Broadcaster Faults House over Demand for Pay-As-You-Go

A content creator and broadcaster, Abayomi Adeoye-Balogun, has branded the House of Representatives as confused over its call to the Federal Government to compel pay television operators to adopt Pay-As-You-Go billing model and reduce tariff on their services.

Shaba, who spoke in Lagos yesterday, said the House appears confused and is indulging in legislative overreach, noting that there is no provision in the country’s laws that empowers the Federal Government to determine billing models for and prices charged by private operatives.

The content provider argued that pay television companies are private businesses and are free to determine their subscription models as well as charge tariffs that are reflective of the economic situation in which they operate.

He noted that pay television is no essential commodity, public utility or inalienable human right, but a service for which subscribers have to pay what is charged.

“The legislators are confused. That is what the resolution passed indicates. They’re just trying to look good in the eyes of Nigerians.

“Pay TV services are no essential commodity, social service or basic freedom. They attract charges decided by operators, who must have done the math, putting many things into consideration.

Operators also decide the billing model, not the government,” he said.

He stated that House’s confusion can also be seen where it adduced reasons for pay television tariff increases to increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 5% to 7.5%, dwindling value of the naira, which naturally must have affected the cost of broadcast content and infrastructure, inflation and operations in general.