MultiChoice Phases Out 100,000 Non-Secure Decoders

By Bankole Orimisan

IN a joint effort to combat piracy in Nigeria, MultiChoice, in conjunction with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has embarked on a phase out scheme of legacy non-secure decoders, and has introduced more secure decoders for the transmission of DStv signals.

About 100, 000 of the non-secure decoders were actually phased out.

Addressing the media and other stakeholders on Tuesday, in Lagos, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said "the decision to introduce a more secure decoder is in strategic alignment with the NCC's regulatory and enforcement mandate to curb anti-piracy operations across Nigeria.

   "Like the NCC, we believe that allowing piracy to thrive impacts negatively on the economic situation in the country, as it deprives many people in the value chain of their appropriate income. Accordingly, we will destroy all legacy non-secure decoders, to symbolically show that they will no longer be used, and have become obsolete."

He explained that the non-secure decoders that are being phased out are the legacy decoders with model numbers; DSD 910's, DSD 920's, DSD 933, DSD 990's, MC DSD (Single view, 660, 720 and 720i), Dual View 820, and SDPVR 3001.

  Ugbe pointed out that these decoders would be replaced with the DSD 1110, DSD 1131 and DSD 1132, 2 & 4 Tuner HDPVR's and Explora models.

  "By replacing the existing decoders with secure decoders, we are executing the NCC's mandate to reduce piracy to a minimum" he said.

   MultiChoice began a free decoder swop exercise in the last quarter of 2014, and although it was supposed to end on February 28, the free swop was extended by an additional week and eventually ended on 8 March. On the same day all signals on the non-secure decoders will be switched off. Before this date, subscribers who are still using the legacy non-secure decoders would have noticed a gradual switch off or channel disappearance from their decoders. DStv subscribers who are not able to swop their legacy decoders for free by the stated date will have to buy new decoders at their expense.

   Elaborating further on how subscribers can prevent being cut off from their favourite programs, Ugbe explained that "you can confirm your decoder model number by checking behind your decoder or calling our customer care line and providing your smartcard number to verify whether or not you will be affected by the switch off."