The Senate, while specifically kicking against increase in tariffs by MultiChoice Nigeria, has directed pay-tv service providers to cease the increase in their package prices.
The upper chamber has also set in motion machinery to probe Multi-Choice, owners of DSTV and GOTV Satellite’s decoders, over alleged arbitrary price hike of monthly subscription of various bouquets on their platforms.
The probe is designed to ascertain the constraints that have made it difficult for the Pay-TV providers to introduce Pay-Per-View for subscribers in the market, especially with the pricing activities of DStv (MultiChoice Nigeria) in Nigeria to bring them in line with international practice.
Consequently, the Senate constituted a seven-man Ad-hoc Committee to probe the tariff hike introduced by pay-tv service providers giving it one month to report at plenary.
The Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to direct pay-tv providers to introduce a pay-per-view model of subscription as against the monthly prepaid model presently in place.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, urged the committee to find out how other countries are billed by pay-tv service providers.
Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion entitled: “Nigerians dumbfounded, outraged over Pay-Tv Tariff Hikes, demand for Pay-Per-View subscription model” was sponsored by Patrick Abba Moro (Benue South Senatorial District).
