by Thinus Ferreira
Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to sublicence some of its DStv TV channels to Metro Digital which asked MultiChoice for over 50 of its TV channels, including SuperSport and English Premier League (EPL) content.
In a letter sent on 25 October 2022 to MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe, George Obi, NBC head of legal, writes that MultiChoice Nigeria is "hereby directed to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended pursuant to Metro Digital's request for channels sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal".
Metro TV has been embroiled in a three year legal tussle with MultiChoice Nigeria to force the pay-TV operator to resell some of its content and TV channels to other operators.
Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, Metro Digital managing director, says "The growth of the broadcast industry in Nigeria has been limited due to monopolistic practices of the dominant player in the industry. All indigenous companies licensed in the last 20 years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity and warehousing".
"The federal government of Nigeria, realising the inherent danger, outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity, through amendments to the Broadcast Code. Furthermore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees."
"The end of monopoly in Nigeria's broadcasting industry will enhance competition, innovation and quality of service delivery. The industry will experience rapid growth and consumers will benefit from the competitive pricing that follows."
Ifeanyi Nwafor says it commends the NBC for "repositioning of the industry and ending the monopolistic practices that have held the industry down for a long time".
