Many accusations have been made by the Burkinabe Digital Communications Services’ Consumers Association (Association Burkinabé des Consommateurs de services de Communications Electroniques - ABCE). The association criticises the agreement signed in June 2015 between Canal+ and Neerwaya Multivision, for the broadcast of some television channels, particularly Canal+ channels. ABCE notes that the interests of the consumers are wronged, and accuses French operator Canal+ of “abusively exploiting their dominant position” on the TV distribution market.

ABCE denounced for example one of the clauses of the contract which stipulates that Neerwaya Multivision is forbidden from broadcasting some sports channels, like beIn sports or super Sport, under the pretext that for some sports events, Canal+ has the exclusive broadcasting rights in Burkina and many other African countries. Many subscribers therefore noticed the removal of beIn Sports from their bundle without prior notice or compensation.

Also under criticism is a provision of the contract imposing on Neerwaya Multivision to offer the Canal+ channels as options. To now view them, the subscriber must get a minimum subscription of FCfa 2,000. However this increase in service price was not mentioned in the contract with Neerwaya Multivision. The consumers’ association further requests that this operator “takes all necessary measures to right the wrongs the consumers were subjected to without delay”.

Another grievance is the fact that Neerwaya Multivision is now offering its services in the same price range as Canal+, though the quality of service is decidedly not the same. Generally speaking, ABCE “believes that this agreement is the illustration of the abusive exploitation of a dominant position by Canal+ Afrique”, against the 23 May 2002 regulation on anti-competitive practices inside the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

For these reasons and many more, ABCE is requesting that Canal+ and Neerwaya revise the terms of the contract, otherwise “it will be up to the consumers to exercise their rights through actions with the aim of boycotting products from these companies”.