Government says the decision by MultiChoice Africa Holdings to discontinue carriage of CAMNET TV on its DSTV and GOTV platforms is purely contractual.
Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana adds that the investigations carried out by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has revealed that CAMNET TV consistently failed to meet its contractual obligation with MultiChoice.
He further said CAMNET TV also failed to meet the agreed-upon performance standards outlined in the Channel Distribution Agreement (CDA).
ZANIS reports that Mr Kawana disclosed this during a media briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr Kawana explained that the investigations were necessitated after an appeal to President Hakainde Hichilema, by the Widow to the late CAMNET proprietor, Mosses Chiluba to intervene in the termination of the station’s channel from DSTV and GOTV platforms.
“ It was at that time that President Hichilema tasked the Ministry of Information and Media to deal with the matter conclusively,” he said.
Mr Kawana stressed that lack of feed availability and on-air hours resulted in service quality decline, a matter which raised concern to MultiChoice Africa Holdings.
“After a thorough investigation, which included meetings with CAMNET TV and MultiChoice Africa Holdings representatives, the CCPC has confirmed that the decision by MultiChoice Africa Holdings to discontinue carriage of CAMNET TV on their DSTV and GOTV platforms is purely contractual and that there was no evidence to support any anti-competitive trading practices by MultiChoice Africa Holdings in the pay television market,” He said.
Mr Kawana pointed out that from the report issued by CCPC it indicated that MultiChoice Africa Holdings repeatedly communicated its concerns to CAMNET TV station but the issues remained unresolved for years.
He said the government has advised CAMNET TV to either negotiate a revised contract or explore the option of using other service providers such asTopStar and Muvi TV.
“we advise CAMNET TV to either negotiate a revised contract or explore the option of using other service providers such asTopStar and Muvi TV,” He advised.
