Cable operators accuse NCC of rip-off

LOCAL investors have accused the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of colluding with foreign broadcast outfits to rip-off the Nigerian economy by not providing a level playing ground between local and foreign competitors.

The local investors under the Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria, ACON, accused  NCC of  selective enforcement of its regulations in a manner favouring dominance of foreign programmes, encouraging loss of national income and eroding local culture and values.

ACON during a public outcry anchored by Kunle Osisanya-Afolabi and hosted by Chief Joe Unuame, Chairman of Warri based Worldlink Communications Limited, said  “It’s a surprise that the Nigerian airwaves has progressively surrendered to foreign control for commercial reasons without provision for sustainable growth of the local industry especially at the level of Terrestrial Pay TV.

“In the envisaged merger of Nigerian Broadcasting  Corporation, NBC and NCC, we urge the authorities to value broadcasting as a veritable tool for championing the sovereignty of our country and platform for promoting our cultures. Therefore,  be mindful of its sensitivities in considering its conditions of acquisition and operation.

“Cable operators are taken aback by DSTV/Multichoice’s roll out of cable service in their GOTV platform despite being licenced for mobile TV service. We wonder if separate laws or operating policies are made for certain operators while the local industry is stifled. We detest this unfair treatment and call on the authorities to immediately stop the GOTV service as it is being presently deployed and commissioned in Nigeria.”

ACON senses that foreign operators are being sponsored by their various home governments in post-colonial move to take over the economy with the regulators turning blind eye to these remote moves and is therefore, demanding a level playing ground from the regulators as a way of curbing the foreign dominance and loss of national income in order to encourage the growth of local industry.

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