Pay-TV operators have until 3 November to respond to compliance notices issued by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) last week.
The NCC issued digital satellite television operators, MultiChoice and TopTV with notices on 13 October. In terms of the notices, the pay-TV providers will have to review their respective structures regarding what they offer customers, and make amends where deemed necessary as per the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
NCC commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala says the two entities need to revise the packages they currently offer customers in terms of section 13 of the CPA, which outlines the consumer's right to select suppliers, and includes legislation on the bundling of goods and services.
Should a restructuring of their services and packages be called for, operators would have to consider finer categorising of channels according to specific genres, and offer individual channels to customers at a set price, rather than offering only channel bouquets, as is currently the case.
MultiChoice says, at this stage, it is not in a position to elaborate on the compliance notice, but confirmed the company had received the notice. Jackie Rakitla, GM of corporate affairs at MultiChoice SA, says: “We are considering it.”
Senior manager of regulatory affairs at TopTV Thato Mahapa confirmed the receipt of a compliance notice on 13 October, and says: “We have 15 business days within which to respond to the notice, either by accepting it or lodging an objection with the tribunal. We have not yet elected an option, as we deem it not necessary at this stage.”
Mahapa adds that TopTV is in ongoing discussions with the NCC regarding the compliance notice. “[Because of the negotiations, we] are unable to comment [further] in order to avoid jeopardising the discussion.”
He says TopTV will be able to openly engage on the issue after the 15-day deadline.
MultiChoice says it will keep the public in the loop as to any developments, at the appropriate juncture.
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