one of the South African brand’s biggest
markets, DSTV has been around for about 22 years. However, the
company has often been in the news mostly for ripping Nigerians off
with its inflexible subscription conditions and unfriendly quality
of service (QoS) which could be attributed to its monopolistic
status in the Nigerian market.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives had in April, 2017 instructed
its Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and
Values to investigate Multichoice Nigeria’s ‘exorbitant charges’
for its DStv and GOtv packages. In May 2017, Multichoice Nigeria
increased its prices by 5% on all its packages, after it had
increased it prices by more than 20% earlier.
The Chairman of DSTV Nigeria, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsaya is also
being questioned for his shady practices in Nigeria and GoTv
transmission circumvention of licensed digital switch over, DSO
providers, ITS and Pinnacle communications in collusion with Emeka
MBA, former National Broadcasting Commission DG. The transmission
circumventions are currently being reversed by the current DG NBC,
Modibo Kawu
In South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of SA
(ICASA) investigated allegations that MultiChoice exercised undue
influence to change government policy on digital migration.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which lodged the complaint last
November, confirmed ICASA conducted an inquiry into payments made
by MultiChoice to news channel ANN7 and public broadcaster,
SABC.
Last year, furore erupted amid allegations the pay-TV company
sought to pay the SABC R100 million a year for its 24-hour news
channel in exchange for the public broadcaster’s political
influence over digital migration.
MultiChoice has maintained the payments were above board, with
its board announcing it will also conduct its own investigation
pertaining to the alleged dubious payments.
In a statement, the DA’s shadow minister of communications
Phumzile Van Damme reveals ICASA confirmed in writing that the
matter has been referred to its compliance and consumer affairs
division for investigation.
The DA is pleased that ICASA has agreed the payments require
investigation, says Van Damme in a statement.
She explains: “South Africa deserves to know whether the
payments were indeed above board, as MultiChoice has
maintained.
“The DA believes that while companies like MultiChoice should be
allowed the space to do business and create much-needed employment,
their conduct must at all times be within the bounds of the law, in
line with business ethics and in an environment where competition
is not stifled.
“There is no issue with companies lobbying for policy positions
through debate, but a situation where policy is bought cannot be
allowed. It is tantamount to policy capture.”
MultiChoice’s DStv has been fined $14 million (R180 million) in
South Africa for price fixing. The satellite television’s Media
Sales division was found by South Africa’s Competition Commission
to have contravened the country’s Competition Act in relation to
“price fixing and fixing of trading conditions”.
In Nigeria, which is one of the South African brand’s biggest
markets, DSTV has been around for about 22 years. However, the
company has often been in the news mostly for ripping Nigerians off
with its inflexible subscription conditions and unfriendly quality
of service (QoS) which could be attributed to its monopolistic
status in the Nigerian market.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives had in April, 2017 instructed
its Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and
Values to investigate Multichoice Nigeria’s ‘exorbitant charges’
for its DStv and GOtv packages. In May 2017, Multichoice Nigeria
increased its prices by 5% on all its packages, after it had
increased it prices by more than 20% earlier.
The Chairman of DSTV Nigeria, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsaya is also
being questioned for his shady practices in Nigeria and GoTv
transmission circumvention of licensed digital switch over, DSO
providers, ITS and Pinnacle communications in collusion with Emeka
MBA, former National Broadcasting Commission DG. The transmission
circumventions are currently being reversed by the current DG NBC,
Modibo Kawu
In South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of SA
(ICASA) investigated allegations that MultiChoice exercised undue
influence to change government policy on digital migration.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which lodged the complaint last
November, confirmed ICASA conducted an inquiry into payments made
by MultiChoice to news channel ANN7 and public broadcaster,
SABC.
Last year, furore erupted amid allegations the pay-TV company
sought to pay the SABC R100 million a year for its 24-hour news
channel in exchange for the public broadcaster’s political
influence over digital migration.
MultiChoice has maintained the payments were above board, with
its board announcing it will also conduct its own investigation
pertaining to the alleged dubious payments.
In a statement, the DA’s shadow minister of communications
Phumzile Van Damme reveals ICASA confirmed in writing that the
matter has been referred to its compliance and consumer affairs
division for investigation.
The DA is pleased that ICASA has agreed the payments require
investigation, says Van Damme in a statement.
She explains: “South Africa deserves to know whether the
payments were indeed above board, as MultiChoice has
maintained.
“The DA believes that while companies like MultiChoice should be
allowed the space to do business and create much-needed employment,
their conduct must at all times be within the bounds of the law, in
line with business ethics and in an environment where competition
is not stifled.
“There is no issue with companies lobbying for policy positions
through debate, but a situation where policy is bought cannot be
allowed. It is tantamount to policy capture.”