In order to serve as a warning to others in the industry, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) claimed it conducted a raid in Enugu and seized unlawful digital cable networks worth N250 million.
The Real Summit Television studios, located in Nsukka, Enugu State, were sealed by the Commission on September 21.
According to information acquired, the television channel reportedly stole the programming from other digital satellite transmitting stations like DSTV and Startimes.
The Commission demobilized the station at Ugwuoye, Nsukka by taking away the devices needed to collect signals for onward transmission before sealing the station there. The manager, Mr. Daniel Anedo, had first been arrested by the Commission.
The transmitter, decoders, inverters, and scramblers were among the devices and tools that were demobilized.
In order to prevent the broadcast station from engaging in radio piracy, the Commission also turned off the transmitter and other devices.
The Enugu State Director of NCC, Mrs. Okeke Ngozi, said Anedo was detained while engaging in illegal broadcasting activities and his equipment was seized in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday.
She claims that despite being detained sometime in March, he continued to operate the same company without the cable network's consent.
Okeke denounced the crime and advised other people engaging in the same illicit activity to stop since it was deterring the investor who had invested in that line of business.
"The illegal operation keeps the actual owners from hiring unemployed Nigerians, and NCC is threatening them with the full force of the law if they persist.
They will be detained and charged appropriately, she said.
However, the state director asserted that Dr. John Asein, Director-General of NCC, had zero tolerance for piracy and was more devoted to the fight against it.
"Business as usual is over; the NCC, led by our Director-General, is battling piracy in all facets of copyright and creative works.
No matter how long it takes, all of the criminals will eventually be brought to justice, she vowed.
The operation was carried out to prevent them from stealing the contents of other stations, according to Mr. Macfoy Akachukwu, an Assistant Director at the NCC's Enugu Office, who also spoke to NAN.
"Except for the fact that they were stealing the substance of other Cable Network programs, we were not interested in what they were doing.
We have no issues if they want to run an independent station, but we won't put up with any piracy at the station, he added.
source: vanguardngr
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