By Ochiaka Ugwu
The licensed terrestrial pay TV operators are genuine and not criminals as some people may like to brand them, the General Secretary of Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Kalada Wilson has said.
In a press statement released recently in Abuja by the Association and signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Kalada Wilson it noted that attention of Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria (ACON) has been drawn to an article on a national daily wherein, a full page was taken out by a public Affairs Commentator who wrote from Benin and called members of the association criminals.
According to the statement, “In the said article, he made strenuous efforts at calling the Nigerian, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Licensed Terrestrial Pay TV operators’ criminals, thieves and pirates
“In the business of Satellite Broadcasting, division is made of the mainly Direct-To-Home satellite services providers and the terrestrial pay-tv service providers who re-broadcast signals from the satellite content acquired.
“Whereas, the DSTV players cover a wide expanse including countries, the terrestrial pay tv operators are city based in Nigeria.
“Therefore, Satellite licensed fees are much higher than that of terrestrial fees. The latter group would normally acquire broadcast content from the satellite operators worldwide. So far as you can receive signals of any content from any part of the world, you could approach the owners and do business with them”.
It stated that in Nigeria, they were glad that the Consumer Protection Commission has been expanded to take on additional responsibilities that can help ensure that the playing field is level and no monopoly exists.
