Tanzania Moves To Suspend DSTV Over ‘Free to Air’ Channels

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority intends to suspend all licenses issued to video entertainment service provider MultiChoice, following the latter failure to comply with license conditions and inclusion of Free to Air’ TV channels in its subscription packages.

Under the licensing provisions, ‘free to air’ channels are supposed to remain free even when one’s subscription had expired but on DSTV once one’s susbscription ends, all channels including the ‘free to air’ channels are blocked and the Tanzania authorities find this unlawful and want it ended.

DSTV has the same policy in Uganda unlike other pay TV operators.

In a statement , the authority stated that it had required the licensee to abide by the License conditions, by not including Free to Air Television channels as part its services on subscription channels. MultiChoice has however continued to offer the free to air channels following an investigation by the regulator.

“Now therefore since MultiChoice Tanzania Limited has breached the law and has continued to include Free to Air TV channels as part of its services on subscription channels, in exercise of its powers the Authority hereby notifies the general public that it intends to suspend all licenses issued to MultiChoice Tanzania Limited.” reads the statement.

The regulator had in 2015 renewed the National Support Services for subscription content services for provision of support services for subscription content services by satellite in Tanzania issued to MultiChoice.