Nigeria's Data Protection Commission slaps MultiChoice with N766 million fine for allegedly breaking its data protection laws it calls 'patently intrusive and unfair'

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria N766,242,500 (R8.9 million) for allegedly breaking the struggling West African country's Nigeria Data Protection Act.

Nigeria continues to be a drag on MultiChoice's balance sheet as its most difficult and cumbersome country in Africa to do business in, combined with a constantly worsening economy, rampant inflation, a plunging subscriber base and relentless attacks and court cases trying to shake down the pay-TV operator for money and fines.

In the latest shocker in a string of ongoing Nigerian claims against the company from politicians, official institutions and other industry organisations, the NDPC alleges that MultiChoice Nigeria is guilty of violating DStv Nigeria subscribers' privacy rights and illegally transfered their consumer data across borders and out of Nigeria.

Babatunde Bamigboye, the NDPC head of legal, enforcement and regulations, in a statement says the organisation launched an investigation into MultiChoice Nigeria's consumer data handling and storage in the second quarter of 2024.

"The NDPC found, among other things, that MultiChoice violated the data privacy rights of its subscribers and individuals associated with them who are not necessarily subscribers," Babatunde Bamigboye says.

"The commission also discovered that MultiChoice engaged in the illegal cross-border transfer of personal data belonging to Nigerian data subjects. The depth of data processing by MultiChoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate."

"This is a grave affront to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

The NDPC says it ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to take remedial measures but that it then discovered that MultiChoice Nigeria allegedly failed to fix the problem.

"The commission found the measures undertaken by MultiChoice in this regard unsatisfactory. For want of cooperation, the commission has directed MultiChoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act."

Dr Vincent Olatunji, NDPC national commissioner, has now ordered an investigation into "all channels through which MultiChoice collects the personal data of Nigerian citizens to ensure compliance".

"Autlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDPA is liable to penalty under the Act," he says in the statement.

Lawyer backs off from frivolous MultiChoice Nigeria lawsuit after taking DStv to court over Nigeria price hike

by Thinus Ferreira

The Nigerian lawyer Festus Sanmi Onifade has realised you can't sue a company for increasing its prices and has now backtracked on his frivolous lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria after taking the pay-TV company to court, alleging "unfair price hikes".

Festus Sanmi Onifade has suddenly withdrawn his court case against MultiChoice Nigeria in the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria.

Festus Sanmi Onifade gave no reasons for backtracking on his lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria on 1 March 2025. A court notice posted, only states, "Take notice that the claimant hereby wholly discontinues this suit against the defendants".

MultiChoice Nigeria hiked its subscription fees for Nigeria's DStv customers by a whopping 22% from March - the second massive price hike for the West African country in a year.

That led to Festus Sanmi Onifade running to court to make a lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria that as a private commercial company, in a so-called free economy country, simply increased its prices given Nigeria's massive inflation, ongoing naira currency devaluation, and worsening economy.

In addition, Nigeria's consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), also dragged MultiChoice Nigeria and CEO John Ugbe to court over its latest DStv price hike.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

ALSO READ: Nigeria's consumer protection agency drags MultiChoice Nigeria and CEO John Ugbe to court for defying order not to implement 22% DStv price hike

Netflix denies dumping Nigeria after telling filmmakers at 'last supper' party it is pulling out, Africa licensing exec David Karanja exits

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix denies that it plans to or has dumped Nigeria in terms of local content spending after recently telling Nigerian filmmakers at a "last supper" event that it is pulling out, saying the video streaming service remains committed to producing more shows and films from the West African country.

Meanwhile, David Karanja, Netflix Africa's manager for licensing originals, is exiting the streamer.

David Karanja's exit comes as the Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan caused controversy and bewilderment when he and another panellist at the 2024 Zuma Film Festival mentioned that the red letter streamer had stopped commissioning further Netflix Originals from Nigeria.

Kunle Afolayan said that Netflix greenlit a third season of his Aníkúlápó series after which it allegedly axed further commissioning of more Nigerian content for Netflix, eight years after the video streamer launched in Africa.

"Coming to Netflix, I've tried to really avoid this because it's really heartbreaking. It's a big blow on us," he said on stage.

"When we signed the three-film deal with Netflix three years ago, it was a moment of great excitement," Kunle Afolayan said at the festival. 

"Thank God we had shot seasons two and three of Aníkúlápó because all the other people that were commissioned with us at the same time were cancelled. Their projects were cancelled."

Victor Okhai, president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, who was also a panellist at the film festival, said on stage that a few weeks ago Netflix invited Nigerian producers to a party which looked like "a last supper".

The event he was referring to was Netflix's "Lights, Camera ... Naija!" event which took place again in November in Nigeria, with Netflix that didn't communicate anything of what was said or happened there to the larger media contingent across the African continent.

"Netflix came to serve a last supper here a couple of weeks ago," Victor Ohai said.

"They invited our filmmakers to a party and before that told them 'we are pulling out, we are not doing business with you anymore'. So it was what you might call a fitting last supper." 

The comments of Kunle Afolayan and Victor Ohai fuelled speculation that Netflix is done with Nigeria, similar to how Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Prime Video in March abruptly decided to stop all content spending in sub-Saharan Africa and got rid of its entire African content executive team for Nigeria and South Africa. 

From 2016 through 2023 Netflix, according to its Africa impact report, has invested R3.16 billion ($175 million) in producing localised African content content in its three key markets of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria combined.

In Nigeria, where Netflix is primarily competing with MultiChoice's DStv and its Showmax streamer, Netflix has already invested R415 million ($23 million) since 2016 to create over 250 new local titles in the form of Netflix Originals from Nigeria, including co-productions and films.

"We are not exiting Nigeria," Netflix Africa told TVwithThinus in response to a media query. "We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our members".

On 29 November Netflix added Sisi London, with 7 Doors from Femi Adebayo launching on Netflix on 13 December. 

An insider noted that Netflix Africa is excited about the journey the streaming service has made in Nigeria when it comes to its films and series and continues to focus on further improving and building out the volume and quality of its Nigerian content slate.

Struggling Nigerian consumers and content companies continue to battle the country's runaway inflation and severe naira currency devaluation, making it difficult for consumers to afford luxury services like video streaming and for companies to make enough revenue.

MultiChoice last month singled out Nigeria and Zambia as the two African nations that severely negatively impacted its half-year results due to worsening economic environments for both consumers and operators.

Exiting Netflix's Africa division is David Karanja just over three years after he joined Netflix in September 2021 in the Netherlands as part of the team.

Over the past three years, he oversaw the development of over 35 new series and films for the platform ranging from Netflix's first Afrikaans show and drama series Ludik in South Africa, to Shanty Town, Country Queen and Kunle Afolayan's Aníkúlápó.

Without warning Netflix does second 2024 price hike in Nigeria, this time by up to 83%.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has just hiked prices in Nigeria for a second time in 2024 and without warning - this time by up to 83% and hitting its lowest-paying subscribers on its mobile-only plan the hardest.

The global streaming service unexpectedly hiked its monthly subscription fees in the West African country in April this year, and has now once again increased fees after just three months.

According to Netflix's website, the streamer's premium plan now suddenly cost N7000 - an increase of 40% from N5000.

Netflix's standard plan has increased 37.5% from N4000 to N5500, while the basic plan got hiked 21% from N2900 to N3500. 

Netflix's cheapest - its mobile plan - was shockingly increased by a whopping 83% from N1200 to N2200.

Netflix hasn't given any explanation for the price hike although Nigeria struggles with rampant inflation and a worsening economy. Netflix gave existing subscribers no warning that another pending price hike would be implemented.

Nigerian students rage against MultiChoice Nigeria's 22% price hike, threatens DStv Nigeria with 7-day ultimatum to reverse increase or they will 'lock up' all DStv offices.

by Thinus Ferreira

Furious Nigerian students are raging against MultiChoice Nigeria's 22% price hike from May, with the country's students threatening the private commercial company over the prices it can charge and giving it a 7-day ultimatum to cancel the upcoming price increase or hat they will "lock up all offices of DStv".

This week MultiChoice Nigeria announced another shocking price hike of up to 22% coming into effect from 1 May in the West African country buckling under a worsening economy. 

MultiChoice Nigeria's exorbitant price hike is similar to the 19% price hike this year in neighbouring Ghana, another shocking 10% price hike by MultiChoice Kenya in Kenya just 7 months after the last increase, and another 10% increase by MultiChoice Uganda only 6 months after the last price hike in that country. 

To be fair: MultiChoice's DStv is a so-called luxury service operated by a traditional pay-TV operator - consumers are not forced to pay for it and can cancel it when they don't want to pay for it. 

On the other hand MultiChoice, like any commercial company is free to make its own price for any product or service and potential customers will either buy it or not.

After DStv Nigeria announced that it will be hiking prices from May by up to 22%, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), issued a statement threatening that they will "lock up" all DStv offices across Nigeria unless MultiChoice Nigeria rescinds its announced price hike.

NANS gave MultiChoice Nigeria an ultimatum of 7 days to announce that it won't hike prices before NANS threatens to close the company by locking its offices.

In a statement signed by NANS coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, deputy coordinator, Alao John and even NANS public relations officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa, NANS threatens MultiChoice with a countrywide office lockdown over its price hike.

"MultiChoice has increased their tariffs without considering the standard of living of Nigerians. We have also waited for long to see if this same company will dance to the music of Nigerians who have been clamouring for pay as you view tariff but the reverse is the case," NANS says in a statement.

"This is the time to call on the National Broadcasting Commission to go back to the commission act to regulate the ownership, activities and operations of direct broadcast satellite service providers."

Erroneously, NANS claims in their statement that "We want the federal government to stampede their proposed plan in tariffs increment and also force them to implement the pay-as-you-view system. We are aware that DStv operates a system of pay-as-you-go tariffs in other countries."

MultiChoice doesn't operate a so-called "pay-as-you-go" system in other African countries.

NANS threatens MultiChoice with an office shutdown, saying "We hereby give 7 days ultimatum to MultiChoice to reverse their plan of increasing their tariffs and also yield to the call of Nigerians and also implementing pay-as-you-view tariffs or else we shall be left with no other option than to lock up all offices of DStv until our demands are met which is the mind of all Nigerians."

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.

Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission orders MultiChoice Nigeria to sublicence some of its DStv channels to Metro Digital that wants SuperSport and English Premier League content.

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to sublicence some of its DStv TV channels to Metro Digital which asked MultiChoice for over 50 of its TV channels, including SuperSport and English Premier League (EPL) content.

In a letter sent on 25 October 2022 to MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe, George Obi, NBC head of legal, writes that MultiChoice Nigeria is "hereby directed to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended pursuant to Metro Digital's request for channels sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal".

Metro TV has been embroiled in a three year legal tussle with MultiChoice Nigeria to force the pay-TV operator to resell some of its content and TV channels to other operators.

Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, Metro Digital managing director, says "The growth of the broadcast industry in Nigeria has been limited due to monopolistic practices of the dominant player in the industry. All indigenous companies licensed in the last 20 years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity and warehousing".

"The federal government of Nigeria, realising the inherent danger, outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity, through amendments to the Broadcast Code. Furthermore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees."

"The end of monopoly in Nigeria's broadcasting industry will enhance competition, innovation and quality of service delivery. The industry will experience rapid growth and consumers will benefit from the competitive pricing that follows."

Ifeanyi Nwafor says it commends the NBC for "repositioning of the industry and ending the monopolistic practices that have held the industry down for a long time".

MultiChoice appoints Opeoluwa Filani as first-ever Showmax general manager in Nigeria.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has appointed Opeoluwa Filani as its first ever general manager for its Showmax video streaming in Nigeria.

Opeoluwa Filani has over 16 years senior management experience, working in various roles in sales and marketing. Before joining Showmax, he was the country sales director at JCDeaux, a multinational out-of-home advertising company, where he led the sales and marketing division.

In his role as general manager, MultiChoice says that Opeoluwa Filani will oversee the Showmax Nigeria operations, providing strategic direction and implementing programmes to drive business growth and profit.

he holds an executive MBA from the Warwick Business School, UK, an MSc in International Marketing Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Scotland with certifications from Harvard Business School in sales and distribution.

Opeoluwa Filani says "These are exciting times for the SVoD industry in Africa and Showmax is right at the centre of this emerging sector".

"Showmax's commitment to developing a local Nigerian strategy I believe is right for this fast-changing environment and I am happy to be a part of it. I look forward to working with the team and building on the amazing work that has been done over the past couple of years."

Yolisa Phahle MultiChoice CEO of connected video, says "We've witnessed unprecedented growth in our paying subscriber base over the past year, and it's become even more important to have a dedicated team at the helm of affairs of Showmax in one of our most important markets".

"Opeoluwa Filani brings many years of relevant experience and a refreshing perspective to business development. His appointment couldn't have come at a better time as this is a defining period for our business in Nigeria. I am confident that with his experience and vision, Opeoluwa will drive Showmax Nigeria to even greater heights."

MultiChoice powers ahead with localised content including slum-set Kenya drama Pepeta, a funeral reality series in Ghana, Crime & Justice spinoff for Nigeria and a Nollywood psychothriller miniseries.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is powering up its investment in pan-African TV content with the pay-TV company's M-Net and Showmax divisions producing a new funeral reality show from Ghana, a Nollywood psychothriller miniseries, a Crime & Justice spinoff crime procedural for Nigeria, as well as a slum-set Kenyan crime series about an aspiring football player for DStv subscribers.

As it faces more competition from primarily global streaming rivals like Netflix Africa, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, all rapidly expanding across the continent, MultiChoice is pouring millions into the production of localised content for its three biggest African markets - South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya - where the traditional pay-TV operator is experimenting with new formats and continuing to do more localised spinoffs of existing series for different sub-Saharan countries.

"We are increasing our investment in local content and have new shows across the board in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and our Portuguese markets to look forward to," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment and connected video.

"In Kenya, we have a new crime series called Pepeta which captures the dreams and realities of the youth in Kibera which is one of the largest slums in Africa but also known for creating top football players in Kenya."

Pepeta, which translates as "bounce" and which is produced by CJ3 Entertainment, follows the 17-year-old talented footballer Junior torn between crime and soccer, the unforgiving cop Musa, and Biki an ambitious football coach. Pepeta is loosely based on the real-life story of Harun "Rio" Wathari. 

"We also have a movie, it's called A Familiar Christmas and it's our first-ever Christmas movie for Kenya, produced by the award-winning filmmaker of our telenovela Selina."

"New content coming to Nigeria include Ditche - it is our first limited drama series," says Yolisa Phahle.

"It's a psychological thriller about a young Nollywood actress who discovers her fiancé murdered. We also have Showmax's first and exclusive Nigerian telenovela. This story is set against the backdrop of the gold-mining industry and we're launching it in the last quarter of this fiscal."

"Learning from the success of Crime & Justice in Nairobi, we're making a new series of Crime & Justice but this time it's based in Lagos where two detectives investigate cases that have been ripped from the local news headlines."

"Coming soon for Ghana is a 5-part reality show called My Perfect Funeral. It follows 5 families in Ghana as they prepare to bury their loved-ones."

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's next Big Brother in Africa on DStv will be an all-stars face off in January 2023 between former housemates of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija.

After 3-year break with digital migration Nigeria says the country is restarting its switch-over process, plans to complete DTT transition by end of 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

After a 3-year break during which nothing happened, Nigeria's government now plans to resume its digital migration process to move the country from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting, with the West African country that now says it plans to complete Nigeria's switch by the end of 2022.

Professor Armstrong Idachaba, acting director-general of Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), says that the country’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project will be completed by the end of 2022 when the country will fully shift from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

"Nigeria has taken a decision that we are continuing with the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. The journey practically began in 2016 with the pilot rollout in Jos and a few years after, we have gone into phase two," says Professor Armstrong Idachaba.

"Under phase two, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other cities will be switched on to digital TV. We are going to many other cities and following the rollout time table, we hope that by the end of 2022, we would have completed the digital rollout in Nigeria."

Professor Armstrong Idachaba.is correct that Nigeria stated its digital migration process in Jos, Plateau State in 2016, followed by Abuja, Kwara, Kaduna, and Enugu - but the process then ground to a halt in Osogbo in February 2018.

After what appears to be a three-year break, blamed in part on a lack of political will and financial constraints, the launch will now resume in the country’s big cities, notably Lagos, with a completion date of the middle of 2022.

Nigeria, like South Africa and several other African countries, have missed the original deadline that was set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for completion of the switchover process that was meant to happen in June 2015.

South Africa's long-stalled DTT switch-over process has been marred the past decade and counting by corruption, constantly changing DTT standards, court cases and incompetent ministers of communications changing annually.

ALSO READ: South Africa's TV ratings system and broadcasters risk damage in new monthly analogue TV hard switch-off approach as signal transmitters are shut down in provinces before all viewers have switched to DTT or received set-top boxes.

Nigeria's corrupt National Broadcasting Commission fines TV channels over protest news coverage, threatens to shut them down.

by Thinus Ferreira

In a shocking announcement, Nigeria's corrupt National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Monday announced that it is levelling fines against some of Nigeria's TV channels - including Arise TV, Channels Television and AIT - over their #EndSARS protest news coverage which the country's beleaguered president Muhammadu Buhari doesn't like, and threatened that they may be shut down.

Nigeria's NBC said that it will shut TV channels down if they continue to broadcast news coverage that the NBC and Nigerian government sees as instigating a breakdown of law and order in the West African country, or if they broadcast anything that "threaten the security of the country".

Armstrong Idachaba, NBC acting director-general, on Monday suddenly announced at a press conference in Abuja that Arise TV, Channels Television and AIT are each being fined N3 million (R127 862) for what the NBC unilaterally decided is "unprofessional coverage".

The NBC last week ordered Nigeria's TV channels and radio not to "embarrass" Nigeria as a country with their coverage of the "#EndSars" protests sweeping the struggling country.

Armstrong Idachaba claimed that Arise TV, Channels TV and AIT were guilty of "gross violation of the broadcast code, top of which is the use of unverified online video footage from social media". 

As public protests and civil unrest exploded and spread in Nigeria last week following the indiscriminate killing of protesters by Nigerian special forces, multiple TV news channels in Nigeria had their news crews attacked, their buildings and studios invaded, burnt and destroyed.

Angry and fearful Nigerians have been demonstrating for the past 2 weeks against the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit that Nigerians accuse of gross extortion, harassment, torture, police brutality and murder.

The Channels TV channel meanwhile abruptly stopped broadcasting on Wednesday afternoon soon after TVC News started to burn.

Channels, carried on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv in Nigeria, simply showed the channel logo and ran an on-air scroll simply saying "Channels Television is temporarily shutting down due to imminent attack on our staff and operations".

Channels later switched to recorded rebroadcasts.

Reporters of African Independent Television (AIT) and Silverbird Television were reportedly harassed while trying to cover the unfolding protests in Nigeria, while Toyin Yusuf, a journalist with Osun State Broadcasting Corporation was attacked. 

Meanwhile Nigerian soldiers prevented a TV news crew from Arise TV from covering the news at the Lekki Tollgate.

ALSO READ: TVC News headquarters and news vans in Lagos burn as channel is forced off air, Channels TV shuttered, LTV attacked; news crews and reporters from AIT, Silverbird, Arise TV and OSBC harassed by soldiers and protesters as Nigeria's protests spread after government curfew and killings by security forces.

TVC News headquarters and news vans in Lagos burn as channel is forced off air, Channels TV shuttered, LTV attacked; news crews and reporters from AIT, Silverbird, Arise TV and OSBC harassed by soldiers and protesters as Nigeria's protests spread after government curfew and killings by security forces.

by Thinus Ferreira

As public protests spread in Nigeria, protesters have set fire to the building of the TVC News channel in Lagos, Nigeria that was forced off air, while the Channels TV channel soon afterwards also shut down due to what it called credible threats of an "imminent attack on our staff and operations".

Angry and fearful Nigerians have been demonstrating for the past 2 weeks against the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit that Nigerians accuse of gross extortion, harassment, torture, police brutality and murder. 

On social media Nigeria's protests have been trending under the hashtag of #EndSARS.

According to Amnesty International security forces in Nigeria have killed at least 38 people at the Lekki Tollgate after indiscriminately firing on thousands of protesters in Lagos on Tuesday.

Violent protesters, as well as Nigerian soldiers, have harassed and attacked TV news crews from multiple TV channels in Nigeria. 

Public protest action in Nigeria dramatically escalated after Nigerian security forces shot and killed dozens of protesters in the Lekki suburb on Tuesday evening.

Nigerians have been demonstrating nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against the police unit that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture, and murders. 

The TVC News building in Ikosi-Ketu in Lagos was attacked on Wednesday and set alight. Besides the building, several cars, equipment as well as several outside broadcast (OB) news vehicles were set alight and burnt out as well. Several vehicles not burnt were destroyed.

What’s left after thugs attacked TVC news pic.twitter.com/A6O3ykNW6l

— Naija wants to #EndSARS (@Naija_PR) October 22, 2020

TVC stopped posting news on Twitter and its YouTube live stream broadcast abruptly ceased following the fire.

TVC News is owned by Continental Broadcasting Service Nigeria Ltd. and the channel is carried by pay-TV services in NIgeria like MultiChoice's DStv, as well as China's StarTimes.

The Channels TV channel meanwhile abruptly stopped broadcasting on Wednesday afternoon soon after TVC News started to burn.

Channels, carried on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv in Nigeria, simply showed the channel logo and ran an on-air scroll simply saying "Channels Television is temporarily shutting down due to imminent attack on our staff and operations".

Channels later switched to recorded rebroadcasts.

Lagos Television (LTV) was apparently also attacked, while the offices of The Nation newspaper was set alight as well.

Reporters of African Independent Television (AIT) and Silverbird Television were reportedly harassed while trying to cover the unfolding protests in Nigeria, while Toyin Yusuf, a journalist with Osun State Broadcasting Corporation was attacked. 

Meanwhile Nigerian soldiers prevented a TV news crew from Arise TV from covering the news at the Lekki Tollgate.

Nigerian fake pay-TV outfit TStv finally locked out after Abuja headquarters is repossessed with high court order, TStv fined millions after failure to pay rent for 3 years.

by Thinus Ferreira

The fake Nigerian pay-TV operation, TStv, mired in a web of lies and empty broken promises to the government, investors, installers and consumers and that never got off the ground has now finally lost its 5-storey Abuja headquarters as well, with a High Court eviction order, including a levelled fine with TStv that owes millions to the tenant in unpaid rent

The disastrous TStv that made several false promises of launching a new satellite pay-TV service in Nigeria to compete with MultiChoice's DStv and China's StarTimes never got off the ground, pirated TV channel signals from the Middle East and across Africa, made false content claims, stole other content, kept lying about sports content, and took millions from investors and installer agents without ever providing anything in return.

On Tuesday in Nigeria the law firm Rahael Adakole & Co (Lighthouse Chamber) led by Raphael Adakole, took possession of the Telcom Satellite Ltd. Television (TStv) headquarters in Abuja where the shady and elusive TStv managing director, Bright Echefu, owed rent since 2017.

Officers of the court as wellas 4 police officers went to the property to lock out TStv.

The High Court case sought to get the property back for the tenant, West African Business Platform Ltd., from TStv that entered a rental agreement on May 2017 for the preoperty in the Jahi District on Plot 1191, but that has been millions of naira in arrears.

TStv is now forced to "give up possession of the building together with its appurtenances, fixtures and fittings thereof", with the court order that also states that what's left of the imploded TStv to pay West African Business Platform N20,833,333 (R890 607) as general damages "to deter and serve as a lesson from from treating other unsuspecting landlords in such manner".

TStv is also liable for the cost of the case amounting to N10 million (R427 900) over which Justice Halulu presided.

Coronavirus: Nigeria warns that the thousands of MultiChoice and M-Net guests at their 7th AMVCA have very likely been exposed to Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

In an announcement that sent shockwaves through MultiChoice, M-Net and the African continent's TV and film industry, the office of the Lagos state's ministry of health in Nigeria warned that the 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards could have exposed the thousands of guests who attended to the Covid-19 virus since someone who had tested positive attended the awards show.

A year after not holding its pan-African awards show in 2019, MultiChoice decided to forge ahead in 2020 with the 7th AMVCAs that took place on 14 March at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria on the same night as MultiChoice and M-Net's 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards took place for South Africa in Johannesburg at the TicketPro Dome.

MultiChoice pressed ahead with the 7th AMVCAs in Nigeria despite Covid-19 cases that had already tested positive in Nigeria, as well as with the 2020 DStv MVCAs in South Africa where no cases were positive yet although the government and companies cautioned people to limit movement and large-scale social interaction and gatherings.

The Lagos State ministry of health has now warned that "all participants at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards held on 14 March at Eko Hotels may have come in contact with one of the confirmed cases in Lagos and are most likely to have been exposed to the Covid-19 infection".

The large awards show with attendees from West, East and Southern Africa was filled with TV and film executives from across Africa including MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe, as well as filmmakers, on-screen stars and behind-the-scenes crew, media and including multiple MultiChoice and M-Net staffers and executives from across the African continent who all returned to their home countries on the Sunday morning.

The health ministry urged all attendees of the 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards to "observe strict self-isolation, to call Nigeria's toll-free coronavirus-helpline if they notice symptoms and to practice self-distancing.

The MultiChoice Group's Africa division didn't immediately respond on Wednesday morning to a media enquiry asking for comment and what it's doing now for M-Net and MultiChoice staffers - those who attended and those who came into contact with them upon their return, as well as regarding guests who attended.

When comment is received it will be added here.

UPDATE Thursday 26 March 2020 16:54 -  Reatile Tekateka, the head of corporate affairs at MultiChoice Africa, says that MultiChoice has no comment.

Netflix commissions its first-ever Nigerian series; 6-episode supernatural drama series to be directed by Akin Omotoso starring Kate Henshaw and Ade Laoye.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has commissioned the video streaming service's first-ever Nigerian series, an as-yet-untitled supernatural drama series directed by Akin Omotoso.

Netflix's first Nigerian series commission with a first season of 6 episodes, follows after series like Queen Sono in South Africa headlined by Pearl Thusi that will debut on the streamer this Friday, the Cape Town, South African set youth drama Blood & Water, and the animation series, Mama K's Team 4.

The so-called "Akin Omotoso project" will be directed by Akin alongside Daniel Oriahi and CJ Obasi.

It will star Kate Henshaw and Ade Laoye in leading roles alongside newcomers like Richard Mofe Damijo, Joke Silva, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Kehinde Bankole, Ayoola Ayolola, Toyin Oshinaike, Goodness Emmanuel, Ireti Doyle, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Bimbo Akintola, Tope Tedela and Ijeoma Grace Agu.

The supernatural series, set in modern-day Nigeria and shot in Lagos, will tell the story of Kemi, a goddess reincarnated as a human to avenge her sister’s death. First, however, she must learn how to use and harness her superpowers to defeat her enemies and save her family from destruction.

The series will be produced by Rififi Pictures.

"I'm excited that in the same week that we're launching Queen Sono, we had the opportunity to be here in Lagos with Nigerian storytellers to share plans of our first Nigerian original production," says Dorothy Ghettuba who leads African Originals at Netflix.

"Our continent has a wealth of diversity, multiplicity and beauty in stories that have yet to be told and we want to be top of mind for creators in Nigeria, especially when it comes to stories they haven't had a chance to tell yet."

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, in the prepared statement announcing Netflix's first commissioned series, says "We're incredibly excited to be investing in Made in Nigeria stories - bringing them to audiences all around the world".

MultiChoice Nigeria starts 5 new DStv and GOtv packages for the Nigerian market, revamping the GOtv Max offering.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria is starting 5 new DStv and GOtv packages specifically for the Nigerian market and is revamping the GOtv Max package.

The new packages by MultiChoice Nigeria that remains under pressure in the West African country, is an attempt to try and combat churn, increase revenue and to provide more different price-options to potential customers who might have money to spend on pay-TV but didn't have an option at the price-point that they can afford.

The new packages with Nigerian-centric names include recently-added DStv channels for sub-Saharan Africa like the educational Da Vinci Learning channel, WarnerMedia's TNT channel for Africa, and Discovery Networks' Real Time.

From 1 December MultiChoice Nigeria will operate 3 new DStv packages: DStv Confam, DStv Yanga and DStv Padi.

DStv Confam has been designed as a "family package" with 120 channels and includes Viacom Africa's BET, Da Vinci Learning and TNT at a monthly cost of NGN 4500 (R183.24).

DStv Yanga has 94 channels including Viacom Africa's MTV Base, Discovery's Real Time, ROK2, EbonyLife and Africa Magic Epic for a monthly price of NGN 2500 (R101.80).

DStv Padi with 51 channels has a monthly cost of NGN 1800 (R73.30).

MultiChoice Nigeria is introducing 2 new GOtv packages: GOtv Jolli with 68 channels at a cost of NGN 2400 (R97.55) and GOtv Jinja with 47 channels at a cost of NGN 1600 (R65.03) monthly.

"The new packages are exclusively curated from Naija and for Nigerians, driven by great programing and affordable prices," says John Ugbe, MultiChoice Nigeria CEO.

"With improved package options available to our valued customers, they can choose a subscription plan that best fits their needs and budget. We remain committed to give millions of television viewers in Nigeria the opportunity to enjoy world-class entertainment."

Existing DStv Access, DStv Family, GOtv Plus and GOtv Value subscribers will get a free 2-week preview of the new packages from 1 December until 15 December 2019.

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."

Court orders Nigeria's African Independent Television (AIT) channel back on-air after censorship authority shutdown, building surrounded by police and state security.

The signal of Nigeria's African Independent Television (AIT) has been restored and the TV channel is back on the air after a court order for its transmission to be restored following its shutdown by Nigeria's draconian censorship broadcasting body.

AIT is carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, and by late-Friday was once again seen on channel 253 on DStv in Nigeria.

Nigeria's censorship authority, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday ordered the privately-owned AIT and the private radio station RayPower FM - both owned by Daar Communications plc - off the air and its licence suspended for allegedly breaching Nigeria's broadcasting code.

Daar Communications is owned by the businessman Raymond Dokpesi who happens to be a member of the opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), in Nigeria.

The NBC ordering the crackdown on AIT and RayPower FM said the media outlets have "embarked on use of inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts and media propaganda against the government and the NBC for performing its statutory functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria".

The shutdown notice was indefinite.

Daar Communications immediately went to court with the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria that on Friday granted an injunction and ordered that AIT and RayPower FM's signals be restored for the time being.

Judge Inyang Ekwo said AIT should go back on air for the time being until the court case can be heard. The case has been adjourned to 13 June 2019.

Meanwhile Nigerian security forces - the Nigerian police and Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) - have surrounded AIT's premises after it reopened, Tony Akiotu, AIT's group managing director told Nigeria's Premium Times.

The premises of Daar Communications was surrounded by state security who arrived "heavily fortified and carrying out surveillance on the premises,".

MultiChoice launches a Big Brother Naija pop-up channel on DStv running for March to build buzz for the upcoming 4th season.

MultiChoice has added a Big Brother Naija pop-up channel running from the month, from today, 1 March to 31 March on DStv channel 198, with highlights from the previous two seasons of the reality show.

The Big Brother Nigeria pop-up channel is for Africa excluding Southern Africa, carried on the E36 satellite transponder.

The Big Brother Naija pop-up channel comes before the start of the upcoming 4th season of Big Brother Naija that this year will be produced on-location from Lagos, Nigeria this year where the Big Brother Nigeria house and housemates will now be based and no longer in Johannesburg, South Africa as in previous seasons.

A special reunion show will be broadcast on the Big Brother Naija pop-up channel from Monday 18 March to Sunday 31 March and will feature the stars of the Big Brother Naija "Double Wahala" season.

MultiChoice says the pop-up channel will take fans and viewers on "a trip down memory lane while whetting their appetites on the start of the new season".

Auditions for the 4th season of Big Brother Nigeria is currently taking place.

Nigerian version of Our Perfect Wedding is the latest and 4th localised edition of MultiChoice Africa and M-Net's Sunday evening hit reality show format.

Nigeria is becoming the latest country to get a localised edition of Our Perfect Wedding, the 4th version of the hit reality format show from MultiChoice Africa and M-Net, with a former Big Brother Naija 2018 contestant, Vanessa Emikhe-Williams, who will be the presenter of Our Perfect Wedding Nigeria.

Our Perfect Wedding Nigeria is co-produced by Adeola Oloyede and has Suleiman Kazeem as the executive producer.

It follows the format of the original Our Perfect Wedding that started in 2011 and is ongoing in South Africa on M-Net's Mzansi Magic.

Other localised African versions have started and have been seen in countries like Kenya on M-Net's Maisha Magic East where Georgina Mbira is the presenter of Our Perfect Wedding Kenya,and Our Perfect Wedding Zambia on M-Net's Zambezi Magic.

Zambezi Magic is currently looking for a presenter for the 5th localised edition of the show in Africa, Our Perfect Wedding Zimbabwe, that will start later in 2019.

Our Perfect Wedding in South Africa is produced by Connect TV owned by Basetsana Kumalo, where the show has been a huge success and ratings grabber.

In Our Perfect Wedding Nigeria, Vanessa Emikhe-Williams, known as Vandora, follows Nigerian couples through their love story and wedding planning process.

The Nigerian version is broadcast on the Africa Magic Showcase (DStv 151) channel (not available in South Africa) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform from Sunday 24 February and is interestingly also slotted for Sunday evenings at 18:00 where Our Perfect Wedding started out and has grown to be a huge viewership hit.

The show reveals the thrills and frills of the planning process, and also brings forth all the spectacle and drama that comes with getting the perfect dress, the perfect venue, and perfect cake; together with dramatic in-laws, fighting family members and the traditional and white wedding ceremonies and festivities afterwards.

"The show has been successful in other African markets like South Africa and Kenya and we're elated to bring it to Nigeria," says Martin Mabutho, MultiChoice Nigeria chief customer officer in a statement.

"Viewers will experience the magic and celebration of love. Of all the awesome wedding shows we've had on DStv, this without a doubt holds a lot of drama, fun and excitement for the viewers. We're delighted to bring this truly interesting show to Nigeria, I think that viewers will enjoy every minute of Our Perfect Wedding".

Vanessa Emikhe-Williams says "this is an exciting opportunity for me, and viewers can expect to be completely entertained by this show and they should expect nothing less than the best from the leading home of entertainment in Africa".

Nigerian scriptwriter, Osang Abang, dead at 30; wrote for several of M-Net's hit series on Africa Magic from BattleGround to Tinsel.

A Nigerian scriptwriter, Osang Abang, who wrote for several of the hit series on M-Net's Africa Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, has died. He was 30.

Osang Abang, who was the head writer of the series BattleGround on Africa Magic.

He died on Thursday night.

The cause of death has not been confirmed but was apparently due to a motor car or bus accident that happened because of either him heading to Big Brother Naija auditions, or because of other people heading to auditions for the reality show that crashed into him.

Osang Abang was also a co-writer for the long-running Nigerian soap Tinsel and joined M-Net in West Africa in 2013 as a scriptwriter working on content and storyline development at the soap.

Osang Abang's TV writing credits also included Ajoche, E.V.E., Forbidden, Hush, Hustle, and Jemeji.

"All you ever see are the actors but in truth, it takes a small village to put up any type of production; for one the size and scale of Tinsel it takes 2," wrote Tinsel actress Iretiola Doyle, mourning Osang Abang.

"Osang Abang was one of the names at the top left-hand corner of many scripts, not just for this particular show, but several other major M-Net productions. I met him only once or twice but he was one of ours. It takes a sad, sudden incident like this to bring it home."

BattleGround actress Meg Otanwa wrote that "Osang was one of our best writers" and that "last time we spoke, he wanted us to discuss some ideas over lunch".

"He was head writer on BattleGround and writer on most of your favourite Africa Magic TV shows. He was one of the very best and was such a beautiful human being. He didn't even get to watch BattleGround till the end."

Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi wrote: "You could have been an actor but you chose to be a writer" and that "we discussed that story idea but you didn’t get to pen it. Thank you for so many dramatic twists in all the Africa Magic TV shows (Tinsel, Hush, BattleGround and more)."

MultiChoice said "The DStv family joins the Nigerian creative community to mourn the super talented Osang Abang whose shocking passing away has left us shattered. May his good soul rest in peace".