The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has directed Multichoice Nig. Limited to sublicense some of its channels to Metro Digital based on the provisions of the National Broadcasting Code as amended. This is pursuant to a judgment of the Appeal Court delivered on July 13th, 2022.
In the letter dated October 25, 2022 addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice and signed by George Obi, Head of legal of NBC on behalf of the Director General, NBC stated the following: "You are hereby directed to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended pursuant to Metrodigital's request for channel sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal."
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 over twenty years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity, warehousing, etc.
The federal govermnent of Nigeria realizing the danger and daunting challenges posed by these monopolistic practices took steps to address the problem through the amendment to the broadcast code.
The code outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity. Furtherrnore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees.
In tune with the foregoing, the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, in response to the appeal filed by Metro Digital Limited, ordered the regulatory body, NBC to execute its statutory functions in accordance with the provisions of the code. We are glad to announce today that NBC has complied with the order of the court.
The end of monopoly in Nigerian 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.
We commend and appreciate the role played by the Federal government, the minister for information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and NBC towards the repositioning of the industry and end the monopolistic practices that have held the industry for a long time.
We also like to commend the Nigerian judiciary for the thorough and painstaking job to ensure sanity and a level playing field in the Nigeria broadcasting industry.
God Bless Nigeria.
Thank you for listening
Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor
MD
Metro Digital
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