DStv, TopTV to fight consumer commission

4 Nov 2011

Pay-TV broadcasters MultiChoice, owner of DStv, and On Digital Media (ODM), which owns TopTV, have signalled their intention to fight a proposal by the National Consumer Commission that would, if implemented, force them to offer consumers the ability to pick and choose the channels they want to subscribe to.

The broadcasters had until Wednesday, 2 November 2011, to respond to compliance notices served on them by the commission, which wants them to offer a la carte channel options. At the moment, consumers have to buy channel bouquets, such as DStv Premium, which offer them a range of channels for a fixed monthly fee.

ODM CEO Vino Govender says the company will "repudiate" the commission's "line of action" because it threatens its business model and could, if imposed, force the only pay-TV alternative to incumbent MultiChoice out of business.

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About Duncan McLeod: @mcleodd

Award-wining Duncan McLeod is the founder and editor of TechCentral (wwwTechCentral.co.za, @TechCentral]]), South Africa's latest technology news site offering breaking news, in-depth analysis and opinion that launched in September 2009. Before that, he was associate editor at the Financial Mail/FM. Contact Duncan on email duncan at techcentral dot co dot za and follow him on Twitter at @mcleodd.