Liberia's state TV boss retaliates and demands DStv Liberia shuts down after MultiChoice refused to carry its LNTV for free.

by Thinus Ferreira

Liberia's dictatorial state TV boss is demanding the immediate shutdown of MultiChoice Liberia as a private pay-TV company in the struggling West African country, after MultiChoice Liberia refused to add and carry its LNTV channels on DStv Liberia's service for free.

Eugene Fahngon, the director-general of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Liberia's state-controlled broadcaster that runs LNTV, on Tuesday at a hastily arranged press conference demanded that MultiChoice Liberia be shut down for refusing to carry LNTV for free on DStv.

MultiChoice Liberia is run by LIBMAX Consolidated Group Incorporated (LIBMAX), a local concession agency of MultiChoice Africa.

Mary Williams, CGI's general manager for content at MultiChoice Liberia, revealed at a press conference over the weekend that Eugene Fahngon wants to destroy DStv Liberia.

Together with the politician and businessman Simeon Freeman, through the Liberian government's House of Representatives, Eugene Fahngon allegedly wants to shut down DStv Liberia after LIBMAX refused to add and carry the state-run LNTV channels to DStv.

The Liberian Observer reports that LIBMAX and MultiChoice Liberia told LBS and Eugene Fahngon that it can't uplink and broadcast LBS's LNTV channels for free, which is expensive.

MultiChoice Liberia told Eugene Fahngon that LBS would have to pay $38 000 per month for LBS' LNTV to be added to DStv, which Eugene Fahngon rejected. He then decided to retaliate against MultiChoice Liberia and now wants to get it shut down.

Eugene Fahngon said on Tuesday "The Liberia Broadcasting System will not pay a dime to DStv for the inclusion of our national broadcaster".

He also cited regulations claiming that the LBS controls and oversees all pay-TV services in Liberia to make sure they provide so-called local content.

Eugene Fahngon also slammed MultiChoice Liberia for having a "control system" he and LBS can't control and which is therefore not a proper control system and another reason why DStv Liberia should be shut down.

According to Mary Williams, Eugene Fahngon told DStv Liberia in a meeting that LBS is working on its own subscription-based pay-TV service which will cost $5 and which will be in direct competition with DStv Liberia.

The Liberian Investigator reports that Mary Williams accuses Eugene Fahngon of making politically motivated demands and unreasonably expecting LIBMAX and pressuring the company to offer the state-run TV channels for free.

"It costs money, equipment and several other requirements to be on satellite. We as an agent in Liberia cannot unilaterally put any content, including LBS, on the platform," she said.

She revealed that LIBMAX wrote to Eugene Fahngon in July to set up a meeting and explain the procedures involved, but that he failed to show up. A second meeting was then scheduled and took place, during which Eugene Fahngon demanded that MultiChoice Liberia uplink LBS to DStv for free.

"He insisted that as a government-owned broadcaster LBS should be exempt from paying for services but I explained that it doesn't work that way because we are just an agent of DStv here in Liberia."

"We saw no reason to continue discussions after learning that LBS was offering similar services, effectively making us competitors in the market."

She said LIBMAX is disappointed with Eugene Fahngon who can't dictate how LIBMAX is supposed to run DStv Liberia as a private company.

"I am surprised that after our interaction with Eugene Fahngon he chose to take this route. It is becoming more political than professional." She said LIMBAX's "legal team is fully briefed and prepared to take action if necessary".

MultiChoice to switch DStv Malawi back on by Friday 8 September after price hike tiff with country's regulator.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice will resume its DStv service in Malawi on Friday according to the country's communications regulator after a stand-off over a price hike which saw the pan-African pay-TV operator take the decision to remove its service from Malawi a month ago in a first-ever country exit.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in a new statement on the tariff dispute between the regulator and MultiChoice Africa says that DStv Malawi services will now resume on Friday 8 September.

"On 4 September the parties met in Lilongwe and reached an agreement and understanding which will see the resolution of the matter and resumption of DStv services in Malawi by Friday 8 September 2023."

Daud Suleman, MACRA director-general, says the regulator "assures the public that this matter will be resolved in a manner that balances the interests of either party and within the boundaries of the applicable laws".

Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs and stakeholder relations, in response to a media query and asked about confirmation about the resumption of service and whether DStv Malawi will resume its service at the increased price, said that "a comprehensive media statement will be issued once there is finality on the matter".

The tiff started when MultiChoice announced another price hike for DStv in Malawi from August without first getting approval from the regulator, and after MultiChoice Malawi was already fined for an earlier price hike it didn't first get approval for.

MultiChoice which said it is not MultiChoice Malawi but MultiChoice Africa doing price increases for various African countries, announced that it would be shutting down DStv and exiting its service from the country after Malawi's High Court granted the regulator an injunction when it and the pay-TV operator went to court over the matter.

It was the first time MultiChoice - under pressure from global video streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and others gobbling up subscribers across Africa - decided to shut down and exit its traditional pay-TV service in an African country after being denied a price increase.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Malawi in price hike court fight as country's regulator says DStv tariff increases are not allowed and that 'current, unchanged' fees will apply.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice shuts down DStv in Malawi after price hike is denied.

ALSO READ: Malawi regulator to exiting MultiChoice: Pay R337 000 and take your electronic junk.

MultiChoice Zambia the latest in Africa to announce a DStv and GOtv price hike of up to 9% from August 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zambia is the latest to announce a DStv price hike from August 2023, following after DStv and GOtv price increases since March this year ranging from South Africa to Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, from July in Tanzania and even a shocking second price hike within months in Kenya.

MultiChoice Zambia says an "extreme global economic climate" is to blame for increasing DStv and GOtv prices in the African country from 1 August 2023. 

MultiChoice's cheapest pay-TV offering in the country, GOtv Value, is seeing a shocking 9% price hike from next month.

Leah Kooma, MultiChoice Zambia managing director, says "MultiChoice has adjusted the prices of some of its packages on DStv and GOtv" and that it is "due to the impact of the extreme global economic climate".

According to MultiChoice Africa, DStv Compact Plus in Zambia is increasing 2.6% from K750 to K770; DStv Compact is increasing 4% from K500 to K520, DStv Family is increasing 6.1% from K325 to K345, and DStv Access is increasing 5.5% from K180 to K190.

MultiChoice Africa is hiking Zambia's GOtv prices by 2% for GOtv Max from K250 to K255, 2.7% for GOtv Plus going from K185 to K190 from August, while GOtv Value in increasing 9% from K110 to K120.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya to do second DStv price hike by up to 6% from August; second price hike in a year comes just four months after the last 10% increase in April.

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

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.

MultiChoice Africa and M-Net also lost its top West Africa content boss Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu who jumped to Amazon Prime Video as head of Nigerian Originals.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net have also lost Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, one of its top content bosses in West Africa to Amazon Prime Video, as part of the ongoing exodus of top executive talent at the pan-African pay-TV operator.

Not widely reported, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu who was the regional director of M-Net West Africa, jumped ship to Amazon Prime Video a few months ago as head of content acquisition for Amazon Prime Video in Africa, after which she was appointed in the role of head of Nigerian Originals, a position that Amazon advertised 

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu joined MultiChoice and M-Net in 2012 as M-Net West Africa regional manager.

Neither MultiChoice nor M-Net said anything when Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu left to Amazon and didn't announce her exit, with her jump to greener pastures which is similar to the flurry of other MultiChoice and M-Net executives and staffers who have continued to leave in a steady stream for jobs at video streaming companies like Netflix Africa, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video over the past few years and which are beefing up their staff and content roll-out plans for Africa.

MultiChoice of course upped Busola Tejumola as head of content and West Africa to replace Wangi Mba-Uzoukwa but never explained her "disappearance".

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu got the job as head of Nigerian originals that Amazon advertised in April 2022. At the time, Amazon Studios said that it was looking for execs and someone in the position as head of Nigerian originals who has "a deep knowledge of the Nigerian production landscape, including talent". 

Another MultiChoice top exec, Gideon Khobane just left MultiChoice in South Africa as well after several years, and is also joining Amazon.

ALSO READ: Gideon Khobane exits MultiChoice for Amazon as next high-profile exec to leave the pay-TV operator

MultiChoice Africa to expand technical education help with customised masterclasses between its MultiChoice Talent Factory film academy and various African countries' TV channels to improve production quality.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Africa plans to expand the cooperation and skills transfer between its MultiChoice Talent Factory Africa film academy running in Southern, East and West Africa, and TV channels in various African countries to try and improve the television content being produced and production quality.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory Africa hopes to initially help a further 300 broadcast workers in television in various African TV markets with customised masterclasses which will be developed for specific African countries.

MultiChoice's African offshoot of its South African MultiChoice Talent Factory has been running successfully for a few years now, with the African film academy emulating the programme of the MultiChoice Talent Factory South Africa.

Now the MultiChoice Talent Factory Africa which has been doing industry masterclasses and other educational efforts in various African countries going beyond the training of just a specific year's students on-site in Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos, plans to expand its support, cooperation and training programme with local TV channels in various countries.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory Africa wants to expand the skill transfer programme it offers to help TV channels with online learning courses, masterclasses, as well as practical training. 

It will be done through certified short courses in critical production skills such as post-production, sound, screenwriting, 3D animation and cinematography and MultiChoice will try to initially help 300 broadcast workers in various local African TV markets.

"Our vision is to upskill production professionals, and to raise the standard of productions right across Africa," says Fhulufhelo Badugela, MultiChoice Africa CEO.

"This will boost Africa's film and television industry exponentially, because as you capacitate more people, more people are motivated to start projects, and everybody benefits, including the viewers."

"This is an investment in the future of our industry, and investment goes beyond financial investment it also requires skills, time and a core understanding of the consumer needs but the most immediate impact will be to raise the standard of productions across Africa."

"Local broadcasters are the grassroots of the TV industry in every country. By building the industry we are enabling local job creation, enabling an industry to contribute to the economy and responding to the ongoing consumer demand for quality local entertainment."

"The people on the programme will gain skills relevant to their own field of expertise – so their knowledge will be immediately applicable. We are also able to reach more people by doing the training in-country," says Fhulufhelo Badugela.

"We have seen the impact investments can have. In Zimbabwe, we ran a training programme to support the launch of new local entertainment channels. The standard of the new channels is excellent, and the market has really opened up in terms of the productions being launched and the calibre of Zimbabwe's filmmakers."

"Improving the skills of our TV professionals will give audiences more choice and more chance to see themselves reflected in the content they consume. It's about quality African content for African viewers."

MultiChoice to appeal to Federal High Court after losing its Tax Tribunal appeal over Nigeria's claim that pay-TV operator owes it $123.7 million in unpaid tax.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice will now go to court in an escalating row with Nigeria's tax authority after Africa's largest pay-TV operator this week lost its appeal at the West African country's Tax Appeal Tribunal, with Nigeria's tax collector alleging and demanding that MultiChoice owes it a staggering $123.7 million (R1.88 billion) in unpaid tax.

It's one of two tax claims that MultiChoice is involved in in Nigeria.

On Tuesday Nigeria's Tax Appeal Tribunal threw out MultiChoice Africa's appeal brought by MultiChoice Nigeria over allegations that MultiChoice owes $123.7 million in unpaid Value Added Tax (VAT).

Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) slapped MultiChoice with the $123.7 million dodgy "tax backlog" claim, and added another $218 million penalty, bringing the total to $342 million.

Hilariously, Nigeria' Tax Appeal Tribunal, on Tuesday said that it dismissed MultiChoice's appeal because the company failed to comply with the rules of the appeal.

MultiChoice neither deposited money as a bizarre requirement for the appeal to be heard, and MultiChoice then also apparently failed to adhere to "Order 3 Rule 6 of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021" stating that an appellant like MultiChoice must file an affidavit "verifying the payment".

MultiChoice didn't pay a deposit and didn't file an affidavit.

MultiChoice is embroiled in two cases with Nigeria's FIRS - the $342-million case against MultiChoice Africa Holdings, as well as a N1.8-trillion (R68 billion) tax claim against MultiChoice Nigeria.

MultiChoice in a statement slammed the Tax Appeal Tribunal's decision and said that MultiChoice Nigeria will now lodge an appeal against the ruling of the Tax Appeal Tribunal at Nigeria's Federal High Court.

MultiChoice said that the Tax Appeal Tribunal's appeal ruling failed to look at the merits of the pay-TV operator's case.

"MultiChoice Africa Holdings respectfully disagrees with the ruling, which was based on a technicality rather than the merits of the case. Therefore, we will be lodging an appeal at the Federal High Court against the ruling."

"This tax appeal is a separate and distinct matter from the appeal launched by MultiChoice Nigeria (MCN), in which the Tax Appeal Tribunal found in MultiChoice Nigeria's favour last week, allowing it to proceed with that appeal," MultiChoice says.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's share price falls nearly 8% on Wednesday to 11-month low as Nigeria's shakedown for money from the pay-TV operator continues and country demands MultiChoice pays 50% 'deposit' of R65 billion in dodgy 'tax backlog' claim.

ALSO READ: ALSO READ: Nigeria's revenue service orders banks to immediately freeze MultiChoice Africa's Nigerian bank accounts citing refusal to give access to servers, demands R63 Billion.

MultiChoice and M-Net will hold the 8th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in Nigeria in 2022, will add DStv channel showing live festivals and events from across West Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa have announced that that it plans to hold its 8th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022 with the Nigerian-centric awards show that will return after another year's absence in 2021 due to the ongoing global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, with MultiChoice that will also add a DStv channel showing live festivals and events from across West Africa.

MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa last held its Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, the 7th edition on 14 March 2020 with a packed hotel auditorium audience, after which MultiChoice had to warn its thousands of MultiChoice and M-Net guests who physically attended in Lagos, Nigeria that they were likely exposed to Covid-19.

In 2021 MultiChoice and M-Net didn't organise any Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards due to Covid-19 and never officially announced that it's cancelled for this year.

MultiChoice didn't have the AMVCAs in 2019 and revived it for 2020 after a year's absence,  meaning that the pan-African awards show for the continent's film and TV industry has been an on-off, on-off event for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

At MultiChoice Nigeria's MultiChoice Content Showcase event that was held on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria, the pay-TV operator announced that the 8th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards will be taking place in 2022 again.

Busola Tejumola, MultiChoice Nigeria executive head for West Africa content and channels, also announced that MultiChoice will be adding a new DStv channel in 2022 showcasing live festivals and events from across West Africa.

MultiChoice Africa CEO Brand de Villiers exits, replaced by Southern region director Fhulu Badugela from August taking over tumultuous task.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice didn't tell the media but is informing staffers at the Randburg-based pay-TV operator that Brand de Villiers, MultiChoice Africa CEO, is exiting after almost 6 years, and is being replaced in the position from August by Fhulufhelo "Fhulu" Badugela who is the MultiChoice Africa Southern region director.

Brand de Villiers previously worked at Vodacom South Africa and was PSL CEO.

As MultiChoice Africa CEO, Brand de Villiers constantly confronted a never-ending storm of crises, problems and workplace scandals in the MultiChoice management of various African countries.

Brand de Villiers had the overall gargantuan task of trying to return MultiChoice's so-called "Rest of Africa" RoA division back to profitability amidst weakening African currencies, currency fluctuations, corrupt broadcasting regulatory bodies, and severe limitations on revenue extraction in certain African countries.

Fhulu Badugela joined MultiChoice in 2007. Fhulu Badugela has served as MultiChoice Southern Africa region director for 9 months since October 2020. 

Her previous jobs at MultiChoice and M-Net include HR manager at MultiChoice, M-Net operations director, head of HR at MultiChoice Africa, as well as chief people officer. 

There's been no statement from MultiChoice.

SHOCKER. MultiChoice Africa and M-Net claim it's practising and adhering to Covid-19 TV and film production regulations - but shocking photos show a lack of mask wearing and flouting of social distancing on set.

by Thinus Ferreira

While MultiChoice Africa and M-Net claim to adhere to "strict" Covid-19 safety measures on-set during the filming of their TV shows to keep casts and crews safe, shocking images are surfacing from just one TV show currently being filmed on the continent, showing a lack of wearing masks and a complete disregard for even the most basic of protocols like social distancing to be followed.

Last week, Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment, praised the talent, casts and crews of various MultiChoice and M-Net productions and their resilience "as our industry navigated the complexities brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic which were characterised by production stoppages and a period of uncertainty for many creatives".

Now very serious questions are being raised about the degree to which the African continent's largest pay-TV operator is really respecting the resilience of productions if there appears to be little to no real oversight on keeping industry workers safe and protected from Covid-19 and to really ensure that Covid-19 safety rules are adhered to.

MultiChoice Uganda last week took journalists and influencers on a set visit to Sanyu, one of M-Net's brand-new telenovelas for MultiChoice new Pearl Magic Prime channel that was launched on DStv in February.

At the time Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda managing director, said that MultiChoice is "proud of the role we are playing in the entertainment sector in Uganda and look forward to connecting with our audiences".

Now it looks like MultiChoice Uganda is raising the on-set risk of cast, crew and media to connect with Covid.

During the Sanyu set visit, media took photos that DStv Uganda and M-Net oddly wanted the journalists to take at the production that is done by Nabwiso Films and that is also streamed on Showmax.

The shocking photos show crew members from various divisions working behind-the-scenes with none wearing masks, actors who are not in front of the cameras also not wearing masks, and even insouciant media hanging onto each other without masks on and posing for selfies.

Make-up artists and stylists work on talent with no masks or social distancing adhered to at all.

The photos also show how the Sanyu crew and cast - including the MultiChoice Uganda PR and media liaison officers and the visiting media completely disregard the most basic of Covid-19 safety protocols during the set visit.

A DStv Uganda PR person is photographed literally rubbing shoulders with others - with no social distancing and no masks visible anywhere - smiling and posing for social photos,  alongside Matthew Nabwiso in a green T-shirt who is the Sanyu series director.

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice how the lack of creating and adhering to Covid-19 safe on-set protocols on shows produced for DStv align with MultiChoice's publicly-stated comments that it is adhering to Covid-19 safety regulations.

"We continue to adhere to strict protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba, a MultiChoice PR and marketing manager.

"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew and the media safe from Covid-19."

Photos taken on set however clearly show that crew members don't wear masks and don't social distance, and that cast members are clearly also not wearing masks when they're not shooting scenes.

MultiChoice was also asked that since cast and crew, and even media, are not wearing masks on a TV set in Uganda, if MultiChoice deems there to be no Covid-19 in Uganda, or a very low risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19.

"MultiChoice is very conversant of the risk of Covid-19 in all the markets in which we operate, many of our shows are shot in a Covid bubble, with all productions adhering to strict protocols. We continue to take all precautionary measures in the interest of the safety of our staff, cast and crew. Only a few members of the tour removed their masks as pictured," said Thandeka Mqaba.

MultiChoice was asked why DStv Uganda is fine with the cast and crew of a TV show like Sanyu not wearing protective Covid-safe gear on set, and why media are taken to such a show and showcased such a production.

"We continue to adhere to strict protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba.

"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew and the media safe from Covid-19."

The pay-TV company was also asked when MultiChoice changed its position regarding practising Covid safety measures during filming either for Africa overall, or for specific African countries, and for Uganda, and how this work and why this changed.

"MultiChoice has not changed its position regarding practising Covid-19 safety measures in any of our operations, we continue to adhere to strict safety regulations in line with government protocols across our operations," said Thandeka Mqaba.

Lorato Mwape promoted and appointed as MultiChoice Botswana managing director.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Africa has promoted and appointed Lorato Mwape as MultiChoice Botswana managing director to oversee the pay-TV operator's business in that country.

Lorato Mwape has been MultiChoice Botswana's head of customer care and experience since she was appointed in this role at the company in April 2019.

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Lorato Mwape as Managing Director of MultiChoice Botswana," says Nyiko Shiburi, Southern Africa regional director of MultiChoice in a statement, and who himself is soon taking over as new MultiChoice South Africa CEO.

"During her time with the business, Lorato Mwape has launched a number of innovations geared towards the best interest of the customer, such as a home delivery service, which offered a unique solution to DStv Botswana subscribers during a time of significant need."

Lorato Mwape says "In each and every role I have undertaken in my professional career, my mandate has always been to create solutions to everyday problems that supersede both the internal and external customer’s expectations".

"I’ve learnt that the only way to achieve this is through listening, learning and improving. Through my own work, passion and drive, my hope is to empower those I lead to do the same."

Prior to her joining MultiChoice Botswana, Lorato Mwape has worked in the roles of service quality manager, customer care service & quality manager, retail manager and call centre manager in her over 18 years of experience within the telecommunications space.

Lorato Mwape also holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in marketing management from MANCOSA, an Honours diploma in applied management and business skills from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, and a certificate in management.

Coronavirus: Over 152 000 DStv subscribers in South Africa sign a petition in a week asking for similar help as MultiChoice extends free bouquet upgrades in Nigeria and Botswana to Ghana and Zimbabwe as well.

by Thinus Ferreira

A petition started by upset DStv subscribers in South Africa has grown to over 152 000 signatures in 7 days since it was started last week, with South Africans asking for lower monthly fees and payment compassion similar to what's happening in other countries where MultiChoice continues to give massive discounts and free bouquet upgrades and has now provided relief for subscribers in Ghana and Zimbabwe as well after giving reprieve to its pay-TV customers in Nigeria and Botswana.

Last week Thursday Sfiso Gwala started a petition entitled "DStv should give S.A. subscribers a payment break or decrease prices during Covid-19" on the change.org platform where it has quickly shot up to become one of the highest "trending" and popular petitions on the platform.

The over 152 000 signatures a week later which saw a jump of another 41 000 signatures on Wednesday night since the 109 000 of Wednesday afternoon, is more than a hundred thousands more than the petition that was started in October 2019 that demanded that MultiChoice return the Crime+Investigation, History and Lifetime TV channels from A+E Networks UK to DStv and which eventually saw the History and Lifetime channels saved.

The petition was prompted after South African DStv subscribers discovered that MultiChoice through its MultiChoice Africa division is giving discounts of up to 75% to DStv and GOtv subscribers, as well as automatically upgrading them to the next higher bouquet for free as part of consumer relief because of Covid-19 national shutdowns.

MultiChoice Africa runs and oversees the various countries in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa.

After Nigeria and Botswana, MultiChoice has now also extended the free package upgrades to its subscribers in Ghana and Zimbabwe.

Martin Mabutho, MultiChoice Nigeria's chief customer officer said that the huge pay-TV discounts are a way of thanking pay-TV customers for their consistent loyalty.

In Botswana MultiChoice thanked DStv subscribers in that country last week for their loyalty and automatically upgraded them the next DStv bouquet for free.

Lorato Mwape, MultiChoice Botswana's acting managing director, in a statement, said that "It is our priority to put customers at the heart of everything we do, and in line with our mission to make great entertainment available, even during the most trying of times, we wanted to gift our very loyal and valued customer base by giving them a chance to experience a wider range of the quality content we carry on our other packages. This is our token of appreciation for their continued support".

Now MultiChoice Zimbabwe is giving DStv subscribers a free bouquet upgrade as well.

"The upgrades are a reward for customers' support for the DStv brand and a means of supporting customers at this difficult time," says Liz Dziva, MultiChoice Zimbabwe PR manager. "DStv customers who are fully paid up on their subscriptions will automatically get upgraded" to the next higher package at no extra cost."

In Ghana MultiChoice is upgrading DStv and GOTV subscribers to the next higher package for free as well.

Cecil Sunkwa Mills, MultiChoice Ghana managing director, said MultiChoice is doing it to thanks customers for their loyalty.

"It is our priority to put customers at the heart of everything we do, and in line with our mission to make great entertainment available, even during the most trying of times, we wanted to gift our very loyal and valued customer base by giving them a chance to experience a wider range of the quality content we carry on our other packages. This is our token of appreciation for their continued support," said Cecil Sunkwa Mills.

Since a week ago last Thursday, representatives of MultiChoice South Africa and its PR company Aprio were asked for comment and whether MultiChoice has any plans to offer similar discounts or free upgrades to South African customers as in Nigeria and Botswana.

MultiChoice said it was working on a response but a week later haven't yet responded.

In South Africa, MultiChoice's biggest market, DStv subscribers are already paying some of the highest monthly subscription fees after currency adjustments where another annual increase came into effect at the beginning of April amidst the Covid-19 shutdown in the country.

Through no fault of MultiChoice and to make matters worse, the DStv price increase happened as live sports programming on SuperSport dried up because of the global pandemic, while multiple international and local TV channels had to adjust their schedules and push out new programming, while some local weekday soaps have run out of episodes with more to follow during May.


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: South Africa's DStv subscribers up in arms as thousands sign a petition over massive MultiChoice discounts and free bouquet upgrades in other African countries over Covid-19: 'My kids laugh in my face that Anaconda has been repeated so much they are no longer scared'. 

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Over 100 000 DStv subscribers in South Africa sign a petition in just 4 days asking MultiChoice for payment compassion and a DStv fee decrease after other African countries got up to 75% discounts and free bouquet upgrades.

MultiChoice Africa announces the 59 students from across sub-Sahara Africa who will attend the 2nd year of its MultiChoice Talent Factory film academy for 2019/2020.

MultiChoice Africa announced the 59 names of students who were selected to attend the 2nd one-year internship of its MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), the pay-TV operator's film academy that it will be running for another year from three regional hubs in Southern Africa, East Africa and West Africa.

The 59 students will start their 12-month film academy training programme at the MultiChoice Talent Factory academies in Lusaka, Zambia, in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as in Lagos, Nigeria from October 2019 for the next class.

The three regional academy hubs that started in 2018 as a new film academy initiative to upskill and educate young film creatives, continue to be run and overseen by the three academy directors Berry Lwando (Southern Africa), Njoki Muhoho (East Africa) and Femi Odugbemi (West Africa).

Cheryl Uys-Allie remains as MultiChoice Talent Factory director.

The Pan-Atlantic University in Lekki, Kenyatta University in Nairobi, and the University of Zambia in Lusaka will respectively confer the course qualification when students complete the academy programme.

"As one of the few industry players that not only tell African stories but also invest in them, the need for a dynamic training programme such as the MultiChoice Talent Factory academy has been a long time coming," says Cheryl Uys-Allie.

"As MultiChoice Africa, we always ask ourselves: what's next in the industry, and how can we better prepare for it? The MultiChoice Talent Factory academy was the answer to that question: By giving young Africans the chance to hone their television and film production skills."

As the new class of 2019 get ready to start their year-long course, the graduating class of 2018 who are ready to graduate are getting ready to have their first films screened on M-Net channels across sub-Sahara Africa on DStv, as well as on MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, Showmax.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory is also growing its relationships with the international film and TV industry, like the already-announced partnership with the New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA), as well as Jasco Broadcast Solutions, Nihilent with its connection to Bollywood, and the DOLBY Institute and Universal Music Nigeria (UMG).

As part of their curriculum the 59 new students will also attend MultiChoice Talent Factory masterclasses with practical, expert-led industry skills workshops across 13 African countries.

Here are the 59 students selected for the MultiChoice Talent Factory class of 2019:

Yoseph Baye (Ethiopia)
Audrey Seme (Tanzania)
Kefa Igilo (Tanzania)
Philipo Ngonyani (Tanzania)
Priscilla Narealle (Tanzania)
Brian Ontiri (Kenya)
Christine Wanjiku (Kenya)
Fridah Naliaka (Kenya)
Hanigun Kwenya (Kenya)
Joshua Wango (Kenya)
Milanoi Lenaiyasa (Kenya)
Moses Irungu (Kenya)
Anthony Wanyonyi (Kenya)
Faith Elizabeth (Kenya)
Maurice Muendo (Kenya)
Sally Ngoiri (Kenya)
Daisy Masembe (Uganda)
Isiko Abubaker (Uganda)
Victoria Nakimbowa (Uganda)
Talemwa Pius (Uganda)
Abel Ngoma (Zambia)
Cosmas Ng'andwe (Zambia)
Masuzyo Mwale (Zambia)
Edward Sakala (Zambia)
Kaluba Margret Musonda Mayowe (Zambia)
Tasha Chitika (Zambia)
Christine Mulemeli (Zambia)
Nkosilesisa Ncube (Zimbabwe)
Nelson Madzima (Zimbabwe)
Maira Armanda Isaias Tauacale (Mozambique)
Amarilis Felimao Gule (Mozambique)
Mphatso Makamo (Malawi)
Riejhaat Wolhuter (Namibia)
Humbuhumbu Ngava (Namibia)
Hilma Sheehama (Namibia)
Masego Mohwasa (Botswana)
Lorato Orapeleng (Botswana)
Paulo Idalecio da Silva Joao (Angola)
Adriano Vunda Dizongo (Angola)
Gloria Akor (Nigeria)
Adebowale Lipede (Nigeria)
Julie Ako (Nigeria)
Funmilayo Okonta (Nigeria)
Chioma Paul Dike (Nigeria)
Gbenga Gomes (Nigeria)
Nwaozuzu Amarchi (Nigeria)
Chinyere Ohuonu (Nigeria)
Deborah Omikunle (Nigeria)
Timayo Ogunro (Nigeria)
Igho Arusi (Nigeria)
Orire Nwani (Nigeria)
Godfred Dela Duvi (Ghana)
Christine Boateng (Ghana)
Daphne Atsutse (Ghana)
Abisola Aboaba (Nigeria)
Joshua Tsotso (Nigeria)
Chike Igwebuike (Nigeria)
Esther Akapo (Nigeria)
Eric Kafui Okyerefo (Ghana)

MultiChoice Africa cuts DStv subscription across East Africa in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique after rival StarTimes lowers prices and as pay-TV consumers struggle in tough African economies.

MultiChoice Africa will be cutting monthly DStv and GOtv subscription fees across East Africa with DStv and GOtv consumers who will be seeing a decrease in the monthly payments in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and some Mozambique packages.

MultiChoice East Africa's decision to lower fees comes after rival StarTimes lowered prices in Kenya in April 2019 and as pay-TV consumers struggle in tough African economies.

After China's StarTimes Kenya restructured the tiered-offering of its pay-TV services in Africa's largest pay-TV market in the east of the African continent, MultiChoice is following 5 months later and is now also lowering fees.

In response to a media enquiry MultiChoice Africa confirmed to TVwithThinus that it's adjusting and lowering the monthly bill of DStv and GOtv subscribers in Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania.

MultiChoice will also implement a price decrease in Mozambique from September on the DStv Portuguese packages that include DStv Bue, DStv Grande+, DStv Grande and DStv Facil, although DStv Business as well as GOtv Plus and GOtv Lite subscription fees in Mozambique will increase.

In Malawi also in East Africa, MultiChoice Malawi will be increasing fees for the DStv Family and DStv Access packages only.

"Not all markets where MultiChoice Africa operates will have the same price changes as each country has different cost structures influenced by local dynamics such as inflation, content costs, foreign exchange rates, local taxes and overheads required for each business," says Reatile Tekateka, MultiChoice Africa's group executive head of corporate affairs, told TVwithThinus.

"These are taken into account when setting prices for DStv and GOtv packages. We've done a lot of research into what pay-TV costs in other parts of the world and we believe that our DStv and GOtv services offer good value for money in the countries in which we operate."

In Uganda, MultiChoice Uganda will be cutting monthly DStv subscription fees by up to a third (30%) for some packages where the price of DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and DStv Family are all being reduced.

Kenya will see an even bigger decrease, ranging between 5% to up to almost 37%.

MultiChoice Kenya in a statement about DStv price reductions from September in that country said that "Our aim is to make great entertainment accessible to more consumers in Kenya and we believe this move will grant more of our customers access to the complete world of exciting entertainment channels at a lower price."

DStv Premium in Kenya will see a monthly price reduction of 5% on the most expensive monthly package, while DStv Compact Plus will decrease by 13.46%, DStv Compact will go down by 21% and DStv Family will see a whopping 36.84% decrease. DStv Access will fall by 5%.

Planning to introduce a 'TV nudity ban' bill and furious over the sex-filled series, Nigeria's government lies and says its taking MultiChoice and M-Net's Big Brother Naija to rival StarTimes - although it doesn't have the format rights.

Saying it plans to introduce a "TV nudity ban" bill and furious over the crude, lewd and lascivious latest season of Big Brother in Nigeria beamed across sub-Sahara Africa on DStv, the Nigerian government lied over the weekend saying that it is in negotiations with the MultiChoice pay-TV rival, China's StarTimes, to take Big Brother Naija to StarTimes for a version that "that will reflect the true Nigerian culture".

Neither the Nigerian government nor China's StarTimes has or owns the format for Big Brother that belongs to the EndemolShine Group.

The format licensing rights to do a customised Big Brother Naija was acquired and is being held by M-Net, M-Net West Africa and the MultiChoice Group, which means that no African government like Nigeria nor StarTimes can do another Big Brother Naija version or something resembling it even if they wanted to.

Both the Nigerian government and Nigeria's National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) have condemned the nudity and sexual content in the latest 4th season of Big Brother Nigeria that produced from a studio in Lagos for the first time since 2006 and shown by MultiChoice Nigeria in that country, but also across the rest of Africa on DStv.

Segun Runsewe, director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), and Gloria Shoda, president of Nigeria's National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) have laid complaints about Big Brother Naija at Nigeria's notorious censorship board, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Segun Runsewe is also pushing for a "TV nudity ban" bill for Nigerian television that previously failed, to ban and punish so-called "sex acts" broadcast on television, saying "We are going to represent that bill".

"I will take up the issue of Big Brother Naija. I have spoken with officials of the National Broadcasting Commission because what is going on now, is terrible. Having love affairs on the screen is not part of our own culture at all."

"Let me tell Nigerians that a new Big Brother Naija is on its way and we are working with StarTimes. We are doing a Big Brother Naija that will reflect the true Nigerian culture. We are already working on it. All that will be eaten there will be Nigerian food. The dresses will be Nigerian dresses."

In 2008 Nigeria had a so-called Nudity Bill entitled "A Bill for an Act to punish and prohibit nudity, sexual intimidation and other-related offences in Nigeria" which went nowhere.

Gloria Shoda who apparently watched the Big Brother Naija "sex content, called it "disgusting" and said that "Having live sex on stage is the thing affecting my sensibility and it is impacting negatively on the young children coming up".

"Does it mean that they [contestants] can't abstain from sex for three months? I'm condemning the sex content on Big Brother Niaja," said Gloria Shoda over the weekend.

On Monday morning MultiChoice Africa was asked for comment about the Nigerian government interfering with a private pay-TV company's television production, and for the Nigerian government lying about doing a Big Brother Niaja version with rival StarTimes to which neither has any format licensing rights.


MultiChoice Africa: 'Not aware of any filed complaint or alternative show'
TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice Africa for comment on both the Nigerian government allegedly filing a complaint with the NBC, and the Nigerian government's claim of starting a Big Brother Naija version with China's StarTimes Nigeria.

"We have not received any notification of an official enquiry into Big Brother Naija so we are not aware of any filed complaint," said MultiChoice Africa.

"For the second question, we are also not aware of any plans the government might have with regards to the production of an alternative reality show."

"We remain committed to being Africa’s number one storyteller for our customers. We’re proud of our investment in the Big Brother Naija show that not only delivers exciting, quality local video entertainment content that resonates with viewers across Africa but also ensures that local talent is showcased on a platform that positively contributes towards igniting Africa’s creative industries."

The former PR boss at struggling Econet's Kwesé TV, Reatile Tekateka resurfaces in the pay-TV biz at competitor MultiChoice Africa as its new corporate affairs boss.

The former PR boss at struggling Econet's Kwesé TV, Reatile Tekateka, who disappeared from the radar for a year and a half since 2018, has resurfaced at pay-TV competitor MultiChoice Africa where she has been appointed as the new corporate affairs boss.

Reatile Tekateka was previously the head of PR and communications at Econet Media's floundering Kwesé TV where she oversaw media liaison with the press for Econet's stillborn Kwesé Play video streaming service that is now being liquidated.

Reatile Tekateka jumped to Joe Public United in 2018 as a managing partner and has now joined MultiChoice Africa Holdings since August 2019 as the head of corporate affairs where she will be reporting to MultiChoice Africa CEO, Hennie Visser.

MultiChoice Africa calls Reatile Tekateka "a highly-experienced communications professional with deep skills in reputation management, corporate communications, PR, internal communications and stakeholder management".

Reatile Tekateka has an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science and a post-graduate diploma in business administration from the same institution.

"We are pleased with the appointment of Reatile who brings within MultiChoice Africa an impressive professional footprint in Africa," said Hennie Visser.

"Reatile will play a critical role in building and executing strategies that will assist MultiChoice Africa navigate diverse media, as well as a specialised and diverse set of skills and experience to navigate highly-complex and regulated industries across diverse geographies."

MultiChoice Zimbabwe granted a reprieve from Zimbabwe's central bank around foreign currency payments with DStv subscribers who can 'once again' settle subscription fees in American dollar.

MultiChoice Africa's country business in Zimbabwe got a much-needed reprieve, with the struggling Southern African country's reserve bank allowing DStv subscribers to pay for the subscription TV service in foreign currency like American dollar.

MultiChoice Zimbabwe in a message to DStv and GOtv subscribers in Zimbabwe told them that they can "still" pay their DStv subscription fees in American dollar.

"DStv payments can still be made at selected banks in US$ as the DStv service is exempt from Statutory Instrument SI 142," MultiChoice Zimbabwe told its customers.

On 24 June 2019 the Zimbabwean government suddenly announced that it's switching to the "new" Zimbabwean dollar, more than a decade after it became worthless, and that the American dollar, South Africa's rand, the British pound and Botswana's pula will no longer be accepted as legal tender in Zimbabwe with only the Zimbabwe dollar that can be used as payment for local transactions.

This would have made it even more difficult for DStv and GOtv subscribers in Zimbabwe to pay MultiChoice Zimbabwe for a pay-TV service.

Zimbabwe's bad currency and foreign currency crisis steadily worsened during the past two years, with it becoming almost impossible for DStv subscribers in the country to make payments.

In January MultiChoice Zimbabwe told DStv subscribers to pay their accounts in rand from South Africa.

In February 2017 the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank dramatically ramped up its clamping down on citizens using foreign currency and the American dollar, specifically slamming Zimbabwean DStv subscribers for their "illogical behaviour" of wanting to subscribe and pay for DStv.

Since late-2016 several payment options for DStv subscribers in Zimbabwe simply disappeared with payment processing providers announcing that they simply can't continue to process DStv payments, with many Zimbabwean DStv and GOtv subscribers who have family members paying their subscription fees from South Africa through Checkers and Shoprite supermarkets.

It has now emerged that Zimbabwe's central bank during a meeting with financial institutions held just a day later on 25 June 2019, decided to allow dollar payments for MultiChoice's DStv to continue.

It means that DStv subscribers in Zimbabwe can "once again" pay with foreign currency for the DStv subscriptions from within Zimbabwe.

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. After MultiChoice took a gaggle of press to the Big Brother Naija house in Lagos Nigeria, the first story finally appears ... 2 weeks later.

More than two weeks after MultiChoice took a bunch of journalists from various African countries - South Africa excluded and left out - to the new Big Brother Naija house in Lagos, Nigeria, for a weeklong press junket, the first actual first-hand reporting and story of how it was inside, finally appeared.

This is the failing level and standard of entertainment reporting and reporting about television in Africa that companies like MultiChoice Africa either want, or are fine with, since the same scenario regarding press group access keeps repeating itself over and over again, with the same (non-)results.

The disgusting waste of MultiChoice and M-Net money, time, resources and on-set access - including making top-level executives available and doing Q&A sessions - of which there's basically no return on the investment (ROI) in terms of press coverage, is staggering and appalling.

Almost none of the invited journalists filed or reported stories from the press junket beforehand in the days leading up to the broadcast launch of the 4th season of Big Brother Naija, despite getting massive access and living it up in a luxury hotel with internet. 

Was it America, or a different set of focused, professional and experienced journalists covering TV and entertainment, there would have been a flurry of reporting right from day 1 of press tour.

It's now actually extremely likely that nothing will appear - no interviews, photo articles, or stories with the MultiChoice or M-Net executives or Big Brother Naija producers, nor anything from any of the other shows and sets from SuperSport to Tinsel the press group got access to during their Lagos media week.

Journalists and influencers from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana , Zambia and Nigeria spent a night in the new Big Brother Naija house.

The questions is: Where is the coverage?

Was the business lounge of the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel on Victoria Island in Lagos where media stayed closed or under renovation? Their phones definitely worked, since it wasn't too much actual work to post and do food, fun and fashion selfies.

By some miracle Hilary Kimuyu finally managed to type something up by 14 July 2019. Big Brother Naija started on 30 June.

How are DStv subscribers and people working in, and interested in the broader TV industry and MultiChoice and M-Net's production activities served by non and late coverage?

What value gets unlocked for either MultiChoice that invited media, or the press if none of them actually do what they were invited for, which is to report stories?

Besides hitting the liquor hard, champagning it up and eating a lot, where are the multiple stories about the information and what was said at the media session with John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria CEO; Femi Odugbemi, the West African director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory and students; and Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net West Africa channels director?

Where are the on-set images and new stories after the studio and set visits of SuperSport and M-Net's prime time soap Tinsel of which there shouldn't just be one, but several?

This is the first time in 13 years since 2006 that a Big Brother production has been done from inside Nigeria.

There should be more, comprehensive and incisive coverage in the form of multiple news articles spanning a range of subjects, as well as perspective stories about it from the invited media who MultiChoice chose to give access to Big Brother Naija. Where is it?

Instead, media and influencers that MultiChoice Africa took on a press junket, went, saw, took, lavishly lived in leisure ... and did little besides what in essence amounts to a cross-country,  self-indulgent holiday and strutting on the red carpet - something they should never be on in the first place.

That is not what journalism is. That is not what it means to be a journalist. It's sad and disgusting that irresponsible people who don't care for television, nor for covering the TV industry in Africa, are given access to things, people and places they don't and won't cover.

The problem isn't that African Television - so big and bright, vibrant and growing - doesn't have media that can and want to and try to cover and report on it.

It's that when MultiChoice gives access to press for something like Big Brother, those getting it/in, can't bother.


ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Journalists from across the continent on a Big Brother Naija TV junket with MultiChoice Africa showed off their dazzling feeding frenzy as they 'selfie'd just about everything - except for actually reporting the news and about the business of Big Brother.

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Journalists from across the continent on a Big Brother Naija TV junket with MultiChoice Africa showed off their dazzling feeding frenzy as they 'selfie'd just about everything - except for actually reporting the news and about the business of Big Brother.

If you thought there were going to be reams and reams of detailed, timeous stories as well as comprehensive reporting from the group of journalists from across Africa who went on a week-long TV tour with MultiChoice to Lagos, Nigeria to cover the launch of the 4th season of Big Brother Naija, you thought wrong - and haven't been keeping track of the trash level of what's passing as (non)coverage and reporting of Africa's entertainment and TV industry.

What we did get were selfies - lots and lots of them - food videos, what they drank, their gifts, their nightclub escapades, their dazzling pouting and even their red carpet strutting - because so-called journalists want to be photographed appearing on the red carpet themselves these days, instead of behind the rope line covering it.

While the gaggle of journalists that The MultiChoice Group invited enjoyed their multi-day stay at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel on Victoria Island in Lagos last week in the lead-up to the live show launch event of the 4th season of Big Brother Naija on Sunday, you'd be hard-pressed, even days later, trying to find any story or any actual incisive reporting from any of the multiple media sessions or studio and set tours they did.

What exactly the return on the investment is for MultiChoice when so-called journalists from across Africa go on a week-long media junket and do little to absolutely nothing except taking selfies to make themselves look good, is anyone's guess.

For journalism and entertainment journalism, and in terms of reporting about the TV industry on the continent, it's however once again highly embarrassing - besides looking like a massive MultiChoice waste of money.

FOOD FOOD FOOD 🤸🏿‍♂️🤸🏿‍♂️💃.
##bbnaijaexperience19 @DStv_Ghana @GOtvNg @MultiChoiceGRP pic.twitter.com/1Uhh9o5U47

— Entertainment chic 👌🏿: @adwoaloudgh (@adwoaloudgh) June 28, 2019

Journalists did a media session with John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria CEO; Femi Odugbemi, the West African director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory and students; Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net West Africa channels director; as well as studio and set visits of SuperSport and M-Net's prime time soap Tinsel.

They saw, stayed in, and got to personally experience the Big Brother Naija house. They attended the new season's live launch event and afterparty on Sunday night.

The normal expectation is that there wouldn't and shouldn't just be at least one story about each of those, but multiple stories about all of it since journalists got on-location access as well as access to several TV executives, producers and on-screen talent over days.

Instead journalists did almost nothing - besides visibly pandering social media selfies and show-off videos like opening Big Brother Naija gift boxes (ooh, 12 spices!), their meals, their drinks, showing off their dressing up for nights out to have dinner and going to nightclubs - essentially anything but covering and reporting on Big Brother Naija and what they've seen, heard and were told about MultiChoice and its TV operations.

Where is the return on the investment? Where is the duty to the public?

Is Insta-posts from TV Tour, with the swirl of FX-glitter for effect, the level we've fallen to and all that the public get now when access media forsake what they're supposed to be there for?

Are you ready for the hottest season of #BBNaija starting this Sunday on @DStvUganda!?! My #bbnaijaexperience just got hotter with this welcome gift from Big Brother! pic.twitter.com/Z468beuMB4

— Charlie Denzel Mwiyeretsi 🇺🇬 (@DenzelUG) June 27, 2019

It's hugely problematic when on a TV junket, it's more publicly known that journalists went to Lagos' Lekki market, visited Freedom Park in downtown Lagos, visited the Nike Art Centre for Art and Culture and had a night out at N-tyce, than what it is to find any actual reporting on what the journalists were there to cover and report on workwise about the latest African version of the Endemol Shine Group's reality format show.

MultiChoice literally gave journalists the experience of staying over for a night in the newly-created Big Brother Naija camera-filled house - the first time in 13 years (since 2006) that a Big Brother production has been done from inside Nigeria, while M-Net and SuperSport gave access to their studios and shows.

Scour the interwebs and try and find stories from the overnight experience or the various other productions and what was said or seen there.

Beyond the lack of first-hand reports about the Big Brother Naija stay (of which there should rightly be several), there are no reports about the design, the construction, the production behind-the-scenes, the new broadcasting set-up from Lagos, or what went into the creation of the house.

Where is the coverage?

It's as if some people were simply picked for a multi-day holiday in Lagos as part of a week of self-entitled feeding, frolicking and having fun without doing the work - which is to represent the hundreds or thousands of readers, listeners or viewers, and to report on the business of broadcasting and the business of Big Brother Naija.

It's inexcusable.


ALSO READ: From a male stripper to a lawyer and a police officer working in Londen are part of the 21 Nigerian housemates competing in the 4th season of M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija on DStv that is now done from a studio in Lagos.
ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 50 photos from inside the house of the 4th season of Big Brother Naija and its colourfully designed interior.