Maduabuchi Idam, an activist lawyer, has issued a 30-day ultimatum to MultiChoice Communications, owners of DStv and GOtv resort to ‘read only during viewing.’
Idam threatened to institute legal action against Multichoice and other television networks if they failed to do so.
He said it was exploitative that Multichoice and other satellite stations would disconnect their subscribers once their subscription ends whether they use it or not.
The Abuja-based activist lawyer in a pre-action notice wondered why Multichoice and other satellite stations fail to roll over subscriptions not used.
According to Idam: “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.”
