Newly launched pay-TV operator TStv engulfed in content piracy scandal for stealing CNN, beIN channels; ordered to ‘cease and desist’

In a desperate move to gain subscribers, TStv, Nigeria’s newly launched pay-TV operator, is now engulfed in scandal just days after it’s launch on 1 October for illegally stealing and pirating content and TV channels that it is not allowed to carry on its platform and with channel providers who have sent the company “cease and desist” letters.

TStv (Telcomm Satellite TV) that launched a week ago in Nigeria with CEO Bright Echefu is mired in scandal and trouble for tacking TV channels onto its offering for which it doesn’t have clearance and carriage contracts.

TStv is selling decoders and a service to Nigerians, promoting it with content that it is not allowed to have.

By marketing its service with content it’s not allowed to have, TStv has become embroiled in massive copyright infringement. TStv didn’t respond to media enquiries made the past week.

Meanwhile global video content providers supplying news, entertainment and sports channels have warned TStv to stop using their content and to immediately stop the display and use of their brand logos.

Turner Broadcasting System send TStv a letter saying it’s not allowed to carry CNN International and that “the distribution and broadcast of this channel without authorisation will infringe our intellectual property rights and constitute acts of piracy”.

By Friday TStv still carried CNN and displayed its channel logo under its list of channels available on its bouquet.

Another channel provider, Qatar’s beIN Media Group, also told TStv in a similar cease and desist letter to stop re-airing its string of beIN channels also carried illegally on TStv. “Other parties are not permitted to copy and rebroadcast beIN without express authorisation”.

“Other parties are not permitted to use beIN trademarks without express authorisation”. It’s also been sent to Nigeria’s Copyright Commission (NCC).

By Friday TStv still carried and promoted 10 beIN channels on its website as being part of its offering.

TStv on social media and Facebook slammed the letters as frivolous and fake, saying “We wish to inform Nigerians that the letters are fake and were prepared basically to bias Nigerians. Kindly disregard the said frivolous letters”.

In response to a media enquiry a spokesperson for Turner Broadcasting System for Africa confirmed to TVwithThinus that TStv is breaking the law and carrying CNN illegally.

Turner Broadcasting told TVwithThinus that “Turner does not have an agreement with TStv to carry CNN and did send a notification letter to the platform not to distribute the channel”.

beIN in response to a media enquiry told TVwithThinus on Friday that beIN recently became aware that TStv intends to launch in Nigeria and is carrying beIN channels without authorisation.

beIN confirms that a “a cease and desist letter was sent to TStv by our legal director last week”.

“Since then we have become further aware of media reports, in which TStv has claimed this letter is fake and that it has an agreement with beIN.”

“Please be aware that the letter is certainly genuine, and TStv does not have authorisation from beIN to carry our channels, or use our trademarks. We take this matter very seriously and will take the necessary action to ensure that our intellectual property rights are not violated,” says beIN.

It means that TStv is blatantly lying to Nigerian customers.

Nigerian customers who sign up and pay money to the pirate operator TStv now risk losing their money – and content TStv “sells” as fake marketing – should TStv be shut down due to its illegal activities.