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Multichoice Nigeria is doing all to ensure service is not cut off by 2019

The company said it is doing all to ensure its operating licences are renewed by the broadcasting agency in Nigeria.

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According to earlier reports, the operations of DSTV and GOtv would come to an end in 2019 as their license which expires in June 2019 would not be renewed.

The license issued to MultiChoice in 2014 is not reportedly in line with the Digital Switch Over (DSO) White Paper and that's why it wouldn't be renewed.

In an exclusive statement sent to Pulse on Monday, February 12, 2018,  MultiChoice says it complies with the regulatory requirements and applicable laws on TV broadcasting.

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“GOtv is provided under a fully licenced and registered entity in Nigeria, and this license comes up for renewal in March 2019" the statement reads.

"As a law-abiding and committed Nigerian operator which has fulfilled (and continues to comply with) all regulatory requirements and applicable laws, it is not clear how or why this license would not be renewed, and as such the company will investigate further in the best interests of the many customers it serves in the market" it further says.

The statement adds that "MultiChoice remains committed to providing its customers with a wide variety of quality entertainment through the usual best standards."

The Digital Switch Over (DSO) White Paper is a policy, regulatory framework and a broadcasting model for the migration process from analogue TV broadcasting to digital TV broadcasting.

It was created in 2009 by a Presidential Advisory Committee to smoothen the transition from analogue to digital. The committee was created because Nigeria had signed an international and regional agreement to conclude the digital switchover by June 17, 2012.

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Unfortunately, the government did not release the white paper for three years which made Nigeria miss the deadline. A new deadline was moved to June 17, 2015.

The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) could not meet the second deadline due to a shortage of funds as the government failed to release funds necessary for the migration.

A third deadline was set on  June 17, 2017. Less than 95% coverage has been achieved since the last deadline.

On Monday, November 27, 2017,  the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu said that the digital switchover white paper would be implemented.

He said this during the 68th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja.

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MultiChoice entered into the Nigerian space in 1994. In 1995 it launched DSTV (Digital Satellite Television), a direct broadcast satellite service for the Sub-Saharan African market.

In 2011 MultiChoice launched the GOtv digital platform, a pay television offering on digital terrestrial television (DTT).

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