Friday, March 29, 2024

COVID-19: DSTV owners, MultiChoice shun subscribers, donate N1.2bn to FG, Lagos, TV shows

Despite Nigerians’ plea for a slash in monthly subscription fees amid the coronavirus crisis, DSTV owners, MultiChoice appears to have shunned the request.

Many Nigerians at home and on social media have been begging MultiChoice to reward their loyalty by giving them either free subscription for a certain period or reduction in rates.

On Wednesday, the company announced N250million to the Federal and Lagos State governments to support its efforts to curtail COVID-19.

MultiChoice was, however, silent on any kind of offer for the millions of Nigerians who keep the company in business.

Rather, it said it had committed funds to government, TV announcements as well as producers, cast and crew of shows on its platform.

A statement by Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, gave a breakdown of MultiChoice’s contribution in the fight against COVID-19.

They include, “Cash support of N200million and N50million to the Federal and Lagos State Governments respectively, the donation of 10,000 certified test kits to the NCDC, Public Service Announcement COVID-19 prevention tips in English, Pidgin, Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa languages as well as approved inventory worth over N550million highlighting the NCDC’s COVID-19 Helplines and PSAs on more than 10 channels across DStv and GOtv.”

The statement quoted Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria, Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), as saying: “We are donating 10,000 certified test kits to support the great work being done by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

“We are also contributing N250million to the Federal and Lagos State Governments’ efforts in providing adequate healthcare delivery facilities to fight COVID-19.”

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He expressed hope that the contributions to NCDC, the Federal and State Governments, alongside other donations, will go a long way towards effective management of the outbreak.

The statement further quoted John Ugbe, CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, as confirming the donation of N550million worth of inventory to public service announcements.

“Also, the creative industry salary payment of up to N400million will offer a much-needed financial reprieve for producers, actors, and technical talent currently contracted to MultiChoice Nigeria, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic”, Ugbe said.

There are over 150 cases of coronavirus in Nigeria. Two deaths have been recorded.

The pandemic, which broke out in Wuhan, China, has killed over 42,000 people globally in three months

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Signature TV
Signature TVhttps://signaturetv.isitedigitals.com
Signature TV is a multi-media company, owners and operators of signaturetv.org and producers of The Signature Show on AIT and Corruption Tori. Our programmes are broadcast on the AIT Network and on Seven NTA stations across the country. We are content providers for a number of television networks and some State TV stations, with a respected 24/7, high online and offline followership. We are also Communications/Media Consultants to MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation and OSIWA.

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