Employees given 3-months’ notice, DhiTV and DhiPlus to shutdown

Companies that run DhiTV and DhiPlus have decided to shutdown operation and have served three-month’s notice to employees.

Broadcasting Maldives and Maldives Media Company issued a joint statement on Wednesday, in which it announced that DhiTV and DhiPlus transmission will be shut down at 00:00 hours Wednesday night.

The statement read that the two companies did not believe it could keep operations of the two television channels afloat given the current situation of the companies. And that the Board of

Directors had therefore decided to shut down operations.

“We inform all current employees that you have thereby been given three-month’s notice with this decision. We inform you that your salaries will be given during this time period,” read the statement.

Broadcasting Maldives and Maldives Media Company said that they were deeply saddened to come to such a decision.

Meanwhile, lawmakers passed the defamation and freedom of speech bill on Tuesday, criminalizing defamation and giving authorities sweeping powers to penalize media or any other Maldivian citizen found guilty of under the law.

Penalties include fines between MVR 50,000 – MVR 2 million, cutting off live feeds, and shutting down media stations.

According to the bill, individuals and media stations can only appeal the sentence after paying the fine.

Failure to make the fine payment will be met will prison sentences of up to six months.