In Nigeria, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has threatened to impose a region-wide boycott of DSTV if its parent company, MultiChoice, does not reconsider its position and consider transmitting northern-based television channels. MultiChoice is the parent company of the DSTV and GOTV subscription television brands.
The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) had scheduled a meeting with DSTV on March 18, 2021, after receiving a letter of complaint from CNG on January 10, 2021, over the non-inclusion of Northern-based television stations on the DSTV platform. As a result, DStv was asked to reconsider its position in carrying northern-based television stations that could follow the established procedures.
However, in a statement made in Abuja, CNG spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman expressed regret that MultiChoice has neglected to maintain their end of the agreement five months after the meeting. CNG urged NBC to take steps to ensure that MultiChoice keeps to the obligations made at their last meeting before the coalition pursues its next course of action, which might include enforcing a regional boycott.
While DStv asked the coalition to submit a list of five qualifying television stations from the North for consideration by MultiChoice, which it did immediately, MultiChoice is yet to fulfil its part of the agreement.
“By doing so, the CNG seeks to remind the NBC that it must act to ensure that MultiChoice honours the commitment made at that meeting before adopting the next course of action, which may include enforcing a regional boycott. While we wait for an update on the situation from you, Sir, we remain faithful in your commitment as always,” the statement read in part.
