The Association of Viewing Centres of Nigeria (ASVON), Oyo State Chapter, on Tuesday, stormed the office of DSTV at Onireke, Ibadan to express their dissatisfaction at what they describe as the unjustified deductions in their DSTV Bouquet accounts.

The protesters who were bearing placards also stated that in spite of the fact that they pay their monthly subscription for their DSTV decoders, their accounts are usually debited without reason, adding that on Saturday, 9^th April, all the decoders were disconnected, crippling their businesses for that day.

They further complained about the poor network services provided by DSTV which according to them, is a big challenge to the viewing centres as the incessant break in transmission experienced while showing football matches to their customers usually lead to complaints.

The aggrieved group added that as result of the poor transmission services they experience while showing football matches, their customers who patronise their viewing centres have resorted to vandalising their centres when they cannot get their money’s worth.

Speaking to CEOAfrica, one of the protesters, Mr Oladipo Abiodun who has a viewing centre said “We pay N17, 250 as subscription every month. However, by March when we wanted to pay, we were told to go but surprisingly on Saturday, our decoders were disconnected.”

Another protester, Mr Adebowale said “they told us to pay for debts we did not owe by debiting our account unnecessarily. I have three decoders and my accounts for the three decoders have been debited.”

Also speaking to CEOAfrica, another protester, Mr Oladejo Ahmed said “When we were paying N17, 250, we were not enjoying good services. Now they have announced that by 1st of May, they will increase the charges to N22, 500. We appeal to DSTV to reduce the charges or start charging in pay-as-you-go method as that would be better.”

The protesters demanded to speak with the management of DSTV, noting that if their grievances are not addressed by Friday, they will continue the protest on Monday next week.

Meanwhile the DPO of Eleyele Police Command, CSP Julie Ajao, who intervened in the issue, stated that the management of DSTV are in Lagos where the head office is, not at the Onireke office. She nonetheless, called for a briefing between the representatives of ASVON and the representatives of DSTV management to solve the issue.

Speaking at the briefing, the leader of the protesters, Mr Lawrence highlighted their complaints about the unwanted deduction and poor services, noting that this was not the first time they would express their disaffection at the unfair treatment of DSTV.

He also asked that in the light of these unnecessary account deductions and disconnection of decoders, what would happen to their businesses as there are two important football matches which ought to be shown on Wednesday and Thursday.

In response, the representative of DSTV who pleaded anonymity assured that the management of DSTV will be in Ibadan on Thursday 14th April to hold a meeting with ASVON so that a lasting solution can be implemented.

He also assured that he would call an official in Lagos in order to ensure that viewing centres can air the important football matches coming up on Wednesday and Thursday to their customers.