By Franklin Alli

Consumer Protection Council, CPC, said yesterday, it has reformed the way pay television companies do business in Nigeria, and assuring that henceforth consumers shall enjoy value for money for services provided by companies in the sector.

Accordingly, the Council has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to comply with the reform by not suspending service when consumers are away and to release free-to-air channels even when subscription expires.

In a statement, Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki CPC said that this was the outcome of the allegations of violations of consumer rights by the operator of Digital Satellite Broadcast Television (DStv) service to consumers in Nigeria.

According to the statement, the Council also ordered MultiChoice to pay compensation across board to consumers for lost viewing time, introduction of local toll free lines; and reasonable equitable spread of popular sports channels, among others.

“The multinational pay-media company is also required to present written assurances in line with Section 10 of the Council’s enabling law that it will not engage in any conduct, which is detrimental to the interest of consumers.

In the same vein, the company shall for 18 months from the date of the orders, subject its processes to the Council’s inspection to ensure compliance with the directives contained in the orders.

During the course of the investigation, the Council observed that the company’s billing system, whereby “billing is not contemporaneous with the provision of service” was not in the best interest of consumers and therefore ordered MultiChoice to install a billing system that ensures billing starts with the provision of service.

The pay-television company was also ordered to within 90 days provide across board compensation to its subscribers, considering the fact that many of them have over time lost legitimate and paid viewing time by its conduct of not restoring service contemporaneously after payment as well as other instances of disruptions.