Mkuu Makeda, DSTV Bondeni wameshalazimishwa kutoa "La cartre channel subscriptions" kwa wateja, yaani wateja waagize wanachotaka sio kuwapa machaneli wasiyotaka kama vile "buffet menu". Lakini kumbuka kwamba hii ilitokana na "Consumer Protection Act" ya bondeni. Inavyoonekana waliomba consideration ya namna fulani, labda ndio maana wanafanya wanachofanya sasa. Sijui kama sie hapa Bongo tuna sehemu ya Act tunayoweza kutumia kuwashinikiza hawa jamaa. Angalia taarifa hapa chini;
DStv, TopTV ordered to change contracts
Cape Town The National Consumer Commission has told DStv's operator MultiChoice and TopTV's operator On Digital Media to amend their current contracts with subscribers which the commission says do not apply with South Africa's new Consumer Protection Act.
In a move that could have serious repercussions for South Africa's pay TV industry, The National Consumer Commission also wants both South African pay TV operators to break down the channels in its bouquets and give subscribers the choice of a la carte channel subscriptions.
The Commission has issued compliance notices to MultiChoice and ODM.
The National Consumer Commission wants MultiChoice and ODM to allow subscribers to pay for the specific TV channels they want, and want the DStv and TopTV channel selection to be grouped into genres.
TopTV told Channel24 on Friday that the operator can only comment at a later stage.
"We are engaging with the National Consumer Commission on some procedural aspects," said Thato Mahapa, senior manager of regulatory affairs at TopTV.
"We have not yet taken a decision or adopted a view as regards the signing of the notice or
Jackie Rakitla, general manager for corporate affairs at MultiChoice South Africa, told Channel24: "We have received a compliance notice and we are currently considering it".
South Africa's Consumer Act prohibits the bundling of services. The National Consumer Commission seems to regard the offering of separate TV channels together as a single product as tantamount to bundling services.