Tag Archives: Nigerian International Film & TV Summit

Channels TV exec expects bright future

Ladi Akeredolu-Ale at the Nigerian International Film & TV Summit

Ladi Akeredolu-Ale, controller of current affairs at Channels TV, remains optimistic about the Nigerian broadcaster’s future in the age of digital transition, attendees at the Nigerian International Film & TV Summit (NIFS) heard this week.

Akeredolu-Ale spoke about the Nigerian TV industry’s outlook during a session hosted by Ijeoma Onah, founder of NIFS and CEO of Super TV.

Asked how prepared Channels TV is for the digital migration, Akeredolu-Ale said: “The business will be affected but we hope it won’t affect it negatively. We see lots of opportunities here. For example, if you are talking about the TV business, you are talking about income. There are multiple income streams in this convergence, like what we have started doing in the business of podcasting.

“Lots of people want to see things, while others want to hear them. With all the convergence that has occurred in our environment, radio is still the most popular medium of communication across the country.

“The challenge here is how do you attract that kind of audience to this platform? It is still a work in progress and we are looking at it more consciously because it involves significant investment.”

Akeredolu-Ale added that Channels TV wants to create podcasts in indigenious languages that will be beneficial to people. The exec said he sees this as an opportunity because if people can easily get health-related information in a language or format that is easy to access, they will subscribe. “And each time that person comes back on the basis of satisfaction with the previous experience, it’s good for your bottom line and makes you more relevant to their day-to-day life,” he said.

Onah also asked Akeredolu-Ale about the future of monetisation in traditional TV and whether will Channels TV be able to sustain itself amid digital disruption. Akeredolu-Ale responded by saying legacy players are also able to target specific audiences they might not have been able to in the past.

“Channels TV used to think of itself as an ABC station but the vast population is in the DE segment. It has been a challenge to get them to engage and let them know the relevance of engaging. But with this disruption, you have an opportunity to target them specifically. The information is still the same but the mode of communication is different,” he said.

The issue of traditional media ensuring truthful information in the digital age was also raised. “Take a deep breath, look at the information over and over again, identify loopholes, cross check information and finally run checks on what you have gathered,” Akeredolu-Ale advised.

They key topic at this year’s NIFS was the so-called streaming wars, and the implications for the future of content monetisation for film and TV content. The event was held from August 29 to September 1 in Lagos.

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African toons, movies screened at NIFS

Jennifer Nkem-Eneanya’s Kiliwe: The Time Bender

The three-day Nigerian International Film & TV Summit (NIFS) concluded with screenings of an array of local movies and content in different styles and genres at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema in Maryland, Lagos.

The film screenings included Body & Soul, which consists of six short films: Finding Jomijo, Soul Beats, Flight Plans, Imoles, Against the Wind and The Journey to Paradise.

Also on the list were Nigerian animated film Halima’s Vote, Spoof Animations’ 2D animated series Hero Corps, Biodun Stephen’s movie Sista, and the African remake of the classic Cinderella story, Tarella.

Others included Sham by Christian Ochiagha, Clarence Peters’ Inside Life, Ovie vs Wale by Lagos-based animation house Orange VFX Studios, Kiliwe: The Time Bender by Jennifer Nkem-Eneanya, Strike Guard by Spoof Animation, Skelebe by Quadron Studios, Voyager, Ami, The Exchange by Omoyefe Majoroh, and Spoof Animation’s Ajaka Lost in Rome.

The NIFS organisers said: “It’s so amazing and encouraging to see all that is happening with respect to our African content.”

The screenings were organised and sponsored by the French Embassy in Nigeria and Animation Nigeria.

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Opara calls for relevant content at NIFS

Dr Ngozi Opara, dean of the School of Media & Communication at the Pan-Atlantic University of Lagos, spoke about the need to produce relevant content at the Nigerian International Film & TV Summit (NIFS) this week.

Dr Ngozi Opara at NIFS

“For us as marketers and content producers, we need to pay attention to the type of content we produce and the implications of this content to the world, because whatever happens may affect us in one way or the other,” she said.

She stressed the fact that in the communication and digital era, changes are occurring every day and there is a need to know the kind of content to give your audience.

“The internet has changed how information is consumed and people are keying into these changes and adapting their business models. How can we improve the kind of content we give consumers, because they should no longer be taken for granted,” she said.

“With the ever-increasing devices and platforms, we can understand how consumers get the most value out of the content we produce.

“Our audiences choose how to consume content, you don’t force them to. For you to succeed, you have to use a content format that allows them to use their different devices.

She spoke about the effects of disruptions on people and the importance of technology which can extend the possibilities of man.

“Digital disruptions describes the change that happens when digital technology, services,and capabilities affect and change the value of the industry’s existing services and goods,” she added.

Understanding the place of digital disruptions means that things are changing that can affect content produced in a good or bad way, she said. Disruption should be an opportunity for us to move with the times.

“Disruption should be based on innovation that will help us create morals and ethics needed to promote human dignity. We should produce responsible content and consumption that will leave the world better than we find it,” she concluded.

NIFS, founded by SuperTV CEO Ijeoma Onah, took place this week in Lagos, Nigeria.

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NIFS 2022 to focus on Streaming Wars

This year’s Nigerian International Film & TV Summit (NIFS), which is taking place in Lagos from August 29 to September 1, will have a particular focus on the so-called Streaming Wars.

Ijeoma Onah

The event aims to enlighten people about the industry and create opportunities for people to network and connect to grow the sector. The theme for 2022’s edition is ‘Streaming Wars: The implications on future of content monetisation for film and TV content,’ referring to the huge increase of direct-to-consumer services over the past couple of years.

Discussions will address the challenges, solutions and opportunities that currently exist in film and TV.

NIFS has also partnered with Animation Nigeria and the French Embassy to present the Animation Focus Session. This will address issues surrounding investment in Nigerian animation and spotlight the achievements of the Nigerian animation industry for financiers and investors.

Keynote speakers include John Momoh, chairman of Channels Media Group; Ayanna Lonian, director of content acquisition and head of WW major studio licensing strategy at Amazon Prime Video; Bola Atta, executive producer at Lagos-based online network RedTV; and Ope Ajayi, chairman of the Cinemas Exhibitor Association of Nigeria.

Also speaking at NIFS are are Joy Odiete, president/CEO at Blue Pictures Distribution; Femi Odugbemi, founder/executive at Zuri 24 Media; Obi Emelonye, filmmaker at The Nollywood Factory; Adedayo Thomas, CEO of the National Film & Video Censors Board; Moses Babatope, MD of FilmOne Entertainment; Obi Asika, CEO of Cabal entertainment; Biodun Stephen, filmmaker at Shutterspeed Projects; and Jade Osiberu, founder of GREOH Studios.

There will also be a scriptwriting session called UK-Nigeria Scriptwriting Workshop, in partnership with the British Film Institute, aimed at giving writers the opportunity to hone their craft and make connections with other writers.

NIFS founder and SuperTV CEO Ijeoma Onah said: “The three-day NIFS event will provide the perfect platform to tackle critical industry issues, make connections and chart a defined course for the film and TV business as the streaming wars unfold across the Nigerian film and media landscape.”

For more info and to register, click here.

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