*Orders company to provide subscribers one-month free viewing time
By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, has fined the prominent Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DSTV, GOTV, N150 million for disobeying court order.
The tribunal, also ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.
A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu, gave the verdict on Friday.
Barrister Festus Onifade, had secured a court order stopping Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice.
He claimed the 8-day notice given to customers for the price increase was inadequate.
The plaintiff maintained that the Pay-TV unjustly increased subscription fees without one month notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders.
In his defence, Counsel for Multichoice, contended that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues.
He posited that Onifade focused on the inadequate notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.
Meanwhile, July 3, has been fixed for hearing of the substantive suit.
