Maduabuchi Idam, an activist lawyer, has given Multi-Choice Communications a 30-day deadline to restrict DSTV and GOTV to read only when viewing.
Idam threatened to sue Multi-Choice and other television networks if they did not implement the ‘ read-only when viewing’ policy.
He considered it exploitative because Multi-Choice and other satellite channels would disconnect their users regardless of whether they used it or not.
The activist lawyer from Abuja queried why Multi-Choice and other satellite broadcasters do not roll over unused subscriptions.
“Pre-action Notice, I find it oppressive and exploitative for Multi-Choice to disconnect subscribers of DSTV and GOTV at the end of every subscription period, whether or not customers ever used their subscription.
“Totally unacceptable is that they direct their designated agents to phone customers and demand them to renew their subscription or stand disconnected, even when the same was never in use during the subscription period.
“More exploitative is the fact that DSTV, GOTV and indeed all the digital satellite providers in Nigeria, do not indicate how they arrive at their billing, nor do they roll over subscriptions that were not in use. Hence, subjecting users to arbitrary and unfair charges.
“Based on the foregoing, I issued DSTV and GOTV and indeed all the digital satellite providers, thirty (30) days to regulate their television network to read only during viewing. Failure to do so, I shall immediately take action against Multi-Choice TV and every other Television Network in Nigeria, Idam said.”
cc: Daily Post Ng
