LBS Director General Calls for Shutdown of DSTV Liberia Over Alleged Refusal to Broadcast LNTV

The Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Eugene Fahngon, has called for the closure of DSTV Liberia, citing the company’s alleged refusal to include the Liberia National Television (LNTV) on its network and its failure to establish a local operational base.

LNTV, the television branch of LBS, has been at the center of a dispute between Fahngon and DSTV Liberia. The controversy surfaced after Consolidated Group Liberia, the local distributor for DSTV, accused Fahngon of reporting them to the Liberian Legislature for not incorporating LNTV on their platform.

In a press briefing on Monday, Fahngon clarified that he did not lodge any formal complaint against DSTV Liberia. Instead, he explained that both DSTV Liberia and other service providers were invited by the House Committee on Post and Telecommunications to discuss broader issues affecting the media and telecommunications sector.

Fahngon further alleged that DSTV Liberia is demanding a payment of $38,000 per month from LBS for LNTV’s inclusion on its cable network. He strongly rejected this demand, stating that LBS would not pay for the service. He also referenced a decree from the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), which established the Liberia Broadcasting System, giving it authority to monitor cable operators and ensure they broadcast local content.

Additionally, Fahngon argued that DSTV Liberia lacks a central control system in the country, which he claims hampers their ability to operate effectively from Liberia, thus justifying the call for its shutdown.

Meanwhile, both SATCOM and MULTI TV, other satellite TV providers in Liberia, already carry LNTV on their platforms.