CORONAVIRUS. China's StarTimes behaves as if Covid-19 doesn't exist, throws Nigerian launch party in Lagos for new comedy series Okirika.

by Thinus Ferreira

China's StarTimes pay-TV service behaves as if the deadly Covid-19 pandemic is non-existent in Nigeria, with StarTimes Nigeria that held a shockingly bad in-person media launch event for the new Okirika comedy series with no Covid-19 safety protocols being observed and completely flouting safety measures like social distancing and the wearing of masks.

Around a fifth (20%) of all Nigerian workers have already lost their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic in the West African country, while new infections and new deaths because of Covid-19 continue to be reported in the country.

There were hugs, no masks and no social distancing as StarTimes Nigeria COO Tunde Aina, Okirika producer Muka Ray, StarTimes Nigeria CEO Alex Jian, and StarTimes content director Viki Liu got together at a media launch for the show on Wednesday night at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos.

Also hugging and partying it up at the Covid-unsafe and selfish event organised by StarTimes Nigeria were StarTimes Nigeria CEO Alex Jian, along with the Okirika cast including Iyabo Ojo, Mr. Macaroni, Zicsaloma, Muka Ray, Jide Kosoko, Olaiya Igwe, Yinka Quadri, Binta Ayo-Mogaji, Toyin Abraham, Toro Aramide, Yvonne Jegede, Jide "Jblaze" Oyegbile, and Kitan Bukola.

None of the cast nor StarTimes Nigeria executives think that they have Covid-19, could possibly spread Covid-19 or that having a large media event without masks or social distancing is a potential Covid-19 super-spreader event.

Okirika, named after the rowdy Nigerian markets for imported second-hand dresses, will be broadcast on the StarTimes Nollywood Plus, StarTimes Yoruba, PBO and Wakaati TV channels on StarTimes.

Production on Okirika will start during the second week of October, filming in a real Okirika market in Lagos, with the comedy series that has a tentative starting date for broadcast from the second week on December 2021.

Viki Lui, StarTimes Nigeria content director, said that "With Okirika, StarTimes is demonstrating its commitment to satisfying the growing demands of viewers for local content".

"I was attracted to the Okirika story the first time I read the pitch. People have every reason why they buy luxurious stuff but might have all kinds of reasons why they choose to buy Okirika. The story about Okirika is very interesting and it's what everyone should look out for".

Alex Jian, StarTimes Nigeria CEO, said "StarTimes is going to invest more in local content. Today, we are reuniting for our second project this year. We are still on the journey, welcoming new partnerships, investing in fresh ideas, providing a stage for young talents".

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Just another white wedding: MultiChoice and M-Net do hollow lip-service and PSAs about Covid-safety - but show DStv subscribers a whole other reality where a coronavirus pandemic apparently doesn't exist.

ALSO READ: 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. 

Marketer at China's StarTimes in Nigeria in court after allegedly defrauding 5 pay-TV customers billed for decoders, TV sets and recharge cards they never got.

A marketer at China's StarTimes pay-TV service in Nigeria stands accused of having defrauded 5 StarTimes Nigeria subscribers of N2.1 million (R89 000).

On Monday Victor Opeyemi (34), who pleaded not guilty, appeared in the Ikeja Magistrates' Court before magistrate Mrs M.O. Tanimola after he allegedly stole N2.1 million from StarTimes Nigeria customers.

Nigeria's The Nation newspaper reported that Gloria Idoko, Isa Akakiu, Christiana Umeobi, Chibuzor Okafor and Sulaimon Ismaila were defrauded when Victor Opeyemi as a StarTimes Nigeria marketer billed them and took the money after selling them StarTimes decoders, TV sets and StarTimes recharge cards that they never received.

The StarTimes victims contacted the pay-TV company which is how the alleged fraud was uncovered.

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."

China's StarTimes pay-TV group appoints David Zhang as new StarTimes Nigeria CEO with immediate effect, replacing Justin Zhang.

David Zhang is replacing Justin Zhang as new CEO of StarTimes Nigeria with immediate effect.

China's pay-TV StarTimes Group, aggressively expanding in Africa where it competes with the likes of MultiChoice, has replaced Justin Zhang with David Zhang after Justin Zhang according to StarTimes "completed his tenure as CEO in January".

David Zhang was CEO of StarTimes Kenya.

"David Zhang will bring over two decades of experience in business to business and business to consumer capacity in both China and Africa, with a special interest in consumer and revenue growth management," says StarTimes publicist Kunmi Balogun in a statement.

"David Zhang will lead the team in scaling the impact of the foundation laid by his predecessor which has seen a rise in subscriber base and new innovations in Nigeria' pay-TV industry."

StarTimes Nigeria introduces pay-per-day (PPD) and pay-per-week (PPW) as new pay-TV subscription options in the face of increased competition.

The China sponsored StarTimes Nigeria has introduced new pay-per-day (PPD) and pay-per-week subscription fee options for StarTimes Nigeria subscribers in the face of increasing competition in the West-African country's pay-TV market.

Saying "entertainment just got subsidised" StarTimes Nigeria announced a new payment option whereby subscribers can get access to 40 StarTimes channels for N300 (R11.27) for a week, or all StarTimes channels for N60 (R2.25) per day. 

The new pay-per-day (PPD) and pay-per week (PPW) StarTimes payment plans will become available from 1 November 2017, with payments that will be possible both online and offline.

StarTimes Nigeria didn't release any statement to the media but the new payment offerings are part of the squeeze all pay-TV operators in Nigeria are facing in the fight to find new subscribers and to combat churn.

Competition in Nigeria's pay-TV sphere has been heating up between StarTimes Nigeria and MultiChoice Nigeria's DStv especially as the Nigerian currency, the naira has been tanking, as well as the entrance of the new wannabe rival TStv, that doesn't have decoders available and has been lying to consumers about TV channel carriage agreements it doesn't have.

StarTimes Nigeria's new "pay-per-day" and "pay-per-week" concept is interesting since pay-TV operators who bill subscribers for content costs they themselves have to pay, don't have the luxury of paying for that content "per day" or "per week".

In that sense, StarTimes Nigeria's very on the nose "entertainment just got subsidised" commercial comment is actually highly accurate - StarTimes Nigeria is the one doing the subsidising, since it will StarTimes Nigeria losing money.

StarTimes Nigeria,like all satellite pay-TV providers, have to source and pay for content in and as package deals, output deals, and over much longer contract periods, like for a year or in multi-year channel carriage deals and other content contracts.

Channel and content providers don't do "pay-per-week" and "pay-per-day" contracts with operators like StarTimes Nigeria, so it's StarTimes Nigeria itself that's breaking down the decoding and access to customers in smaller day and week bits.