In case you live under a rock and haven’t heard what’s going on, let’s be the first to tell you – season five of Big Brother Naija is almost here!
Season five of Nigeria’s favourite reality show, Big Brother Naija will be going live on Sunday, July 19, 2020. Big Brother Naija is an audience favourite. The show is loved and avidly followed by viewers across Africa as it showcases urban Nigerian culture.
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of BBNaija, MultiChoice Nigeria, have taken some necessary precautions in line with the guidelines set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the fifth season of the show. Besides doing things like ensuring the production crew works in (socially distanced) shifts, MultiChoice is putting the potential housemates through a rigorous health screening process. These potential housemates will, in addition to other medical tests, undergo a COVID-19 test before entering Biggie’s house.
To further ensure the safety of BBNaija participants, these potential housemates are currently in quarantine ahead of the show’s premiere on Sunday, July 19. In a media briefing ahead of the show, Ebuka also shared his experience from when he auditioned for the Big Brother Nigeria show in 2006. According to him, he was 23 years old, and it was the most comprehensive health test he had ever done.
MultiChoice Nigeria says that they are committed to keeping all BBNaija season five participants safe and healthy, which is why there will be no live audience at the Sunday Night Eviction Shows. There will also be no unexpected celebrity visits to the House.
The official countdown to July 19 is on!
In May 2020, Multichoice, the owners of DStv and GOtv, disclosed that rates would go up in Nigeria. This immediately led to a social media outrage, with many calling it insensitive “during a pandemic”.
In Multichoice’s defence, John Ugbe, chief executive officer of Multichoice, said the company did not increase subscription rates, stating it was only an adjustment to reflect the increase in value added tax (VAT).
In a bid to increase revenue to cope with economic realities of the oil price slump, the Nigerian parliament had passed the finance bill into law, with implementation effective February 2020. Part of the provisions of the law was an increase in VAT from five percent to 7.5 percent. This affected every business in the country.
Following this reality, the house of representatives insisted that cable and satellite television service providers in the country must introduce a pay-as-you-go subscription plan for customers.
The house ad hoc committee investigating DStv said the tariff in Nigeria is particularly higher than it is in other countries across Africa.
We analysed DStv packages across the continent to find out if the prices are comparative or if Multichoice is particularly being pricey in Nigeria.
DSTV BOUQUETS: NIGERIA VS REST OF AFRICA
We compared DStv subscription rates in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana and Multichoice’s home country, South Africa, and found that the subscription is cheaper in Nigeria than most of its peers across Africa.
We chose the popular bouquets, uniform in all the countries compared: premium, compact plus, compact, family, and access.
In Nigeria, for example, the premium package is N16,200, which translates to $41.86 at the prevailing foreign exchange rate. In Ghana, that same bouquet goes for 340 cedis or $58.72. This means the Ghanaian bouquet is $16.86 (N6,524) more expensive than its Nigerian equivalent.
The cheapest bouquet in both countries goes for $6.63 (N2,565) and $6.91 respectively, making the Ghanaian bouquet more expensive at both ends of the spectrum.
As for South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy and home to Multichoice, the story is no different. In dollar terms, the premium bouquet goes for $43.55 as against Nigeria’s $41.86. The cheapest bouquet in both countries, however, favour South Africa. While DStv Yanga (Access) goes for $6.63 in Nigeria, the same package goes for $5.76 in South Africa.
In Kenya, the gap is clear: while the premium bouquet is $69.27 (N26,807), the access plan is $8.32 (N3,220). This is over N10,000 more expensive than Nigeria’s most priced bouquet, and about N700 more expensive at the cheapest end. The case is the same for Botswana.
VERDICT: DStv packages are not most expensive in Nigeria
Despite the implementation of the 7.5 percent value-added tax in Nigeria, Multichoice bouquet rates in Nigeria are not the highest in Africa. They are more expensive in other African countries, including South Africa, where the service provider originates from.
Source: TheCable
Season 5 of the popular TV reality show in Africa, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), will premiere Sunday, 19 July. Viewers on DStv and GOtv across Africa can tune in to witness the start of the most anticipated season yet, which is proudly sponsored by Betway in association with Guinness.
This announcement follows the conclusion of the online auditions back in May which recorded over 30,000 entries from BBNaija hopefuls across Nigeria.
BBNaija season 5 will be broadcast live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv Max and Jolli packages on channel 29, with the live eviction shows and weekly highlights aired on Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Urban and Africa Magic Family. DStv viewers will also follow the drama this season with the DStv Now app on a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Meanwhile, this season’s prize money promises to be bigger including other surprises for viewers and fans of the show.
DStv customers who would like to opt out of viewing the show can do so by sending “BBNOUT [space] smart card number” to 30333. While GOtv customers can do same by sending “BBNOUT [space] IUC Number” to 30333. Additionally, customers can activate the parental control option on their DStv and GOtv decoders for viewers younger than 18 years.
To not miss a moment of the entertainment the brand new season is sure to bring, fans are encouraged to sign up on DStv today via www.dstvafrica.com or get GOtv Max or Jolli on www.gotvafrica.com, and download the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps from the app store for more self-service options.
Given the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, MultiChoice Nigeria has assured viewers that global best practices, precautions and preventive measures will be followed throughout the show. To find out more about this and other information on the fifth season, visit www.africamagic.tv/bigbrother. You can also follow the official Big Brother Naija social media pages for news and updates with the hashtag #BBNaija on Twitter @bbnaija, Instagram @bigbronaija and Facebook www.facebook.com/bigbrothernaija as well as all verified social media pages of DStv Nigeria, GOtv Nigeria and Africa Magic.
The boss of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy has once again extended his generosity to a woman who lied to him about his bank.
Don Jazzy posted on his twitter handle trying to promote his Vbank and the woman while reacting to that insinuated that Don Jazzy has been lying about their services and charges.
According to the woman, she was charged when she made a transaction with Vbank contrary to what Don Jazzy said claiming they don’t charge when one transfers money.
In order to prove himself, Don Jazzy asked the lady in question to show him evidence that she was charged and he will dash her 100k, but she wasn’t able to give him any evidence.
Don Jazzy still gave the woman the 100k saying he gave it to her to show that he trusts his Vbank very much.
A few weeks ago, the amendment to the sixth broadcasting code was unveiled to the public by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) via a newspaper advert. The amendment, according to NBC, is to significantly restrict monopoly and anti-competitive behavior in the broadcast industry.
On the surface, the code is well intended, as it seeks to stimulate the growth of Nigeria’s local broadcast industry. A closer look, however, shows that the intention of the drafters is anything but good. Several sections of the code carry huge potentials to endanger the industry.
Section 0.2.2.7 says the Code seeks to address the “misuse of monopoly or market power or anti-competitive…” in the broadcast industry. But how can you restrict something that does not exist? Is the NBC trying to create a problem only just so that it can solve it? Technically speaking, there is no monopoly in the broadcast industry in Nigeria, as there are various public and private broadcasting stations in the country that offer consumers various options to choose from. At worst, what exists is market dominance, which is not monopoly.
I believe Nigeria operates a free market economy where content providers as well as other businesses can operate freely with minimal government intervention. It is the duty of the government to ensure a level playing field for all those who wish to participate in the economy but doing so should not entail holding back one for the other. Competition is important to business as it creates room for innovation and it enables businesses to build those traits that are appealing to their customers.
Considering that television content is very expensive either to create or acquire, the idea that when one broadcaster does so he is then mandated to sub-licensing it to a competitor without business considerations is rather incomprehensible. Content is not sold to broadcasters at a cheap price; it is business and should remain as such. Every business is deemed successful when it makes a profit. So why would a broadcast organization use billions to acquire the right to air content and then be compelled to sub-license to another broadcaster without the view to making a profit or at a price determined by the NBC if there is any dispute?
The insistence on sublicensing emboldens the rights owner to naturally hike the price of its content. But the code then goes ahead to insist that after acquiring the rights, no profit can be made off it. Section 9.1.1.3 states that “In determining the charges offered for supply under this section, consideration should be had to the prorated cost of acquisition of the sports and news programme and/ or channels by a subscriber on the platform of the licensee “stipulated price” and the retailing thereof to each subscriber. In no event shall the charges exceed the Stipulated Prices thereof”. The very idea that a DStv, for instance, which has acquired the broadcast right to Sky Sports News, must sub-license such rights to a terrestrial TV like STV or a pay-tv platform like StarTimes at a proportional price or a price that will be determined by NBC goes against the very definition of business.
Also, the worrisome is Section 9.1.1.2, which states that “a broadcaster shall offer the sports and news programme and/or channels to other broadcasters for retail… in accordance with the requirements of this section and directions issued by the commission” finds a place of pride very close to the throne of business lunacy. While other broadcasters are working hard, what some others need to do is wait to be spoon-fed by the suit or babanriga-wearing bureaucrats at NBC. After a broadcaster spends billions in acquiring content, it will be compelled to share with competitors at a regulated price? What other more compelling reason does an investor need to put their money into importing containers of some household items instead of wasting it on content acquisition?
NBC should have engaged in proper consultation with key stakeholders in the industry before the amendment was drafted and/or made public. No right thinking content producer will spend billions in developing content and then be obligated to share at a price determined by NBC. The amendments are largely unworkable and the only good news coming from the NBC at this time is the decision of its board to take a wholesale look at the entire document by inviting stakeholders to make input, an action that would most likely have enabled it to avoid the embarrassment and ridicule it currently faces.
Written by Funmilola Oladipupo
SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv can enjoy the continued return of live sport across the globe, with the PGA Tour, WWE, UFC, and NASCAR all featuring on 26-28 June 2020.
SuperSport is your home of sport and the best place to see all the action from around the world as #LiveSportReturns.
On Friday 26 June, there is Day 2 of the PGA Tour’s Traveler’s Championship (8pm LIVE on SuperSport 1 and SuperSport 5).
Saturday 27 June features Episode 1088 of WWE SmackDown in the early hours (1am LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 4, SuperSport 9 and WWE Channel 128), before Super Rugby takes centre stage, with the Blues v Highlanders (8am LIVE on SuperSport 1). Motor racing fans will also have their fill of action on Saturday, with the NASCAR Cup Series’ Pocono Organics 325 (8pm LIVE on SuperSport 6).
Golf fans can look forward to Day 3 of the PGA Tour’s Traveler’s Championship (6pm LIVE on SuperSport 1 and SuperSport 5), while football fans will be in for another feast of action. The resumption of the FA Cup is the headline event, with Norwich City hosting Manchester United at Carrow Road (5:30pm LIVE on SuperSport 3) for the first of three quarterfinal clashes this weekend.
Sunday 28 June gets off to a fighting start with UFC Fight Night: Poirier v Hooker (11pm LIVE on SuperSport 11). “I think he’s [Hooker] a very patient fighter. He listens to his corner well… he’s very patient and strategic when he’s in there [the Octagon],” said Poirier. “So I’m expecting a very smart, intelligent fighter. He’s long, rangy, likes to stay on the outside, dangerous knees, a great guillotine… he does a few things very well, but I do everything well and I’m coming in there to win.”
The FA Cup completes its quarterfinal stage with three matches on Sunday afternoon and evening: Sheffield United v Arsenal (1pm LIVE on SuperSport 3), Leicester City v Chelsea (4pm LIVE on SuperSport 3) and Newcastle United v Manchester City (6:30pm LIVE on SuperSport 3 and SuperSport Select Go 2).
Sunday also features the fourth and final day of the PGA Tour’s Traveler’s Championship (6pm LIVE on SuperSport 1 and SuperSport 5) and more NASCAR action with the Ponoco 350 from Pennsylvania (8:30pm LIVE on SuperSport 6).
No rival can compete with SuperSport‘s coverage. Our viewers on DStv and GOtv can see all their favourite sports stars return to competitive action as #LiveSportReturns.
This is your chance to enjoy the best sporting action, available only on SuperSport!
For the full live sport experience, reconnect or subsc
Also, visit www.dstvafrica.com and w
Let’s test your memory to see if you’re a true movie or TV series addict. Can you guess the names of the programmes below with the few hints?
Let’s go!
- This Telenovela recently returned with a season 2. The main character has become a mere legend to her enemies ever since she suddenly vanished. She comes out of hiding and returns to Mexico to solve the disappearance of her former lover. The Telenovela lovers should know the title of this show!
Answer: Join Altagracia Sandoval in Iron Rose S2 on Telemundo (channel 14) Weeknights at 7pm.
- An English archeologist who’s known for her braided ponytail and venturing into ancient tombs and ruins goes on a quest to save the mythical Pandora’s Box, before an evil scientist finds it, and recruits a former Marine turned mercenary to assist her. What movie is this character in?
Answer: Follow the adventures of Lara Croft in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, on BET (channel 21) Friday, 26th June at 8:30pm.
- This show turns your home into a club every Friday with live DJ sets all night long! Guessed it yet?
Answer: Party with DJ Consequence Ft Alatika in Turn Up Friday With Pepsi on AM Family (channel 2) Friday, 26th June from 9:30pm.
- An amateur female boxer is helped by an aging fight trainer to achieve her dream in becoming a professional. Can you guess the movie?
Answer: Million Dollar Baby! It airs Sunday, 28th June at 4:52pm on TNT (channel 16).
- A boy runs away from home wearing his wolf costume and travels to an imaginary world filled with wild creatures who crown him their ruler. Figured out what movie this is?
Answer: Where The Wild Things Are. Enjoy this movie on M-Net Movie Zone (channel 3) Tuesday, 30th June at 8:55am.
Follow GOtv on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to find out more entertaining movies and TV series. Reconnect today! Visit www.gotvafrica.com or download the MyGOtv app from the iOS and Android store for other self-service options. You can also pay for your GOtv subscription using – USSD CODE (*288#), PAGA, Quickteller, Automated Teller Machines and Bank Apps.
The GOtv toll lines; Etisalat (09085330333), MTN (08139842260), Airtel (07080630900) & GLO (08117930333) are also available to speak with customer service representatives.
Toyin Subair is using the back door to resurrect his failing Pay TV business
Businessman and promoter of defunct HiTV, Toyin Subair, seeks a return to the pay television industry by free-riding on the 6th National Broadcasting Commission Code which, among other controversial provisions, aims to end exclusivity.
Back in 2014, Toyin Subair, founder of the defunct pay television platform, HiTV, launched an ambitious move to return as a major player in Nigeria’s pay television market.
Subair, whose HiTV, crashed in 2011 after four years, launched PlayTV six years ago, hoping that it would rise to prominence from the rubble of HiTV. The foundation for PlayTV was Continental Satellite Television (Consat), the failed pay television platform owned by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
PlayTV currently operates from the old Consat office located within the premises of the Tinubu-owned Television Continental (TVC) at CMD Road, Ikosi-Ketu in Lagos.
At launch, PlayTV promised subscribers that it would not be business as usual “as we will be rolling out with lots of interesting channels you’ve always loved and new channels you’d love to watch”.
It also claimed to have the potential to “be available to over 20 million homes and 150 million individuals”.
Six years after, it has failed to go anywhere near Toyin Subair’s projections and is remembered only by decoders bought for N15,000 by subscribers, with many bought by state governments headed by politicians on the same platform with Tinubu.
The Rivers State Government under Mr. Rotimi Amaechi bought 50,000 Consat decoders. Ibim Semenitari, Rivers State Information Commissioner at the time, confirmed the agreement with Consat, saying it was for the purpose of digital migration and a source of empowerment for the people of the state.
“We are getting the decoders because we need to migrate
to the new platform and we are also grooming installers for the project, which will, in turn, empower our youths by way of providing job opportunities,’’ Semenitari said.
She added that since the state-owned television and radio stations were in the process of joining the rest of the world in migrating to digital broadcasting, it was important that the purchase of the decoders was made to enhance the penetration of information to the remotest parts of the state.
“The penetration into the villages will not exist since we want to reach the largest mass of the people if we do not do this migration,’’ she explained.
However, Consat never got off the ground, a development that did not deter Toyin Subair, with the businessman now planning to bring it back as well in addition to add an Over-the-Top (OTT) platform that will be a hybrid of Ad-based Video-on-Demand (AVOD) and Subscription-backed Video-on-Demand (SVOD) services.
An OTT service delivers video content to users via an internet connection instead of a traditional broadcast service provider. AVOD is akin to traditional television, as its subscribers have to endure advertisements (as it happens on conventional television) and relies on revenues from advertisements to offset content production and hosting costs.
It does not require consumers to subscribe to have access unlike SVOD, which is a conditional access platform that requires payment of a monthly subscription fee for access.
Sources close to Toyin Subair, who still bears the scars of the failure of HiTV, disclosed that he is determined to do everything to ensure the success of the new venture.
“He is ready to do everything to make PlayTV a success and he’s tapping into political connections, which he’s always had, to make PlayTV work,” said the source.
Multiple sources told this paper that Subair is heavily dependent on his political connections, which have become stronger since 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came to office. Subair, who is close to Tinubu, is unsurprisingly also close to Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who owes his appointment to Tinubu.
Muhammed, whose ministry supervises the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is said to have Toyin Subair as his unofficial adviser. Subair is said to be the brain behind the 6th NBC Code, the subsidiary legislation guiding broadcasting in Nigeria, which was released to the public on 27 May.
Before the release of the NBC Code, the Information Minister, had announced the Federal Government was planning to prohibit exclusive ownership of broadcast rights to foreign football content in the country. Such rights were held by Subair’s HiTV between 2006 and 2011 when they were wrested from the MultiChoice-owned SuperSport platform. The cornering of the popular broadcast of English Premier League matches, said sources, followed the payment of $28 million, an amount MultiChoice could not afford.
At the expiration of the three years, the cost had gone up. HiTV paid $40 million for the first year of the second round of three years, but needed $70 million as guarantee for the two remaining years.
“We paid $40 million for the first year of the second term of the EPL from mostly equity. But still had to come up with a guarantee of about $70 million for the latter two years and in Nigeria, guarantee requires cash in bank. The alternative bank we were forced to use despite all their assurances and being offered half of the amount by another bank failed to issue same on that fateful Tuesday and only offered it to us on Thursday. Meanwhile the EPL sold it to our competition on Wednesday morning,” he wrote in an article published on his Linked-in page in 2016.
He argued that HiTV slipped into coma from which it never recovered because it could not raise capital as a result of an unfavourable shareholder agreement.
“HiTV collapsed essentially because of a clause in our original Shareholders Agreement, which allowed a group of founding shareholders to block the company raising money or selling off a subsidiary.
“This right was exercised to block our capital raise because it was believed to be a possible ploy by another group to take control of the company. We, the management, were caught in the middle and it took us another eight months to pursue the alternative that was acceptable to the shareholders, but by that time, the equity market had gone bust, leaving us grovelling all over for debt,” he wrote.
Subair also blamed the NBC for not backing him, saying: “We ran to government to enforce the fairness clauses of the NBC Act, but it fell on deaf ears.”
The loss of the rights to the prized sports content, sources said, still haunts Subair.
“He is possessed by retributive fantasies and will stop at nothing to crush anyone he believes contributed to the demise of HiTV. He is enjoying enormous support from Geodfrey Ohanbuwa, owner of Multimesh Broadcasting, a cable TV platform and Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON). Toyin Subair’s handwriting is all over the new NBC Code, especially the desire to regulate exclusivity,” explained a source.
Multiple sources disclosed that Subair’s gunsight is trained on MultiChoice, which currently holds the rights to broadcast the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Spanish La Liga, other premium sporting content and a variety of popular programmes as well as shows.
Subair’s objective, they said, is to use the force of regulation to hoover up sporting and general entertainment content to PlayTV to ensure it does not choke like HiTV, which was solely reliant on the EPL, and break or at least water down MultiChoice’s influence in the pay television market.
Sections 9.0.1 to 9.0.3 of the new NBC Code speak to the Information Minister’s announcement on exclusivity before the code was issued. The sections make exclusivity illegal and seek to compel rights holders to sports broadcast property and any content enjoying audience applause to share with competing broadcast platforms.
These sections have been widely criticised by notable industry figures, who argue that aside from infringing on their copyright to such content, they also have the potential to discourage investment and creativity in local content production.
Jason Njoku, CEO of IrokoTV, said provisions of the code, which compel content sub-licensing to competitors and empower the NBC to determine sub-licensing fees will discourage investment in local content production.
He warned that content platforms such as Africa Magic, Filmhouse Cinema, Netflix and Irokotv will be forced to stop investing in local content.
“Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in making exclusivity illegal, compelling sub-licensing of content and regulating price is effectively turning private enterprise into state property.
“Interference distorts markets. If implemented, this 100% destroys Pay TV in Nigeria
“Under these proposed terms, it makes zero sense for @irokotv @ROK_DSTV @NetflixNaija @irokotv @africamagictv @FilmhouseCinema @SilverbirdTV @SceneoneTV or any other platform or independent production house to invest in local content,” said Njoku in a series of tweets.
He argued that the code is bereft of deep thinking and was produced without consultation with stakeholders.
Subair was a major figure at a 3 June webinar organised by Filmic Group, a body of creative industry professionals and was loud in defending provisions seeking to regulate exclusivity.
In a recent article, foremost journalist and Director, Media Law Centre, Richard Akinnola, wrote that the attempt to limit exclusivity is draconian and will sound a death knell for creativity.
“Nothing could be more overbearing. This clause would certainly not stand the legal scrutiny when challenged in court. Apart from the fact that this provision is nebulous, as it did not define the nature of such anti-competition actions, this provision, apart from stifling creativity, is also a breach of the intellectual property rights of the broadcaster and content owners. What happens to the agreements/partnerships entered into by broadcast stations and independent producers, particularly with foreign concerns, particularly with humongous investments?” he asked.
He argued that however noble the intendments of the NBC Code are, they are at variance with the extant provisions of the Copyright Act.
Many industry sources attribute Subair’s failure with HiTV to an alleged extravagant lifestyle, notably flying first class on company funds.
Subair, however, dismissed the allegation, saying HiTV had a solid corporate governance structure and that he paid from his purse whenever he travelled.
“HiTV had full corporate governance rules in place and a budget that was jealously guarded by a Board that sat six times in a year. Even when I went out or travelled with a supplier, I always insisted on paying, but only my shareholders and management team knew that.
This forthrightness of mine made me throw caution to the wind since I knew I was clean, but unfortunately, I didn’t realise the negative impact it could have on my reputation,” he said in the article first published by chronicle.ng.
Nigeria’s leading video entertainment provider, MultiChoice Nigeria, recently commissioned Accenture, a top accounting and consulting firm in Nigeria to measure the socio-economic impact of its business in Nigeria between 2015 and 2019.
According to the report, MultiChoice Nigeria had contributed an estimated US$2.1bn to the Nigerian economy within the period under review. Accenture estimated that the company had specifically spent over $428 million in developing local creative talent, as a result of sourcing and producing local content for DStv, GOtv, M-Net, SuperSport, and Africa Magic, and investing in building local production infrastructure.
This investment has greatly helped to support the Nigerian movie industry, ensuring that Nollywood movies are available across Africa and the rest of the world.
According to Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria, “The report illustrates MultiChoice Nigeria’s total economic impact in Nigeria, including direct, indirect and encouraged influence on the country’s GDP. The statistics provide further information on the considerable positive socio-economic impact that our operations have made in the development of the communities in which we operate.”
Also speaking on the report, John Ugbe, CEO MultiChoice Nigeria said “As Nigeria’s leading video entertainment provider that delivers great entertainment to our customers, we understand that we have a responsibility to provide socio-economic value through our core business activities. This Socio-Economic Impact Assessment report aims to quantify and articulate the contribution we have made to the Nigerian economy during the Financial Year 2015/16 to 2018/19.”
Through their business operations, investments in technology, local infrastructure, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives and local partnerships, MultiChoice Nigeria has enriched an estimated Two million lives each year through initiatives such as MultiChoice Resource Centres, MultiChoice Talent Factory, GOtv Boxing, Sickle Cell Foundation, the Let’s Play initiative, among others. MultiChoice Nigeria has spent US$34.8m in supporting these initiatives.
From its portfolio of grassroot sporting programmes to organising award events that celebrate excellence, and diverse investments in educational and entertaining content, it is evident that MultiChoice Nigeria has evolved from being the small company that opened shop in Lagos with 30 employees in 1993, into being one of the most impactful and admired brands in the country.
Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Tony Okoroji, has described as unenforceable some of the provisions in the broadcast code recently released by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Okoroji made his view known on his Twitter handle, @Tonyokoroji.
In the tweet, the copyright activist said some of the intendments of the new code are good, but some of the provisions are unworkable while others are unconstitutional. He stated that the NBC is attempting to overreach itself by assuming powers of the National Assembly and called for a revisit of those amendments.
“I understand the good intents of the new NBC Broadcast Code, but some of the provisions are unworkable, some even unconstitutional. The commission cannot overreach its powers and assume the powers of the National Assembly. The code needs to be revisited,” he twitted.
Many players in the broadcast industry have expressed loud disapproval of the code, which is viewed an assault on their copyright. Jason Njoku, Chief Executive Officer, IrokoTV, stated that amendments in the code that seek to limit exclusivity abridge the rights of copyright owners and have the potential to discourage investment in the sector. The same sentiment was expressed by Naz Onuzo, a movie producer, who said the NBC is wrong to seek to compel rights owners to sub-license their content.
“A lot of content Nigerian producers are rightly concerned by the removal of the exclusivity clause because exclusivity deals are the most valuable and this bit reduces the value of the most desirable Nigerian content,” he said.
Lawyers have argued that an intellectual property is exclusive to the owner and can do as he wishes with it.
According to a Nobert Chima, a lawyer, Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution gives every Nigerian the right to own moveable properties or any interest in an immovable property and the rights over such properties cannot be compulsorily taken.
He argued that though intellectual property rights are intangible but are moveable property rights, adding that the provisions on exclusivity are inconsistent with Section 1 (3) of the constitution states. The section states: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.”
He also argued that Section 8 of the Copyright Act, Chapter C28 states that copyright in a broadcast shall be under the exclusive control of the owner.
“It is, therefore, safe to deduce that a broadcaster has the exclusive right to control his work and not even the government can, in anyway, control such.”
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