Published: July 15, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director General Eugene L. Fahngon has dismissed as “false and misleading” reports that the state broadcaster has been invited by Consolidated Group Incorporated (CGI), the official DStv service provider in Liberia, to join the DStv satellite platform, insisting that neither he nor the institution has received such communication despite the existence of a formal invitation letter acknowledged at the LBS offices.
Fahngon’s response comes even though a letter from CGI, dated July 8 and signed for at the LBS headquarters on July 9 at 4:37 p.m., invited the national broadcaster to uplink its television content to the DStv platform, a move the company said would make LBS programming available across Africa.
The issue has reignited longstanding public debate over why Liberia’s national broadcaster is not yet available on the DStv platform.
In the letter, CGI renewed its offer to partner with LBS, assuring the broadcaster that it would not be charged a carriage fee for airing its television channel on the DStv platform.
“We again invite Liberia Broadcasting System to uplink her contents to our DStv Satellite facility. This opportunity will enable LBS contents to be viewed across Africa,” the communication stated.
CGI, which operates DStv services in Liberia, is owned by Liberian businessman and politician Simeon Freeman.
While offering free placement on the platform, the company explained that LBS would be responsible for the cost of uplinking its television signal to the satellite. Uplinking is the technical process of transmitting a television signal from a ground station to the satellite that distributes channels to DStv subscribers.
“The continuous display of LBS content on the DStv platform will be at no cost to LBS; however, the cost of uplinking LBS contents to the DStv satellite will be at cost to the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS),” the letter stated.
According to CGI, engineers from both institutions would jointly assess the technical requirements after LBS formally accepts the proposal. The company said the total cost of the uplink service would not exceed US$40,000.
“Based on the acceptance letter from the Liberia Broadcasting System to this offer, our technicians will work with LBS technicians to determine the exact cost to uplink LBS contents to our satellite; said cost may not exceed forty thousand (US$40,000),” the communication added.
The letter, signed by Simeone Freeman, Business Development Manager of Consolidated Group Inc./DStv, said the partnership would enable Liberians across the diaspora to access local news, sports, entertainment, cultural programming and other content produced in Liberia.
“We at Consolidated Group Inc. look forward to partnering with Liberia Broadcasting System in lifting Liberian contents to the DStv satellite, which creates an opportunity for Liberians in the diaspora to view contents created in Liberia,” the company stated.
Responding Tuesday from his office in Paynesville, Fahngon denied reports published by several media outlets suggesting that LBS had entered into discussions or negotiations with Consolidated Group Incorporated.
He maintained that no communication had been received from the company and urged the public to dismiss the reports.
“The information about the Consolidated Group Incorporated, the official service provider of DStv as they claim, have invited the Liberia Broadcasting System to upload television content to the DStv satellite platform to move Liberia’s program forward is false and misleading and the public should not consider that information,” Fahngon said.
Despite rejecting CGI’s claims, the LBS Director General confirmed that the state broadcaster is engaged in separate discussions with international broadcasting partners.
According to Fahngon, LBS is holding high-level engagements with DStv International, MultiChoice and Canal France International aimed at expanding the reach and quality of Liberia’s national broadcasting services.
“I have been able to speak with a very high-level closer and high-ranking official of the DStv. I know very well the content group will be in town after next week or beyond; they have plans for us hold consultative meetings in furtherance of what we discussed in the past,” he said.
Fahngon urged Liberians to rely only on official LBS communications regarding developments involving the national broadcaster, assuring the public that efforts to improve television and radio services remain ongoing.
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