Communications Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Digicel Fiji has made several statements in regards to the acquisition of Sky Pacific Service, prior to being issued the appropriate license by the Government.
Sayed-Khaiyum says as a foreign based company, Digicel must obtain a license to provide subscription based pay television services in line with the Media Industry Development Decree.
He says Digicel has applied for a licence to the Ministry of Communications, however this license has not been approved for issue.
He says the license is being considered by the Ministry and a decision will be made in due course and until such time, no statements should be made regarding the operational control of or any content to be shown by the Sky Pacific Service.
Sayed-Khaiyum says it is premature for Digicel to announce any programming or content materials before the issuance of a license.
The Communications Minister adds any such statement can prejudice and pre‑empt Government’s authority in this matter and is highly inappropriate.
Meanwhile the Consumer Council of Fiji has raised serious concern that Fiji Television Limited and Digicel Fiji have not disclosed pertinent issues affecting consumers in the transfer of Sky Pacific from Fiji Television Limited to Digicel Fiji.
Council Chief Executive, Premila Kumar says customers have signed up service contracts with Sky Pacific and it appears many are in the dark about the impending changes following Digicel Fiji’s takeover of the service.
She is questioning whether this means that paid Sky subscribers will now have to fork out more money to buy an antenna to watch Fiji One.
Kumar says Fiji TV must be held accountable as a lot of people outside the reach of free to air channels had bought the Sky Pacific dish just to watch Fiji One.
Digicel Fiji sent out an email to customers yesterday saying that Fiji One and the Pacific Channel will be removed from Sky Pacific’s channels today as the current law requires Digicel to remove all local content from the programming when Digicel takes operational control.
Under the Media Industry Development Amendment Act, no local content including local news can be shown on a Pay TV service run by a foreign owned company or media organization.
After the email was sent out that Fiji One will be shut down on the Sky Pacific channel from today, people who have the Sky Pacific satellite dish to watch Fiji One have called us up saying why this is being done as they cannot watch Fiji One with the antenna in their area.
People have called us from parts of Valelevu, Pacific Harbour, Wainibuka, parts of Levuka town, parts of Kadavu including Tavuki, Vunisea and Yawe, and areas in Savusavu and Bua.
During the announcement of the sale of Sky Pacific last month, Digicel Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Darren McLean had stated that they will follow the law when they take over the business after regulatory approvals are given.
Under the law, any person intending to provide subscription based pay television services may do so provided that person has obtained a special licence approved by the Minister for Communications, which shall be subject to conditions as determined by the Minister.
Darren McLean is yet to comment on the Minister’s statement.
Fiji Television Limited Director, Nouzab Fareed has referred all questions to Digicel Fiji and the Communications Minister.
