Tag Archives: GOtv

Multichoice lowers decoder prices

Pay TV operator MultiChoice Nigeria has cut the price of its decoders ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Martin Mabutho

The company has lowered the cost of its DSTV and GOtv decoders by 14% as it seeks to attract football fans to its coverage of every game of the tournament.

Martin Mabutho, general manager of sales and marketing at MultiChoice Nigeria, revealed the news at the recent launch of its World Cup coverage, which is using the slogan ‘Connect with Greatness.’

“The FIFA World Cup is football’s biggest event, featuring the best players and national teams all fighting for one ultimate prize,” Mabutho said. “We are proud to say that we have been broadcasting the tournament since 2006 and this edition won’t be any different, as we will be showing all 64 matches of the World Cup live and in HD on DSTV and GOtv.”

A DSTV HD decoder, a dish kit and a free one-month Compact bouquet subscription is now available for N8,500, while a GOtv decoder, an antenna and a complimentary GOtv Max subscription can be purchased for N5,900.

DSTV and GOtv subscribers will be able to access exclusive live coverage and analysis of the World Cup, which begins in Russia on June 14, on the SuperSport channels. However, GOtv Value bouquet subscribers will  only have access 56 of the 64 matches.

MultiChoice is also set to launch a pop-up channel dedicated to the history of football. It will air exclusively on DSTV channel 187 for 14 days starting from May 28.

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DStv, GOtv prepare for new football season

MultiChoice pay TV platforms DStv and GOtv have revealed details of their coverage of the 2019/20 football season.

Martin Mabutho

The coverage kicks off at 15.00 this Sunday with the English Community Shield match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, which will air live and in HD on SuperSport’s SS3 and SS10 (DStv) and Select 2 (GOtv).

Nigerian football fans will see the best of teams, players and managers as MultiChoice provides football coverage across all DStv packages as well as its GOtv Max and GOtv Plus bouquets. DStv Access and GOtv Plus customers will have access to more than 220 live games this season, with two games each from England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A every week.

MultiChoice Nigeria CEO Martin Mabutho said: “DStv and GOtv viewers will once again be the recipients of our incredible football coverage as we continue to deliver world-class action to fans wherever they watch, whether on television or on digital platforms.

“Our comprehensive football coverage includes the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League – and that’s not even including all the thrills and spills from the Africa Cup of Nations, which just ended in Egypt.”

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Njoku, du Puy on Canal+ ROK deal

ROK founder Mary Njoku and Canal+ International CEO Jacques du Puy tell Content Nigeria about this week’s deal bringing ROK under the wing of the French group.

Jacques du Puy

The recent acquisition of major African film studio and international TV network ROK by French audiovisual firm Canal+ Group is a move that is geared towards strengthening the latter’s content production reach across Africa.

The deal sees Nollywood broadcaster and production studio ROK change hands for an undisclosed sum while ROK’s former owner, SVoD company Iroko Partners, takes full ownership of Francophone African SVoD platform Iroko+, which was previously a joint venture with Canal+.

Content Nigeria caught up with ROK founder Mary Njoku and Jacques du Puy, CEO of Canal+ International, to learned about the motives behind this new partnership.

Elated about the acquisition, du Puy says: “We are happy to welcome Mary Remy Njoku in the Canal+ family. We are glad to expand our activities in Africa to content production. We are proud to strengthen our channel portfolio with the popular and successful ROK channels, that will sit alongside their French sisters, Nollywood TV and Nollywood Epic.”

“I am delighted and proud,” adds Njoku, who is married to Iroko founder and CEO Jason Njoku. “The acquisition of ROK by Canal+ is a great milestone for our business and Nollywood as a whole. We are taking Nollywood to new audiences and that has always been the goal, to take our authentic African stories and share them with the world.”

Du Puy notes that the creation of Nollywood TV began some time ago. “We created Nollywood TV in 2013 after the acquisition of a Nollywood movie package from Africa Magic, part of the MultiChoice Group.

“This content immediately proved to be one of the most relevant in French-speaking Africa, and we had to partner with Iroko to ensure a regular and high-quality supply to Nollywood TV. We also sporadically bought Nollywood series from other producers in Nigeria and recently acquired a small package of premium movies to offer Canal+ subscribers in Africa a Nollywood festival on our premium channel this August.

“We have been acquiring content from Iroko ever since 2013 to feed Nollywood TV. Mary and Jason are not only partners but they are also friends now. We then invested in Iroko in 2015, becoming one of the main shareholders. There is already a long history between Canal+ and Iroko. And ROK Studios is just the largest and more successful producer and aggregator in Nigeria and Ghana,” he adds.

With this week’s deal a landmark accomplishment for the four-year-old start-up, Mary Njoku elaborates on what has propelled the success of the studio so far.

“The fans and lovers of Nollywood across the world motivate us to constantly create quality content. Nollywood fans have a voracious appetite for new content; this is why so many Nollywood films are produced each year.

“However, it is a difficult balance to maintain and develop quality at scale. I had always felt that there was a need for a studio that empowered young people to put their skills to work and create the content that we now see on our ROK, ROK2 and ROK3 channels in Africa and the UK. Now, with the fact we are working even closer with Canal+, we can take this content into French-speaking Africa and eventually the rest of the world.

“Our teams across Accra, Lagos and London cannot be left out of our success story as we all work hand in hand to make ROK story a success,” she adds.

According to both du Puy and Njoku, the deal includes the production studio as well as the four ROK-branded, English-language channels that currently air on African pay TV platforms DStv and GOtv and in the UK on Sky. Canal+ channel distribution subsidiary Thema will oversee the distribution of these channels, adding to its own Nollywood TV and Nollywood Epic channels.

Continuing her leadership role as the director general of ROK Productions, Njoku believes the content that will now be produced will be of higher quality. “With this partnership, we now have the resources to create higher-budget movies,” she says. “Our budgets are typically fairly modest, so get ready to see different types of content across all ROK platforms, including animated content – content that will cut across English- and French-speaking Africa.

“ROK will receive more resources to create content without the loss of our creative freedom. It was very important for us to retain creative rights as this is the main reason for ROK’s success today. We will develop Nollywood in French-speaking Africa and globally through Canal+’s Africa and global channels. Surely this will open more doors to other untapped parts of Africa that need to be reached. However, essentially, it will be more of the same, just at an even faster pace.”

Du Puy thinks the quality of Nollywood movies out there can be enhanced. “Talent is there and Nollywood movies are already very popular,” he says. “But it is true that the audience is more and more demanding, so the quality will progressively enhance because ROK has the unique capacity to detect, select and grow the best and newest talents in Nigeria or Ghana. In addition, we are planning to invest in technical equipment that could be lent to our associated producers.”

Both executives are preparing head-on for any challenges that may arise from this partnership. According to Njoku: “With every partnership comes challenges. However, we hope to resolve all issues amicably and as quickly as possible. We’ve been working alongside Canal+ for nearly five years now so we know how the other works, where our strengths lie, and how to get the best out of one another.”

“We first need to consolidate the leadership position of ROK Studios and go on growing the audience of the ROK channels. Then we would love to explore African kids content, which is very rare at the moment in Africa, and try to bring the Nollywood expertise to French-speaking Africa and to grow the production of daily series there,” du Puy adds.

Strengthening its position as content provider and giving it access to the entire Nollywood value chain, the deal will see Thema working with ROK as well as engage in the distribution of third-party Nollywood content to digital operators across the world; produce and distribute four channels under the ROK brand broadcasted in English-speaking Africa and the UK.

Looking forward to serving fans with more content across all platforms, Njoku says: “ROK will produce thousands of more hours of Nollywood content to deliver movies and original TV series for Canal+ Group’s audiences in French-speaking Africa. As part of the acquisition, Canal+ Group will continue to collaborate with Iroko, with non-exclusive content distribution of ROK content via the Iroko SVoD app.”

The deal, as well as moves by SVoD giants like Netflix to commission more African content for its platform, shows it’s not just African countries that are enjoying Nollywood films and TV series.

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African pay TV subs set to hit 46m

The number of pay TV subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow to 45.63 million by 2024, according to the newly published Sub-Saharan Africa Pay TV Forecasts report.

This suggests Sub-Saharan Africa will add 16 million subscribers in the next six years, marking an increase of 61%. Pay TV revenues were forecast to reach US$7.72bn by 2024, up by US$2.3bn on 2018.

Three big operators – MultiChoice, Vivendi/Canal+ and StarTimes – dominate the Sub-Saharan Africa pay TV market, with a combined 93% market share.

At the end of 2018, pay TV operator MultiChoice had over 14.34 million subscribers on its DStv and GOtv platforms and this figure is estimated to increase by five million by 2024.

France’s Vivendi had 4.01 million subs to its Canal+ satellite TV platform and Easy TV by the end of 2018, which will climb to 6.21 million by 2024, said the report. StarTimes had 7.75 million pay TV subscribers by the end of 2018 and it is estimated to reach 14.85 million by 2024.

According to Simon Murray, principal analyst at the report’s publisher, Digital TV Research: “Subscriber numbers will climb by 61% over this period, but pay TV revenues will rise by only 42% – indicating lower ARPUs. Pay TV revenues will reach US$7.72bn by 2024, up by US$2.3bn on 2018.”

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The man behind Pophub

Nigerian media entrepreneur Yinka Obebe is behind plans for a new creative content hub in Lagos. He told Content Nigeria about the new venture.

Yinka Obebe

Pophub Lagos is billed as the first physical space for content creators in Nigeria and is designed to provide the required facilities, studios and conducive environment for the country’s next generation of content creators.

Founded by creative and media entrepreneur Yinka Obebe, the Pophub Lagos brand will be developed and built across various development stages to become a pop culture content creators’ platform, according to the entrepreneur.

Obebe already has PopcentralTV, the television arm of his parent company Popcentral, but he intends Pophub Lagos to the experience and creators’ hub of Popcentral. Pophub is described as “a melting pot for creators. The best of creative minds all over the country converge here. Fitted with studios, lounges, workstations and a kitchen.”

Obebe tells Content Nigeria: “At Popcentral, we want young people to be able to express themselves through content. Pop culture has never been better defined than it is now in the age of social media, where everyone can put forward their culture and subculture in content. So we want to create a platform where that is possible across social, experiential and television.

“PopcentralTV is the TV channel and Pophub Lagos is the physical space designed to enable collaboration, creative expression and engagement. The essence of Popcentral is to curate culture through content, while Pophub Lagos provides the meeting point and enablement required to create content and connect with creatives and brands.

“Popcentral lives on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and every other social space where we can engage creators. We also just got a new apartment in the pay TV world of DSTV and GOTV.”

The Popcentral brand is set to launch TV channels on both those platforms, he continues, and the channels will curate content for entertainment, brand stories and messaging. The company is currently testing TV signals and Obebe says he’s looking forward to launching soon.

Pophub Lagos is calling for content creators to send a brief about their ideas to [email protected], after which a presentation will be scheduled.

Obebe adds: “We essentially want to co-create with creators. And as long as they are still thinking up new ideas then we are here; we keep listening to them and optimising the platforms and channels for them.

“We have studios and all the gear you need. We can, in fact, co-create with you even if you are outside Nigeria. We can receive your feed anytime and from anywhere in the world through your mobile phone.

“We have a number of purpose-built studios, a multi-set lounge studio for various shows, from news and talkshows to discussions. We also have a shop studio designed for our teleshopping show. We also have a kitchen studio, one of its kind, designed for interaction and competition and purpose-built. There are other spaces for co-creation, like the green pad, the creators lounge and the outdoor work station we have dubbed the Metal Forest.

“Popcentral is a multi-fold expression that lives in the social space, experience and television. I want creators to understand that it’s a space that helps them bring ideas to life – content and anything else you want to make.”

Obebe is a brand builder who founded media agency Redbox Africa in 2010, where he was CEO and creative director, working extensively with brands across telecommunication, banking, television and FMCGS to create communication, experience, identity, stories and commercials in Nigeria and across other African countries. He currently serves as CEO at Popcentral.

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MultiChoice offers subscribers free trial

Pan-African pay TV platform MultiChoice is offering subscribers a free trial of its channels.

John Ugbe

The Naspers-owned company is to give loyal customers access to some of its channels for 18 days at no extra cost.

From July 13 to 31, all customers of MultiChoice-owned DTH pay TV platform DSTV and DTT service GOtv will have unlimited access to the Supersport channels.

Some children’s channels on DSTV will also be made available without restrictions during this period. The channels include Cartoon Network and NickToons

GOtv Plus subscribers are also going to enjoy free access to five channels – Sony Max, CBSReality, ROK 2, Fox and SuperSport Select 4 – usually only accessible to GOtv Max subscribers. This offer will last from July 13 to 26.

According to the company, this initiative is a way to reward loyal customers.

John Ugbe, MD of MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “MultiChoice Nigeria is excited to continue to bring customers the best in entertainment. This is part of our ongoing commitment to bring more value to our customers.

“At MultiChoice, we understand that times are tough for our subscribers who not only want to experience the best television entertainment but to do so at a price they can afford. However, we also understand our subscribers on lower bouquets would enjoy the opportunity to watch some of the content available on the higher bouquets.”

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MultiChoice’s Factory seeks talent

The recently launched MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) has put out a call for applications.

The Naspers-owned pay TV company recently launched a 12-month pan-African film and television academy for aspiring media professionals and entrepreneurs. The MTF Academy aims to provide students with the skill sets required to work in the television and film industry.

Entries are open until July 5 and aspiring film and TV creatives can apply on the MTF website . A total of 60 individuals will be selected from 13 countries to become students. Classes will begin on October 1 in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.

The MTF initiative comprises three parts, the MTF Academy, MTF Masterclasses and professional database MTF Portal. The MTF Academy students are expected to produce content for television and film that will air on MultiChoice’s TV platforms DSTV and GOtv.

MultiChoice described the initiative as “a social investment initiative aimed at igniting Africa’s creative industries and growing them into vibrant, economic powerhouses.”

The company added: “The African continent is steeped in a rich and diverse history of living passionately through language, art, music and colourful storytelling. As the continent continues to change rapidly, the entertainment industry has become ever more relevant. MultiChoice Africa has identified an opportunity in this fast-changing environment – one that will leave a lasting impact on the creative industry as a whole.”

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ROK adds two channels to MultiChoice

African pay TV provider MultiChoice will next week launch two more channels from Nollywood producer ROK Studios on its TV platforms DStv and GOtv.

Mary Njoku

ROK 2 will air on DSTV channel 169 and GOtv channel 17, while ROK 3 will air on DSTV channel 164 and GOtv channel 18. In Ghana, ROK 3 will be available on channel 118 and in Uganda on channel 318.

Both the new channels will go live on April 5 and air original content that is intended to appeal to a pan-African audience.

ROK 2 will air indigenous Africa films and TV drama series while ROK 3 will carry a mix of movies and music, with a focus on Ghanaian movies. These will include Agya Fakye Me, Ama Pooley, Born Again, Coach Krakye and Ye Obi Dea Yie and West African music that will air daily from 23.00.

The channels will join ROK, the studio’s first channel that launched on DStv in 2016.

According to Mary Njoku, CEO of ROK, the launch of the channels will help showcase Nollywood and Ghanaian stories to a greater audience. “Great storytelling is at the core of everything ROK does. So we are really delighted to be launching two new TV channels on DStv and GOtv,” she said.

“Everything we do as a film studio has passion and intensity behind it. We ensure beautiful, thrilling and, ultimately, entertaining African stories, which are brought to life with improving production standards. What we achieved with ROK has resonated with audiences around the continent, allowing us to build on our success and bring even more brilliant Nollywood and Ghanaian stories, direct to our loyal fans on DStv.”

Martin Mabutho, general manager of sales and marketing at MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “It is such a great pleasure to be launching these two new ROK channels on both our platforms.

“Our aim is to find content that resonates with our customers and, more, we have realised that our customers love home-grown stories and watching local talent. Adding these two channels speaks to just that. Providing a platform to our African storytellers and celebrating local talent and productions is part of our DNA and what we aim to deliver to our customers for years to come.”

In 2016, the Nollywood studio launched its ROK channel launched on DStv, three years after it first launched on Sky. ROK is a TV channel created by the eponymous Lagos-based film studio known for its original TV series and Nollywood movies, such as Husbands of Lagos and Single Ladies.

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Big Brother Naija evicts six

Six contestants were evicted from Big Brother Naija: Double Wahala last night.

Princess and Bitto (Pritto)

Two pairs – Princess and Bitto (Pritto) plus Vandora and Dee-One (Van-Dee) – left the house after receiving the fewest votes from viewers.

In addition, Khloe and K-brule were disqualified for being provocative, abusive and violent to each other.

Mina, Miracle and Nina have received the highest share of viewer votes so far, each with 28.5% of the votes.

They are followed by BamTeddy with 21.6% of votes, LoTo (15.2%), Cebi (13.5%), Rineeka (11.6%), Angelifu (3.9%), Prito (3.5%) and Van-Dee (2.5%).

 

Big Brother Naija: Double Wahala continues to air 24 hours a day on DSTV channel 198 and GOtv channel 29.

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MultiChoice launches holiday specials

Pay TV service provider MultiChoice Nigeria has devised a brand campaign for its customers on the DStv and GOtv platforms to enable them to enjoy more curated contents this festive season.

The campaigns are themed Happier with DStv and Make Time for Family with Gotv. Customers will be able to watch Nigeria festivals such as AFRIMA 2019, Unusual Praise, The Experience, Calabar Carnival, Akwa Ibom Christmas Concert, Miss Africa and Greater Lagos on both DStv 198 & GOtv 29.

Martin Mabutho, chief customer officer at MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “We continue to put our customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why customers on DStv and GOtv will experience specially curated content, surprise pop-up channels and other top-notch value-added services.

“DStv and GOtv customers will be spoilt for choice with the hottest content and a happier holiday season. Customers can also look forward to Africa’s premier boxing Fiesta, GOtv Boxing Night, which is coming up on December 28 on SuperSport. Also, all Premier League, El Classico and more live sports with expert commentary and analysis on SuperSport this festive.

“In addition, much-loved kids’ pop up channel Animania opens on December 4 and will be the perfect companion for DStv kids this season, with the best animated movies all day and every day. Animania is exclusive to M-Net Smile (channel 105) on DStv Premium.”

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MultiChoice covers IAAF championships

Pay TV operator MultiChoice has launched a pop-up channel covering the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships  on GOtv.

From now until October 8, GOtv Max subscribers can watch the 17th edition of the championships, which begin in Doha, Qatar, today.

World record-holding athletes such as Ethiopian duo Yomif Kejelcha and Genzebe Dibaba are among those competing, said GOtv, adding: “Subscribers can take advantage of the GOtv StepUp offer to upgrade or renew the GOtv Max package by paying a reduced fee of N2,600. The offer runs until 31st October, 2019.”

The channel is available on StarTimes 37.

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MultiChoice unveils GOtv mobile app

Pay TV company MultiChoice has launched a mobile app that allows its customers of its digital terrestrial platform, GOtv, to make changes to their accounts.

John Ugbe

MyGOtv is available as a free download via the iOS and Android app stores.

MultiChoice CEO John Ugbe said the app would enable customers to manage their accounts, including the ability to make payments, check balances, change packages and manage viewing preferences.

“The new app will form part of the numerous digital platforms that are innovative and functional to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of our valued customers,” Ugbe said.

“And with the start of season four of reality TV show Big Brother Naija, customers get 100 additional votes to keep their favourite housemate in the competition when they vote via the MyGOtv app.

“By enabling customers to independently manage their accounts, we expect to see a reduction in queries and queues at call centres, thereby freeing up our customer-facing staff to provide improved one-on-one support to those customers who require it. Our goal is to provide an accessible, affordable and efficient platform for self-service to improve overall customer experience when engaging with GOtv.”

Ugbe added that he functionality of the app would be continuously worked on and updated to adapt to technological advancements and improve the user experience.

 

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GOtv adds channels in Enugu, Aba

Pay TV operator GOtv has added nine channels to its Max and Plus packages for subscribers in Enugu and Aba.

John Ugbe

The selection of top local Nigerian channels comprises Spice TV, MiTV, WAP TV, ITV Benin, BISCON, Liberty TV, Tiwan Tiwan, R2TV and Rave.

John Ugbe, CEO of GOtv parent MultiChoice Nigeria, said of the move: “This brings to six the number of cities that have in one month seen an increase in our local content offering. We are witnessing a growth in the number of local channels in Nigeria that showcase different genres of TV programming and we are ensuring that our GOtv customers are not left out of that experience.”

GOtv has also added more local channels for Max and Plus subscribers in Jos, Kaduna, Asaba and Onitsha.

Ugbe said the additions were evidence of the company’s commitment to giving more Nigerians access to quality local and international programming at an affordable price, while also supporting the federal government’s digital switchover process.

“We continue to invest in up-to-date technology which ensures that our business is at par with global standards while ensuring our customers keep getting the best services available,” he added.

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DSTV Eutelsat contest open for entries

The eighth edition of the DSTV Eutelsat Star Awards essay and poster competition is now open for entries.

Students between the ages of 14 and 19 are encouraged to take part in the contest, which is organised by pay TV company MultiChoice in partnership with European satellite operator Eutelsat.

Entries will take the form of a creative writing project or poster that focuses on “areas you believe the full potential of satellites has not yet been tapped into or embraced.”

Submissions can be sent to any MultiChoice office listed on the entry form, which can be obtained from any MultiChoice Resource Centre or through its website.

Entries are accepted in English, French and Portuguese and will be judged on accuracy, creativity and originality.

Submissions will be accepted until October 12 and the overall winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in February.

Twenty-four students will be selected from the expected 1,000 entries and two finalists will be chosen.

The essay category winner gets a trip to Paris, where they will see a rocket launch. The poster category prize is a trip for two to South Africa where the winner will visit the South African National Space Agency as well as explore heritage sites as guests of MultiChoice Africa.

The DSTV Eutelsat Star Awards began in 2011 with the purpose of encouraging young minds to be innovative in the areas of science and technology. Since then more than 7,000 students have been involved in the competition which has created a platform for the collaboration of the academic and scientific worlds in Africa.

Based in Paris, Eutelsat is the third largest satellite operator worldwide. It provides coverage in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US. Eutelsat’s satellites broadcast into over 274 million cable and satellite homes.

MultiChoice is the parent company of pay TV platforms DSTV and GOtv, which are among the leading cable networks on the continent, broadcasting in at least 49 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

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MultiChoice opens talent academy

MultiChoice, owner of pan-African pay TV platforms DSTV and GOtv, has launched a new initiative to boost the African creative industries.

John Ugbe

MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is intended to improve the African film and television industry and comprises three parts: an academy, masterclasses and a portal.

It began with the launch of a regional academy, which offers a 12-month educational curriculum, in Lagos. Others are located in Kenya and Zambia.

Sixty applicants from 13 countries will be admitted to the MTF Academy, which will begin classes on October 1. Applications are currently open and will close on the June 5.

John Ugbe, MD of MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “The film and television industries have not developed at the same pace as other industries on the continent, and not for a lack of talent, passion or imagination. We are abundantly blessed in these areas. However, the space given for this expression has at best been limited and, at worst, been relegated to the fringes of the mainstream economy, leaving in its wake, unfulfilled dreams, unexplored talent and unwritten stories.”

Femi Odugbemi, the director of the MTF Academy, West Africa, said: “We must consciously build capacity so that our next-generation filmmakers and producers can also create wealth and create employment by being entrepreneurs.”

MTF Academy students are expected to produce content for TV and film which will air on DSTV and GOtv.

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MultiChoice plans BBNaija 2019

Pay TV group MultiChoice has outlined its plans for the fourth season of reality show Big Brother Naija.

The company has launched a pop-up channel on its pay TV platforms DStv and GOtv that began airing this month. The channel airs events and highlights from the two previous seasons and will run till March 31 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 12.

In addition to this, there will also be a reunion show that will air from March 18 to 31 and will show stars that were in the BBNaija Double Wahala season.

Subscribers to DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family, Access, GOtv Max and Plus packages have access to the pop-up channel.

Auditions for this year’s edition of BBNaija took place across eight cities in Nigeria and the show is set to take place in Nigeria as well.

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Women in TV: Elizabeth Ampka

“Competition and any challenge excite me. I become more creative when I am faced with a challenge.”
Elizabeth Ampka

Continuing Content Nigeria’s month-long focus on women in the Nigerian TV business, we put the spotlight on Elizabeth Ampka, Kwesé TV’s general manager.

Elizabeth Ampka

Elizabeth Amkpa began her career in the banking industry despite her degree in communications from the University of Cross Rivers State. A few years after her graduation in 1989 she became an officer at the Great Merchant Bank, where she worked for seven years before moving on to become deputy manager of marketing and private banking at FCMB in 2001.

In 2006, Amkpa obtained her masters degree in business administration from the University of Sunderland in the UK. However, upon gaining that degree she veered away from the banking industry to launch a career in media, due to her passion in communications.

She joined MultiChoice has its national head of sales in 2007, helping to develop and implement sales and ensure the growth and reach of one of its pay TV offerings, DSTV.

In 2012, she became the general manager of GOtv, MultiChoice’s DTT platform, aiding in the launch of the pay TV service across 45 cities in Nigeria and also helping to manage the digital switchover transition in collaboration with the federal government.

However, in 2016 she became the general manager of Kwese TV Nigeria, which launched in Nigeria in November 2017.

Amkpa is a firm believer in mentorship, she believes that everyone has something to offer once their talents have been harnessed and directed correctly. With this in mind, she encourages organisations and individuals to mentor young people, some of whom she mentors herself.

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BBNaija furniture given away

Reality show Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) is giving its fans the chance to win all the furniture in the BBNaija house or a cash prize this week as the season comes to an end.

Ten viewers stand the chance of taking home furniture such as dining table set, beds, lounge chairs, a TV, a refrigerator and other items used in the house or a prize of N1m.

Customers who reconnect or stay active on any of the DStv or GOtv packages this week whilst staying tuned to DStv 198 or GOtv 29 will be eligible to take part.

The winners will be announced on the BBNaija website and social media pages.

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MultiChoice picks up four marketing awards

Pay TV operator MultiChoice has won four awards at the Brands and Advertising Awards of Excellence held in Lagos.

Martin Mabutho

The annual ceremony, organised by Marketing Edge and themed ‘Story telling as a new paradigm shift in contemporary brand building: Convergence of creativity and technology,’ was aimed at celebrating the most innovative minds in the integrated marketing communications industry.

The company won the Outstanding Entertainment Services Provider of the Decade award, while its DStv and GOtv brands received the Outstanding Pay-TV Brand of the Decade and Innovative Digital Terrestrial Television Brand of the Year awards respectively.

Martin Mabutho, MultiChoice Nigeria’s chief customer officer, also received the Outstanding Brand Personality of the Year award.

John Ajayi, CEO of Marketing Edge, said: “Our resolve to recognise and reward our deserving awardees, peers and gladiators – some of them personalities and institutions that have contributed tremendously to the nation – is a result of, and in sync with, our raison d’être, which is promoting the brand idea.”

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MultiChoice adds temporary stand-up channel

African pay TV provider MultiChoice has introduced a temporary comedy channel for its GOtv and DStv subscribers for the Easter period.

Launched yesterday, Naija Stand-Up Comedy will run to May 1 and is available to DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact and Family subscribers and GOtv Max subscribers.

The channel is showing 100% Nigerian content, comprising original productions, skits and coverage of ticketed stand-up shows. Programming includes Funny Bone Untamed and Comedy Nites with IK.

Martin Mabutho, chief customer officer at MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “This channel will guarantee rib-cracking jokes from some of Nigeria’s finest comedians. Viewers can look forward to being a part of some of the biggest ticketed shows in the country.”

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