by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net West Africa has renewed its camera house reality competition show Big Brother Nigeria for a 5th season in 2020 that will again be produced from Lagos, Nigeria for a second consecutive time with MultiChoice and M-Net that say the pay-TV service will follow "global best practices, precautions and preventive measures" to produce the season amidst the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic still present in the country and Africa.
MultiChoice will once again broadcast Big Brother Naija in Nigeria on DStv, as well as on its satellite pay-TV service across sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa.
The fourth season of Big Brother Naija was the first to be produced from inside Nigeria with the previous three seasons that were done from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The upcoming fifth season of Big Brother Naija will hold online auditions in which people have to send in a 2-minute video, instead of physical auditions and queuing at various venues across Nigeria following M-Net's disorganisation with the 4th season's audition process at stadiums, as well as the dangers of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus that is present in Nigeria as well as across Africa.
John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria CEO, says "Big Brother Naija has been widely regarded as one of Africa’s biggest entertainment exports, being the biggest showcase of Nigeria’s diversity outside of core Nollywood".
"This fifth season promises to be more adventurous, exciting and entertaining, and will undoubtedly be the biggest thing on African television in 2020."
"As the new edition draws near, fans and viewers can get ready for the excitement and entertainment that this season will bring as they enjoy weeks of unending drama, intrigue, romance, Friday night games, the famous Saturday night parties and an overall battle of wits as the housemates vie for the ultimate prize."
"The timing of the show is also particularly important, given the dominance of the Covid-19 pandemic; auditions for the fifth edition will now be held online and viewers and stakeholders alike can rest assured knowing that global best practices, precautions and preventive measures will be followed throughout the show," says John Ugbe.
