PUBLIC
STATEMENT
January
22nd 2015
(Approved
for Release & Publication on May 2nd 2015)
RE: Permanent cessation of My TV subscription services
in Namibia.
The Shareholders, Board of Directors, Management and
Staff of Digital Satellite Television (pty) Ltd regrettably announce the
permanent cessation of MyTV pre-paid satellite television subscription services
in Namibia. For the past 6 years MyTV was the only alternative to Multichoice’s
DSTV and the second largest Pre-paid Satellite subscription serviced in Namibia
with over 4500 subscribers from all corners of the country including 15 subscribers
in Botswana and Cameroon.
DIGISAT is the national distributor of a digital satellite television
service called My
TV, an affordably priced satellite delivered pre-paid television service that
is intended for the African family. Realistic pricing and a balanced choice of
programs were the determining factors in selecting channels for My TV . The aim is to have
something of interest for every member of the family, across the full age
spectrum. The service comprises a mix of movies, sports, music, kids, news and
general interest channels all of which can be received (in most places) on a
standard 90cm parabolic antenna (dish). My TV channels are
globally renowned leaders in family lifestyle entertainment and premiere an
exciting showcase of programming and events. My TV is an encrypted (or
scrambled) service that requires the following equipment to view The My TV
bouquet:
A
smart card 
A satellite dish 
Strong Decoder 
The My TV
satellite television service is owned and backed by Strong Technologies
l.l.c.,
of Dubai, which was set up at the beginning of 1996 as part of the Strong & Co. (Far East), Ltd.
group of companies, of Yokohama, Japan. The parent company was founded in 1868,
the group’s activities are diverse and include manufacturing and distribution
of products ranging from perfume to carbon fibre sports products, from oil
supply equipment to fabrics, from motors to satellite TV receiving equipment
and content.
Since 1998, Strong Technologies l.l.c.
has remained a major player in the satellite TV industry in the region with
over 5 million households, in the Middle East alone, equipped with a Strong
branded product. In February 2009 Mbok Investments Company Limited (MINVESTCO)
secured the Mastor Distributorship for My TV Service for the Namibian Territory
from Strong Technologies LLC and signed an agreement for marketing and
subscription management with Digital Satellite Television (pty) Ltd (DIGISAT)
as the National Distributor for My TV.
The Board of Directors denounces CRAN’s action as
being; a deliberate decision by a lone Director to shield our competitor from
competition, anti-competitive, xenophobic, a wrongful, counterproductive decision
with tragic impact on the Namibian economy and the pre-paid satellite
television sector and lastly sheer incompetence from the interim management of
CRAN which came into existence several years after My TV had been in operation.
Our offices will be permanently closed from the 1st
of March 2015. My TV’s current 4675 subscriber’s contracts are cancelled with
immediate effect and cancellation fee of N$ 1448 is due and payable immediately
as per contract. Collection of cancellation fee from all subscribers will be
enforced by legal and debt collection companies to include debt collection fees
of up to 50% of cancellation fee as stated in the subscription contract.
The existence of My TV in Namibia, the only
competition to Multichoice in Namibia, is being denied by CRAN through a wrongful
and clearly xenophobic decision denying a broadcasting license as required by
the new act. CRAN’s board wrongfully decided as follows: “DIGISAT does not comply with the provision of
Section 85 of the Act, read with regulation 10 (10) of Regulation Regarding
Transitional Procedure for Telecommunications and Broadcasting Service Licenses
and Spectrum Use Licenses. Being that DIGISAT is owned and controlled by a
Cameroonian national, In light thereof and pursuant to the provision of section
85(10) of the Act, the application for Commercial Broadcasting Services License
by Digital Satellite Television (pty) Ltd is refused, effective from date of
publication in the Government Gazette.”
As a
result of the above clearly xenophobic decision, over 30 Namibian direct and
indirect jobs are lost, over N$10 million invested by subscribers over the
years going to waste and N$10.9 million annual loss of income by DIGISAT.
Despite a recent setback through an urgent high court application DIGISAT will keep
pushing for judicial redress against CRAN’s wrongful decision. No opportunity
was afforded to DIGISAT to meet with alleged non-compliance in terms of
ownership and control, as we see for example MTN offering Namibians shares to
comply with the act.
Activation of Smart Cards can no longer be done by
DIGISAT in Namibia and subscribers have to effect international payment and get
activation from an entity outside Namibia. Mbok Investments Company in Cameroon
or any other authorized My TV dealer outside of Namibian not falling under
CRAN’s jurisdiction can activate smart cards, please consult www.mytvafrica.tv
Mr. Antoine MBOK
Director
