Ololade Adeyanju/
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained why the Federal Government is taking steps to liberalize broadcasting in Nigeria and end all forms of monopoly which he described as detrimental to the actualization of the immense potential in the industry.
He spoke in Lagos on Sunday.
Mohammed recalled that he, on October 10, inaugurated the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Reform Implementation Committee to, among others, implement reforms to end monopoly in the sector.
The committee was also mandated to implement the review of National Broadcasting Code and extant broadcasting laws to reflect stiffer penalties for violators of broadcasting regulations as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He told journalists at a press briefing: “A situation where a few people corner a chunk of the industry to the detriment of others, especially our teeming and talented youths, is totally unacceptable and untenable.
“Monopolies stunt growth, kill talents and discourage creativity.
“The clearest example of the creative energy that can be unleashed when a monopoly is totally broken can be seen in the telecommunications industry.”
The minister added: “Of course, the broadcast industry has also been liberalized. But any vestige of monopoly is antithetical to the liberalization of the broadcast industry and must be dismantled.
“In the case of Nigeria, it’s the monopoly of content that breeds anti-competition practices.
“You cannot use your financial, or whatever power to corner and hold on tight to a chunk of the market, preventing others from having access.
“Such monopolies are crumbling everywhere in the world and Nigeria cannot be left out.”
With the implementation of the committee’s mandate, television viewers, especially lovers of sports may witness an end to MultiChoice’s monopoly on the live airing of high-profile sporting events.
High-profile sporting events, especially for well-loved sports, particularly soccer, are currently only available to subscribers of DSTV.
Specifically, DSTV has the monopoly on the live airing of English Premier League and UEFA Champions League in Nigeria.
A reliable source in the ministry said that the era of liberalisation is, therefore, expected to witness the sporting events being accessible to other pay-TVs and free to air platforms in the country.
It will be recalled that Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) had taken a similar step by unveiling Draft Sports Broadcasting Services Amendment Regulations 2018.
The bill is aimed at making big sporting events accessible for free to all citizens of South Africa.
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