MultiChoice Nigeria doing season 9 of Big Brother Naija from 28 July with housemates competing in pairs as M-Net cuts prize money to N100 million.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net are bringing back Big Brother Naija for a 9th season from 28 July in which contestants called housemates will enter in pairs but MultiChoice Nigeria is reducing the prize money which will go to one winner from N120 million to N100 million (R1.1 million).

Season 9 of Big Brother Naija will run on MultiChoice's DStv for 71 days from 28 July until 6 October and have its debut on all MultiChoice's Africa Magic channels on DStv, after Nigerians had to audition in pairs.

Although housemates will enter Big Brother Naija in pairs, only one person will eventually be the winner. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu will return as the Big Brother Naija host.

The N100 million is N20 million (R223 000) less than the N120 million (R1.3 million) prize money for Big Brother Naija's 8th season in 2023 and with the plunging foreign currency value and rampant inflation in Nigeria, the N100 million is also worth much less than what N100 million could buy just a year ago in the West African country. 

Busola Tejumola, MultiChoice's head of content and West Africa channels, on Tuesday spoke at a media conference in Lagos, Nigeria where she said "The challenging aspect of the show will be that the housemates will be going into the house in pairs and doing some of the house challenges in pairs".

"Everyone curious about the theme should watch out for the premiere on Sunday 28 July. The show holds lots of fun, vibes, emotion, drama, dynamics, and intriguing twists. This innovative format promises to deliver fresh dynamics and unforgettable entertainment."

"We will not be having the head of the house challenge as usual, there will be lots of twists from Big Brother. The pool party and the Saturday night party will be held and the show will air 24 hours."

"After 71 days of game playing, on 6 October a grand total of N100 million worth of cash and a brand new SUV will be won. Our grand prize this year is worth N100 million."

Busola Tejumola failed to explain why MultiChoice Africa reduced the Big Brother Naija prize money amount which is also worth less in buying power this year.

While Big Brother Naija will be broadcast and again be seen on DStv across Africa with an audience wider than just Nigeria, MultiChoice Nigeria didn't bother to alert media elsewhere in Africa and failed to send out any press release or communication on Tuesday to the press in other countries besides Nigeria.

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax will once again do The Buzz as an additional content add-on with Toke Makinwa who is set to return as the host of this recap show that will talk about highlights from the reality show.

MultiChoice Nigeria announced a reunion episode for the 8th season of Big Brother Naija that was set for 24 June but MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net unexpectedly cancelled it and refused to provide any reason.

MultiChoice's Big Brother Naija: All Stars to run for 70 days on DStv from 23 July as entire season will also live-stream on Showmax.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is doing an 8th season of Big Brother Nigeria for DStv subscribers across the sub-Saharan African continent, which will see former housemates return to the camera-filled studio complex in Lagos for Big Brother Naija: All Stars which will start on Sunday 23 July.

The 8th season of Big Brother Naija follows after the 7th season, which was named "Big Brother Naija: Level Up" in 2022, and MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic's joint South African and Nigerian production of Big Brother Titans earlier this year on DStv which was a ratings disappointment.

Big Brother Naija: All Stars will be shown for 24 hours a day on the Big Brother Naija pop-up channel on DStv channel 198, with various weekly highlight programmes on the Africa Magic Urban (DStv 153), Africa Magic Family (DStv 154) channel.

In addition, MultiChoice is once again leveraging the show to drive subscribers to its streaming service Showmax, but is going further this time by live-stream the entire Big Brother Naija: All Stars for 24-hours a day, similar to the DStv pop-up channel.

Previously Showmax had packaged highlights for Big Brother Naija, as well as customised, exclusive add-on content produced around the show for streaming subscribers.

This season will have its own row on Showmax with various blocks like the 24-hour live feed, as well as daily highlights, Saturday night parties, head of house challenges and the Sunday night eviction shows.

Big Brother Naija: All Stars will run for 10 weeks (70 days) until 1 October which is Nigeria's Independence Day, featuring returning contestants chosen from across season three's "Double Wahala" to season 7's "Level Up", with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu returning as the host of the show.

The returning housemates are chosen from previous editions of the show and will include the pool party, grill party and Saturday Night Raves live shows. The winner after 10 weeks will get a cash prize of R2.78 million (N120 million).

The head of house challenge will be taking on a revamped format and will run as a 4-hour event, and a new so-called "Black Envelope" game will be introduced.

"We are excited to bring you a refreshed season of Big Brother Naija," says Dr Busola Tejumola, MultiChoice's executive head of content for West Africa channels, in a statement.

"The 8th season of Big Brother Naija is the All Stars edition."

"It has been seven years of engaging our viewers, the industry and the fans. This is the biggest show in Africa and once Big Brother is on, the majority tune in. Fans should watch out for new versions of the housemates they used to know."

ALSO READ: After Big Brother Titans ratings flop MultiChoice is switching back to Nigeria's Big Brother Naija commissioned for an 8th season. 

After Big Brother Titans ratings flop MultiChoice is switching back to Nigeria's Big Brother Naija commissioned for an 8th season.

by Thinus Ferreira

After the ratings flop of MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic's joint South African and Nigerian production of Big Brother Titans earlier this year on DStv, MultiChoice is switching back to Nigeria's Big Brother version for the continent, Big Brother Naija, which has been commissioned for another season.

MultiChoice Nigeria will be doing an 8th season of Big Brother Naija for DStv subscribers across the sub-Saharan African continent after the 7th season, which was named "Big Brother Naija: Level Up" in 2022.

DStv Liberia announced to subscribers in the West African country that MultiChoice will be doing another Big Brother Naija season. In an announcement about a DStv price reduction from July for subscribers in Liberia, the company noted that "Big Brother Nigeria will return".

Big Brother Naija has continued to enjoy both social media buzz and TV ratings success - both of which eluded Big Brother Titans earlier this year.

With both a hugely misguided and largely absent PR and publicity strategy from Mzansi Magic and MultiChoice, bad casting of housemates who didn't gel and more entertaining contestants evicted first, along with a lack of buzz and interest from DStv subscribers, it wasn't surprising that low DStv ratings were expectedly far below Big Brother Naija levels due to the less compelling content.

DStv Liberia announces massive subscription fee price drop from July 2023 and says reduction is its way to thanks DStv subscribers for their loyalty.

by Thinus Ferreira

DStv Liberia is dropping monthly subscription prices massively for customers in the West African country from July 2023 who will see an enormous drop in its American dollar-based fee pricing from next month.

Liberia is the first country in Africa in 2023 where MultiChoice is reducing monthly DStv subscription fees, after hiking prices in several African countries this year from South Africa and Kenya, to Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and from July also Tanzania.

DStv Premium in Liberia is getting reduced from US$91.00 to US$61.00 from July, while the DStv Compact Plus package will drop from US$59.00 to US$36.00. DStv Compact is getting a price reduction from US$28.00 to US$23.00 monthly.

The DStv Family package will be cut from US$21.00 to US$13.00 monthly, while DStv Access is getting cheaper from US$14.00 to US$8.00.

In a press statement announcing the reduction in DStv fees in Liberia, Simeon Freeman, Consolidated Group and DStv Liberia CEO, says MultiChoice is reducing its DStv subscription fees in Liberia since it is looking at various ways to thank its many customers for their ongoing support and loyalty whilst delivering world-class entertainment at a price they can afford.

DStv Liberia says reducing monthly DStv fees is MultiChoice's way of "demonstrating commitment to its customers to ensure that they receive the best possible access to great entertainment at an outstanding value".

"DStv Liberia is delighted to announce that DStv customers in Liberia will now enjoy quality entertainment for less. This means that monthly subscription prices on DStv have decreased effective 1 July 2023."

"We are constantly looking at various ways to thank our customers for their ongoing support and loyalty whilst delivering a world-class entertainment service at a price they can afford. The price drop across the DStv bouquets is our way of demonstrating a commitment to our customers to ensure they received the best possible access to great entertainment at an outstanding value."

"As a lead partner to DStv, MultiChoice is committed to putting customers at the heart of every decision we make and we aim to continuously delight them with great entertainment and the best value. DStv viewers of all ages and tastes are in store for great entertainment."

"Across the African continent, DStv presents the most value from other competitive pay-TV offerings. Over the past 26 years of which DStv Liberia has operated in the market, we have worked tirelessly to ensure we provide an unrivalled channel for our customers to enjoy. Our key priority is to put our customers' needs at the heart of everything and we undertake to continue doing so."

After MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic's rating flop of Big Brother Titans in South Africa, DStv Liberia also announced that the company is going back to the Nigerian version for another season, with MultiChoice Nigeria that has commissioned a new season of Big Brother Naija.

DStv Liberia says "Big Brother Nigeria will return. MultiChoice will make great entertainment even more accessible to our customers in Liberia".

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Tanzania increases DStv prices by up to 8.8% from July 2023 as the latest African country getting a DStv price hike.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana hiked fees by 19% in 2023, blames country's deteriorating economy as well as currency devaluation and fuel costs.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv prices again from May 2023 by up to 22.2% with cheapest GOtv bouquet seeing biggest price hike.

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

ALSO READ: Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

ALSO READ: MultiChoice: Here is the pay-TV company's DStv pricing from April 2023.

Wig-ripping former Miss Nigeria Beauty Tukura evicted from DStv's Big Brother Naija Level Up after lunging at housemate during drunken brawl, damaging property and throwing objects at housemates.

by Thinus Ferreira

The former Miss Nigeria and Big Brother Naija: Level Up housemate Beauty Tukura (24) was evicted on Sunday night from the latest 7th season of MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net West Africa's camera-filled reality show after her violent behaviour that included ripping a fellow housemate's wig, throwing things, as well as damage to property.

Beauty Tukura, who appeared to have been drunk, was issued her first warning and strike after her aggression towards Big Brother Naija housemate Ilebaye and ripping her wig.

Beauty was warned that the MultiChoice show filmed in Lagos does not tolerate violence after she had physically charged at the housemate and removed items on her body like her wig in a violent manner.

On Sunday night, an hour before the week's live eviction show on DStv, the producers disqualified and removed Beauty for another double strike for damage to property on Saturday night, meaning that the former Miss Nigeria was out of the show after three strikes.

Producers told Beauty Tukura that "Your actions last night were out of line; you should have managed your emotions. You removed your microphone; you threw another object at Groovy after throwing your glasses, wig at him" and trying to break his microphone.

MultiChoice and M-Net have had problems with violence and sexual assault in previous seasons of Big Brother Naija and South Africa's version of Big Brother Mzansi.

MultiChoice Showcase 2021: 18 must-know info-blasts from this year's media event.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice shifted its bi-annual media showcase events for South Africa's press to the end of the year (and did just one this year) with the MultiChoice Showcase 2021 showcase that took place yesterday afternoon as a virtual presentation and dropping various info-blasts throughout the presentation.

Like an Easter egg hunt, the media usually scour for nuggets of information dropped by various MultiChoice executives and shown in sizzle reels, with yesterday that was no different - although MultiChoice shared less information in totality than in any previous years of the showcase. 

Here are 18 things I picked up that you'd want to know:

1. Survivor season 41 on M-Net

M-Net (DStv 101) will show season 41 of America's Survivor in January 2022. 

Season 41 will usher in a new era which will be marked by a lack of a theme, harkening back to the early days of the series. The show will simply be known as Survivor 41. "Those ideas served us very well for 20 years, but now it’s time for something new," says host and producer Jeff Probst. 

M-Net will also show the 8th season of Survivor Australia Brains v Brawn" which will start on M-Net straight after the current 7th season.

2. Survivor SA renewed for a 9th season in 2022

"Return of the Outcasts" will be the "subtitle" of the 9th season of the local South African version that M-Net has now renewed for a 9th season filming in January 2022 and broadcasting in July.

Insiders couldn't wait to tell me earlier this week that Survivor SA was renewed and M-Net refused to respond to media queries about it, until the logo was flashed and "S9" at the MultiChoice Showcase 2021.

The castaways are chosen from previous players who didn't make it to the final Tribal Council and all "have a score to settle". We're told it's filming in January 2022, will broadcast in July on M-Net (DStv 101) and will once again be done somewhere in South Africa because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

3. Award shows

DStv subscribers will be able to watch the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on 1 February on 1 Magic (DStv 103), the 94th Annual Academy Awards known as the Oscars on 28 March on M-Net (DStv 101), the Billboard Awards on 28 April on 1 Magic, and the Miss Universe pageant in 2022.

4. Paradise lost

No air date was provided for an upcoming new TLC show but from the producers of 90 Day Fiancé comes a sexy new docu-soap Love in Paradise – The Caribbean, following people who found love in the Caribbean. 

The tropics will provide the backdrop for relationships in various phases from holiday flings that turned serious to a rekindled love after 10 years apart and a vacation romance that turned into a pregnancy. Will meeting in paradise work out?

5. Pushing sport

Pushing the Line coming January 2022 to the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) will follow some of the top highliners and the up-and-comers of sport, who live together and push one another to take on the craziest places to set lines and break records.

6. Greedy

Mzansi Greed will debut on Moja Love (DStv 157) on 2 December, 21:30 exploring the worlds of crime and greed. What lengths will a person go to for money and power? 

The series focuses on cases of South African pyramid schemes, embezzlement and other crimes, featuring interviews with family members, police investigators business associates, fraud victims and, in some cases, the fraudsters themselves.

7. More SuperSport sports documentaries

In 2022 SuperSport will debut more locally-produced sports documentaries like Chasing the Sun.

 SuperSport is working on Pulse of a Nation: A South African Football Story that is a 4-episode documentary series looking at South African soccer.

Two Sides is another Springbok documentary - likely a documentary film - with cameras that once again filmed inside the Springbok rugby camp. The short sizzle clip shown to media contained a litany of unbleeped "f"-words from Springbok players and staff around them as everyone struggle to cope with the stress.

8. New broom

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax has a new boss that the media saw for the first time on Thursday. 

Barry Dubovsky who has been with MultiChoice since 2018 joined Showmax in his new role as its chief operating officer (COO) in August. Barry says that in 2022 Showmax will continue to focus on rolling out more Showmax Original productions.

9. Naija reality

The 7th season of Big Brother Naija gets a broadcasting date: June 2022. 

A group of isolated housemates will once again do tasks as they compete for a cash prize. Date My Family Nigeria will start in January 2022 on DStv, sending singletons on dates with three potential partners' families in a bid to find love.

The 7th season of Idols Nigeria will start in February and Judging Matters is a new "Judge Judy"-type show that will address legal issues from a small claims court, in partnership with the Lagos state ministry of Justice, hosted by Justice Olushola Williams and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

10. M-Net moves into Mozambique

M-Net is moving aggressively into the Mozambique market and upping local content produced in Portuguese for DStv subscribers specifically in Mozambique and Angola.

In Mozambique, MultiChoice and M-Net will launch the new Maningue Magic channel on DStv channel number 503 on 17 January 2022. 

The channel will have a local telenovela Maida, local lifestyle show, Txunado, local drama The Influencer, as well as Boss Station, a Mozambiquan original music show. Viewers can also expect to see a local version of Date My Family.

11. South Africa's Big Brother goes continental

The new season of Big Brother Mzansi revived after a decade will not just be seen in South Africa but will be shown across sub-Saharan Africa on DStv, similar to how Africa can watch Big Brother Naija. 

Also new is that the prize money will be R2 million for the winner.

12. A foodie date

The 4th season of MasterChef South Africa coming to M-Net (DStv 101) got a date: It will start on 28 February. 

Instead of on a wine farm like previous seasons, the new season is currently being filmed at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town "in a dynamic new location that celebrates both the heritage and the innovation of South Africa's diverse culinary offering".

13. kykNET returns

In 2022 kykNET (DStv 144) will have the 4th season of the Afrikaans procedural drama series Die Byl with Projek Dina returning for a second season. 

A new season of the anthology series Spoorloos is currently in development with a story set behind the backdrop of a small coastal town.

14. Fighting housewives

The third season of Real Housewives of Johannesburg will be shown in April 2022 that will consist out of 14 episodes. 

The Real Housewives of Lagos will be on Showmax in the first half of 2022. 

The second season of The Real Housewives of Durban will also be on Showmax but is still listed as "coming on 2022" only with no indication whether it's the first or second half of the year.

15. Local tabloid

While I Blew It will be back for a 4th season in 2022 and Ubizo for a third season on Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163) there will be new series as well doing what Moja Love has found success with Bangoxoshile, Not The One For You, Siza Mina and Fafi. 

Bangoxoshile is a series that assists homeless people who were forcefully removed from their homes by family, relatives or a spouse.

In Not The One For You friends and family write in to ask for assistance in confronting a friend or family member about a potent relationship that they should not be in. 

Siza Mina is a tabloid daily talk show featuring controversial topics and guests who are seeking intervention in resolving issues relating to family, marriage, parenting, divorce, broken friendships, cohabitation. 

In Fafi the 28-year-old Thandi Ndlovu is in love and getting married in 3 months - however it’s not her husband-to-be, Sgoloza Ndlovu, she’s in love with, rather her beloved late husband, Menzi Ndlovu. The Ndlovu family custom has dictated that upon Menzi's demise, his brother must marry his widow.

16. Sporties

On SuperSport in 2022 (see the full summary in its own article Here) the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup coverage will include all 64 matches, live and in prime time, as well as the UEFA Champions League and Europa League (until May 2022) and the FA Cup (until May 2022).

SuperSport will have the all-new United Rugby Championship (until June 2022) and an old friend in the shape of the Six Nations making a reappearance in February. There's also the World Sevens Series of the Blitzbokke.

In cricket, there's The Ashes and India's tour of South Africa until January 2022, the IPL in March and the Proteas' tour of England from July to September. In tennis and golf all of the Majors will be on SuperSport from January to July 2022. 

In WWE wrestling there will be headline events like the Royal Rumble in January and WrestleMania in April 2022.

On two and four wheels SuperSport will cover the longest-ever F1 season, MotoGP, SuperBikes, and cycling events from May's Giro d'Italia to October's Absa Cape Epic, the Amstel Gold Race to Challenge by la Vuelta and the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup and Paris-Roubaix to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

In athletics SuperSport will have the American Indoor Track League, Diamond League, IAAF World Indoor Tour and World Athletics Continental Tour and in July and August 2022 the Commonwealth Games from Birmingham.

17. Absence of Aletta

This was notably the first MultiChoice Showcase - previously known as the DStv Content Showcase but for some reason rebranded - without Aletta Alberts, Africa's TV content queen. 

The extremely experienced and well-versed executive who was MultiChoice's head of content and third-party channels passed away in July from Covid-19 complications.

MultiChoice apparently didn't replace her position and her absence was definitely felt - the MultiChoice Showcase 2021 didn't have the all-knowing, all-telling tether of Aletta Alberts as anchor who in the past would help the media to integrate and build a bigger picture to put all of the various content streams into perspective.  

18. Notably nothing on this - so far 

Unlike previous years media sadly were not given the opportunity to ask questions at the showcase. MultiChoice that usually make announcements about DStv decoders didn't say anything about its decoders this time with no updates on the DStv Streama decoder that was announced over a year ago but never launched. 

Does MultiChoice plan to add Disney+ as a streaming service next to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video when it launches in South Africa from around June 2022? Or what about eMedia's new eVOD? Is Paramount+, discovery+, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and Peacock going to be added to the DStv Explora Ultra in 2022 like Sky and Comcast overseas did? We don't know yet. 

It's also not yet clear where MultiChoice is with letting DStv subscribers build their own subscription with DStv Flex by choosing various packages with selections of channels instead of picking a bouquet. 

MultiChoice has been investigating this and asking consumers their thoughts about such an offering earlier this year. 

It's also unclear for how long M-Net Movies will have premium first-run films to premiere given the impact of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic on the world's film industry.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: Why month-old pre-recorded interviews from MultiChoice executives sitting in Dubai touting DStv's 'home-grown local content' in Africa?

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: SuperSport to shine in 2022 with a vast locked-in offering of local and international sports events.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: 'Fuck, fuck fuck, fuck' says SuperSport in profanity-laced Springbok documentary sizzle reel for new Two Sides rugby and Pulse of a Nation football local documentaries coming to DStv in 2022.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: MultiChoice and M-Net aggressively ramp up Lusophone production targeting DStv subscribers with new channels and content in Portuguese in Mozambique and Angola.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: PICTORIAL. A set of new Blood Psalms stills released as MultiChoice's delayed Showmax Original fantasy series from Yellowbone Entertainment waits to be paid its film rebate.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: M-Net renews Survivor South Africa for an all-stars 9th season to be broadcast in July 2022.

Hazel 'Whitemoney' Onou wins season 6 of Big Brother Naija.

by Thinus Ferreira

Hazel Oyeye Onou known as "Whitemoney" was announced as the winner of the 6th season of Big Brother Naija on Sunday night, after the resident from Nigeria's Enugu State beat 25 other housemates to clinch the prize after 77 days.

For the first time in Big Brother Nigeria's history, the camera-house reality series ended with a top 6 contestants instead of a top 5, with Whitemoney amassing close to half (47%) of the last week's votes from viewers. 

Liquorose became the last woman standing in the competition and the first runner-up with 29.99% of the votes.

Pere was placed in third place after receiving 14.7% of the votes. Cross gathered only 6.44% of the votes and came in fourth, while Angel and Emmanuel finished 5th and 6th with 5.37% and 3.43% respectively.

According to M-Net West Africa and MultiChoice Nigeria, the 6th season of Big Brother Naija that was once again broadcast as a 24/7 TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and with content shown on its video streaming service Showmax, was the most successful season yet.

Big Brother Naija received over a billion votes from viewers.

The Big Brother Naija season 6 finale broadcast on Sunday night on DStv featured live performances by Nigerian stars like Made Kuti, Avala and Laycon, and included a surprise performance by Lojay and Ajebo Hustlers with renditions of hit songs Monalisa and Pronto.

MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net West Africa haven't made any announcement about Big Brother Naija season 7 although it's a given that the show will be renewed given MultiChoice's announcement that the 6th season was the most successful yet.

Big Brother Naija housemate Gbolahan Ololade known as Kayvee exits 6th season of the reality show due to unspecified medical reasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Monday Gbolahan Ololade, known as Kayvee, the 26-year old photographer from Lagos has abruptly left the 6th season of MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija reality show due to undisclosed medical reasons.

The 6th season of Big Brother Naija, done from MultiChoice's studio complex in Lagos with the theme of "Shine Ye Eye" started with 22 housemates a few weeks ago on 25 July.

On 8 August 4 new housemates - Kayvee, Queen, JMK and Michael - were introduced as additional contestants.

The sad-looking Kayvee who also struggled to speak English, appeared nervous at times and uttered confusing and contradictory statements during his 11-day stay in Big Brother Naija, mostly kept to himself with several other housemates who noticed and commented on his apparent self-isolation within the Covid-19 safe bubble production.

In-show, Pere, this week's head of the house, announced and read out a statement from MultiChoice on Monday to the rest of the housemates.

"Housemates, Big Brother trusts that you are all well and settling into the brand new week," Pere read.

"As you have noticed, your fellow housemate Kayvee has been unwell for a few hours now. Based on this advice, Kayvee will no longer be part of the show for this season."

"Kayvee would like you all to know that he appreciates the time spent in the house with everyone. Your friendship, support, and love truly means a lot to him. Big Brother would like you to assist Kayvee with packing his bags and belongings and place them in the store room immediately."

In a statement to the media on Monday, MultiChoice Nigeria says "Kayvee, one of the housemates in the Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye Season, has been exited from the house on medical grounds".

"Prior to this, he had a consultation with Big Brother and the on-site medical team, where it was decided that he had to leave the house for a more thorough medical investigation."

"MultiChoice and the show producers are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all housemates in the Big Brother house at all times," the pay-TV operator said.

Showmax to stream The Buzz twice weekly as a commentary show for the 6th season of Big Brother Naija with Nigerian radio personality Toke Makinwa as presenter.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice video streaming service Showmax will stream The Buzz on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 3 August as an additional twice-a-week companion show alongside the 6th season of Big Brother Naija with the Nigerian radio personality Toke Makinwa who will be the presenter of the opinion and commentary-driven show.

The Buzz will stream on Showmax on Tuesday and Saturday evenings with Toke Makinwa who will share her opinions and insights into the show that is produced from MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa's studio complex in Lagos, Nigeria.

"This is almost like the unfiltered version of Big Brother where we bring you weekly highlights so I'm looking forward to them messing up, I’m looking forward to them creating more drama because that way my show gets even more interesting," Toke Makinwa says.

TVwithThinus asked Showmax last week what Big Brother Naija content the streamer would carry but a Showmax spokesperson said that the service isn't willing to release programming details yet and would do so this week but by Wednesday at the time of publishing of this article there was no information issued yet.

Besides The Buzz, Showmax is also carrying daily and weekly highlights of the 6th season of Big Brother Naija as additional content for viewers, including the Head of House challenge, and diary room rant sessions from the housemates.

Big Brother Naija is broadcasting as a 24/7 linear TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service on channel 198 in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, and on DStv channel 197 in South Africa.

Big Brother Naija highlight programmes are also running on various Africa Magic channels that differ whether viewers are watching from Nigeria and the rest of Africa, or from inside South Africa.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa kick off season 6 of Big Brother Naija with 22 housemates including a Dubai-based realtor and a Princess taxi driver.

ALSO READ: The 6th season of MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija to start with a double-show launch on 24 July after it will run 72 days, drops SMS voting so the rest of Africa can vote.

MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa kick off season 6 of Big Brother Naija with 22 housemates including a Dubai-based realtor and a Princess taxi driver.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 6th season of Big Brother Naija with the theme "Shine Ye Eye" has started with 22 new housemates ranging from a Dubai-based real estate agent, a doctor, models and even a princess who is a taxi driver, cloistered in the camera-filled, Covid-19 safe bubble-production.

Big Brother Nigeria, that MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa are doing from their studio complex in Lagos, Nigeria, is running for the next 10 weeks and 72 days on the Big Brother Naija channel on 198 in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, and DStv channel 197 in South Africa.

Highlight programmes will once again be shown on various Africa Magic channels on DStv, with MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax that is doing The Buzz as an additional programme with more content around the show.

SMS voting has been dropped from this season, with voting only taking place on the show's website and the DStv app.

The reality series introduced 11 male housemates in the first of two launch shows on Saturday night, followed by the second launch show on Sunday night as 11 female housemates were introduced and walked into the house. 

Notably, host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu encouraged viewers to interact with the show on social media on its official Instagram and Facebook accounts but conspicuously ignored any mention of its Twitter account with over 1.4 million followers that fell silent in June after the Nigerian government banned companies, like MultiChoice Nigeria based in the country, from being active on and using the social media service.

Here are the 11 men:

Boma

This housemate shows off his modeling skills on stage. He mentioned he has been modeling for 10yrs and he takes modeling opportunities as it comes.

Saga

He is 28-years-old but considers himself a 21-years-old. He mentioned he's a free spirit, as well as young and fun. He's an engineer but would love to go into the entertainment industry as he has a passion for art and other creative things.

Yousef

He loves looking good for the camera. He’s very confident and he’s from J-Town. He is looking to bring some fun, sexiness and entertainment to Big Brother and is "single and ready to mingle" and looking for a soul mate. He's a teacher in electrical technology.

Pere

This 36-year-old says he's not in the house to "sing kumbaya" - he prefers "gbas gbos". He loves drama and considers himself an actor.

Whitemoney

He's from Enugu and he plans on bringing fun to the house. He loves to entertain people around him and says he dislikes dirty people. He might be known in the house for saying "who dey breathe" constantly.

Niyi

He loves people happy and feeling comfortable. He's married with a child and also owns a business in South Africa.

Yerins

He's a medical doctor. People think he's introverted but he's the complete opposite. To sum up his personality, he says that he is creative, dramatic and "plain crazy" and is curious to see what parts of him come out in the house.

JayPaul

He is a 29-year-old from Calabar. He considers himself a social butterfly and a "complete entertainer" due to his acting, singing and TV presenter experience as well as the tourism company he owns. JayPaul says people assume he's a playboy due to his hairstyle. He dislikes people who can't stay true to themselves.

Emmanuel

The 24-year-old is from Akwa Ibom state and he loves modeling, fashion, reading and exploring new cultures. He says that he is also very competitive. He says that he has "the mind of a hustler and the heart of a king".

Sammie

He's from the north Kaduna state. He has no strategy but he has a goal, which is not to leave the Big Brother Naija house too soon. He says his personality is a "vibe itself" and that he came to the house to enjoy himself.

Cross

He's a part animal and loves clubbing 4 days a week - Thursday till Sunday. He also mentioned he loves to workout, do yoga and craves drama.

Here are the 11 women:

Angel

She's 21 years old, and hails from Akwa Ibom. She considers herself to be friendly and interactive. However, she claims to be a bit bossy. Angel aspires to become a film producer.

Peace

The 26-year-old entrepreneur runs a fashion brand. She loves food and considers herself a nice person. She hopes to generate more exposure for her fashion brand after the show.

Jackie B

This single mum is from Adamawa state. She loves good vibes and spontaneity. She hopes to crush all the challenges that come with winning the money.

Tega

She's from Cross-river state. She loves to dance, and she believes that she has a fiery personality. Her mission in the house is to sell herself and add spice to the boredom.

Arin

She's a 29-year-old fashion designer who loves to read and research. She’s also an art curator. Arin hopes to bring energy to the show.

Maria

She's a Dubai-based Realtor who loves food and thrives in a bubbly environment. Her goal is to venture into the Nigerian market immediately after the show, as well as maximizing the opportunity.

Liquorose

She is a professional dancer from Edo state. She’s 26-years-old, but she started her dancing career when she was 12-years-old. She says that she has different personalities and she’s on the show to display all of it.

Beatrice

She's a fashion model, who aspires to sell her brand on the show. She owns a clothing brand and is working towards establishing a modelling agency.

Princess

She's a 30-year-old Taxi Driver from Imo state. She loves to cook and drive.

Saskay

The 21-year old artist and model is from Adamawa state. One of her dreams is to set up an art gallery.

Nini

She is from the Edo state. She loves challenges and looks forward to exploring more of them on the show. She's a model and owns a fashion brand. Her goal is to officially launch her fashion brand after the show.

ALSO READ: The 6th season of MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija to start with a double-show launch on 24 July after it will run 72 days, drops SMS voting so the rest of Africa can vote.