Nigeria's federal court dismisses country's controversial fine of BBC News Africa's banditry documentary

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's Federal High Court in Lagos has set aside the N5 million fines the country's controversial National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) slapped on Trust Television Network, MultiChoice's DStv, TStv and StarTimes Nigeria which all aired the BBC News Africa documentary "Bandit warlords of Zamfara" in the BBC Africa Eye programme in 2022.

The draconian NBC slapped Trust Television Network, as well as several other broadcasters in Nigeria with hefty fines for broadcasting a documentary from BBC News Africa on its BBC Africa Eye documentary programme, entitled "Bandit warlords of Zamfara" in 2022.

Besides Trust Television Network, the NBC fined MultiChoice and BBC News Africa airing the documentary on DStv, TelCom Satellite Limited running the now-defunct TStv, and NTA StarTimes Limited running StarTimes Nigeria which all showed the documentary. 

The NBC wrongly claimed that news and documentaries about crime and banditry in Nigeria, broadcast on television, "undermined national security and contravened the Nigerian broadcasting code".

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) took the NBC to court and filed a lawsuit against NBC as well as the Nigerian president and the country's caustic and clueless former information minister, Lai Mohammed.

The organisations wanted the court to declare "that the imposition of fines on the media houses is unlawful and amounts to a breach of legality, necessity, proportionality principles".

Justice Nicholas Oweibo ruled that the overreaching NBC lacks the legal power and authority to impose fines unlawfully and unilaterally on broadcasters or suspensions, or withdrawals of licences "or any form of punishment whatsoever on independent media houses for promoting access to diverse information on issues of public importance".

"A declaration is, hereby made that the provisions of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code which are arbitrarily being used by the defendants to sanction, harass, intimidate and restrict the independent media houses are inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution," he ruled. 

ALSO READ: Nigeria fines MultiChoice, StarTimes and TStv over R200 000 for airing BBC Africa Eye investigative documentary on Nigerian gangs.

Suits spinoff Suits: LA with Stephen Amell given a series order.

by Thinus Ferreira

America's NBC network has given a series order to a Suits spinoff entitled Suits: LA starring Stephen Amell which means it's extremely likely that the series will be seen on M-Net (DStv 101) as well.

Suits: LA is created by the Suits creator Aaron Korsh and was developed after Netflix added Suits, which was set in New York, as a library title to its streaming service where it became highly watched.

In Suits: LA, Stephen Amell from Arrow portrays Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York who now lives in Los Angeles and is the head of a law firm there.

NBC issued a summary of Suits: LA: "His firm is at a crisis point, and to survive he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can't help but mix their personal and professional lives."

"All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel that led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved."

The Suits: LA cast includes Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis and Bryan Greenberg. 

Josh McDermitt is Stuart Lane who joined Ted Black to start a new Los Angeles law firm. Lex Scott Davis portrays Erica Rollins, a "savvy and strong-willed rising star at the firm", while Bryan Greenberg is Rick Dodsen, Ted's protege in the firm's entertainment division.

The executive producers are Aaron Korsh, Doug, David Bartis, Doug Liman and Gene Klein who were all also executive producers of Suits.

'DUM-DUM.' Law & Order revived for a 21st season almost 12 years after its cancellation, several familiar faces likely to return to the iconic crime procedural.

by Thinus Ferreira

"Dum-dum." The American crime procedural series Law & Order produced by creator Dick Wolf is being revived for a 21st season, 11 and a half years after it was abruptly cancelled in May 2010 after 456 episodes.

"There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. This is mine," Dick Wolf says in a statement about Law & Order returning to television. for a 21st season.

Susan Royner, chairman of entertainment content for NBCUniversal Television and streaming, says "Law & Order is quite simply one of the most iconic shows in television history, and the idea of continuing its legacy and partnering with Dick on an all-new season is nothing short of exhilarating. This is great news for NBC as well as TV fans everywhere".

Pearlena Igbokwe, chairperson of the Universal Studio Group, says "The return of the flagship Law & Order series for a pivotal 21st season is a proud moment for Dick and a proud moment for us, his studio partners".

The spinoff Law & Order: SVU is currently in its 23rd season in the United States with earlier seasons seen on Universal TV (DStv 117) across Africa; with the latest spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime with a returning Chris Meloni that just started its second season in America and with the first season on M-Net (DStv 101).

The returning Law & Order, produced by Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment, will undoubtedly feature some new cast members, but will very likely also bring back old, familiar faces although no cast announcements have been made yet.

Ric Eid will serve as showrunner, writer and executive producer and episodes will once again follow the classic format of following "the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders", together with Dick Wolf, Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski as executive producers.

‘Sakina, we’re live’: The SABC's Morning Live presenters mock Namibia's NBC presenters Jessica and Elmarie after their awkward on-air spat.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's public broadcaster, known for several of its own on-air gaffes over the years, on Thursday had some fun mocking its Namibian TV neighbour when the presenters of Morning Live worked in a skit and did their own version of a sensational video that went viral overnight of the awkward on-air fight between two presenters at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

On Wednesday night a clip surfaced of the cringe-worthy interaction between Elmarie Kapunda, a news anchor on NBC's nightly TV news programme on Namibia's public broadcaster, and the sports presenter Jessica.

After Elmarie apparently "intruded" on the content or lines that Jessica wanted to say, Jessica started to scold Elmarie  with a "No,we are not going to do that! You're just going to greet me and say, 'Take it away", after which Elmarie had to remind her fellow presenter: "Jessica, we're live". 

Awkward silence, dead air and cold stares followed, after which the NBC News technical director cut to a commercial break.

Namibia's NBC has so far not released any statement about the incident and it's not clear whether any of the on-air talent has been suspended on taken leave.

On Thursday, Morning Live, broadcast on SABC2 and SABC News (DStv 404) reported about the incident in its daily trending topics. Later anchor Sakina Kamwendo and presenter Vaylen Kirtley had fun poking fun at their NBC colleagues' on-air moment.

Sakina Kamwendo and Vaylen Kirtley substituted their names and Vaylen had to tell her colleague: "Sakina, we're live", after which Sakina blankly stared into the Auckland Park TV camera for a few seconds - after which she cracked a smile.

On Wednesday night the SABC and SABC had its own on-air problem when anchor Vuyo Mvoko suddenly had to deal with an unexpected connection blackout during the The Watchdog timeslot:

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV reports and articles to read - 25 February 2021.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:    

■ Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) TV sport anchor Sharon Tjimbundu in online nudes share scandal after video and naked photos of her with her exposed breasts are shared on social media.

"I hate myself and my life right now," says the TV personality and influencer who says she needs to make better choices.

■ Video streaming vs pay-TV: Which option is better?

■ Is it time to cancel your DStv subscription? Here are your options.

■ The creator of High School Musical: The Musical on Disney+ about what's coming in season 2.

■ Some of the Marvel shows on Disney+ might run for multiple seasons.

- Falcon & the Winter Soldier on Disney+ will only be 6 episodes because the series is very expensive.

- Disney+ will stay with the set-up of releasing a new episode of a show weekly because it keeps the buzz: "It's like a new opening weekend every week".

■ Riverdale's Archie, KJ Apa seen on M-Net (DStv 101) is turning Shannen Doherty - says it sometimes feel like he's in jail on set: "There are so many restrictions on what I can and can't do".

■ NFL player in America threatens to release ESPN reporter Jamison Henley's strip club photos.

■ How a TV critic turned to podcasts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

■ Why Tiger Woods was driving to a TV series that Discovery Inc. is filming on his own just before his terrible car crash.

■ Who invented the so-called "TV Dinner"?

■ Should straight actors play gay roles? The TV writer Russell T. Davies says no.

■ Former Canadian TV exec convicted on fraud.

■ Issue 6 of IOL Television, covering some of South Africa's latest reality TV.

■ "Getting work has never been harder": TV and film workers in Britain share their stories.

■ The former American talk show host Ricki Lake was naked during her marriage proposal and was enjoying a nude soak in the jacuzzi with her man when he popped the question.

The SABC's retrenchment process is set to be finalised by Friday.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 17 October 2020.

 

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:  

■ "We followed his furled umbrella": The TV critic who dressed for success.

- British showbiz journalist and award-winning TV critic Herbert Kretzmer dead at 95.

■ The new American TV series made during and about the Covid-19 pandemic will be a fascinating first draft of American pop culture history - even if they have mixed results.

■ Heard the one of the NBC CNN lover who got whispered state secrets by her ambassador during their extra-marital affair?
Britain's former ambassador in America, Kim Darroch leaked to his secret lover, the former NBC CNN (DStv 403) Michelle Kosinski correspondent all kinds of government and White House secrets to the consternation of the United States.

- He quit his job in July 2019; she left CNN 5 months later.

■ HBO Max and Disney+ are fast catching up to Netflix in the video streaming service wars.

■ Ghana's government arrests journalist David Tamakloe with fake charges.

■ Don't expect answers or resolutions early in the new 4th season of The Good Doctor seen on M-Net (Dstv 101).

■ Rose McGowan responds after the starlet of the new Charmed reboot Sarah Jefferey called the original Charmed cast "pathetic": "I honestly had no idea who you were".

- Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs are responding as well.

■ The Witcher on Netflix added a bizarre plot so that it could be different from Harry Potter.

■ Disney+ now adds disclaimers before certain of its films to acknowledge racist stereotypes and the harmful impact it has.

■ Why TV's portrayal of Muslims still falls short.

■ With a male stripper in charge, this might be a bridge too far for even reality TV.

■ Why Netflix wants to try and compete with Disney in the animation genre.

■ Why TV series like Amazon Prime Video's The Boys is destroying you.

■ New Zealand TV critic Diana Wichtel about TV: IIt's still useful - and watched" (subscription required).

■ Tanzania's communications regulator is used as a government censorship hammer before elections to stifle the media.

■ Women now represent more than half of the creative roles in Australia's TV & film industry as the gender balance keeps shifting.

■ The non-TV story of the day: What you dream about as a kid - 12-year old finds a dinosaur skeleton that palaeontologists call a significant discovery.

Africa's 2014 FIFA World Cup TV rights drama: MultiChoice Africa on why it suddenly cut the continent's free-to-air (FTA) broadcasters.

MultiChoice Africa which has blacked out the TV signals of several free-to-air (FTA) public broadcasters on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in several African countries from Zimbabwe to Namibia since the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, tells TV with Thinus that it must be done.

"SuperSport is the rights holder for the pay-TV platforms - both for satellite and digital terrestrial television (DTT) and hence 2014 World Cup games are available on the SuperSport channels on DStv and the SuperSport Select channels on GOtv," says MultiChoice Africa.

MultiChoice Africa pulled various TV channels like the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) from DStv at short notice although these broadcasters did secure the official rights to show the 64 matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on their TV channels.

This made it impossible for DStv subscribers to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches which started at the end of last week on these channels on DStv, with viewers in these countries who could only watch it on the terrestrial signals of these broadcasters.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in South Africa on DStv didn't go dark - the 2014 World Cup matches shown on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 are broadcast on these channels although the SABC is also a (FTA) broadcaster and which acquired the FTA rights, similar to other African broadcasters which are blacked out.

Asked why this is the case, MultiChoice tells TV with Thinus that "South Africa is viewed differently by FIFA, as it is not a member of the AUB (Rest of Africa) and BON (Nigeria), where the FIFA agreements with those associations preclude carriage on pay-TV platforms that do not have rights".

"SuperSport has in fact taken a sub- licence from the SABC in South Africa alone, for 2014 FIFA World Cup. Therefore, SABC 2014 FIFA World Cup content may be carried by MultiChoice".

Meanwhile Africa's public broadcasters blacked-out on DStv were not happy. NBC's director-general Albertus Oachamub said in a television interview that MultiChoice Africa informed the broadcaster "just a couple of hours before we were to go live with our broadcast".

"It makes one wonder what the real reasons were, what the real motives are behind such a last minute announcement. We have had lots of run-ins in recent times with MultiChoice. Therefore I'm saying that a last minute announcement like that, makes one wonder if it is really, genuinely for the reasons in the letter that they have sent," said Albertus Oachamub.

MultiChoice Africa tells TV with Thinus that the rights are sold by FIFA in various packages to different platforms.

"Many of the FTA broadcasters in Africa, including ZBC and NBC bought the FTA rights packages - which means they have the rights to show matches on their FTA signal, whether on a FTA digital platform or on analogue".

"FIFA issued a directive that there would be a blanket ban on the broadcasting of FTA channels broadcasting matches licensed to FTA channels by pay-TV operators during the 2014 World Cup".

"As such MultiChoice was forced to comply with this directive and blocked out the games on the FTA channels".

"However MultiChoice went back and negotiated with FIFA and was granted a special reprieve lifting the restriction on the broadcasting of the matches on the FTA channels".

"Hence, all the games are now available on the DStv and GOtv platforms. MultiChoice is compelled to follow any conditions or directives in relation to broadcast rights that may be imposed by the rights owners," says MultiChoice Africa.