MNBC ordered to pay MVR 1.3m to Medianet

The Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) – which ran the state broadcasting channel during former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administration – has been ordered to pay over MVR 1.3 million to cable TV operator Medianet.

The state TV and radio channels are now run under the Public Service Media (PSM). However, MNBC, established in 2009, has not been dissolved.

Medianet filed a lawsuit against MNBC with the Civil Court, accusing the corporation of failing to pay for services under a channel riding agreement signed on September 1, 2009.

The cable TV operator asked the court to establish that they are entitled to over MVR 1.3 million in payments, and to order MNBC to make a lump sum payment.

The court issued its ruling on Thursday.

It found that while Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu and Television Maldives were changed to two separate channels under the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation Act enacted in 2010, YTV was not taken under MBC.

The court decided that MNBC is therefore required to pay over MVR 1.3 million to Medianet for services rendered under the agreement to allow YTV to ride on Medianet.

MNBC has been ordered to pay the money by May 16.