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NBC, ITS Renew Hope of Digitization of Broadcast Industry

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The long awaited digital switch-over (DSO) in Nigeria has become a reality as stakeholders are putting finishing touches for its take-off in Kwara. In March, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), had listed six states, one from each geo-political zone of the country, for DSO.

The states are Kaduna in North-West, Kwara in North-Central, Gombe in North-East, Enugu in South-East, Osun in South-West and Delta in South-South.

Nigeria transited from analogue to digital television viewing on April 30, 2016 in Jos, Plateau State capital after the Federal Government launched the pilot phase of the digital transmission project.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture,  also recently attributed the success of the DSO to the collective effort of stakeholders namely, Digiteam Nigeria, Broadcast Signal Distributors, Set-Top-Box manufacturers, channel owners, partners such as CCNL and In-view Technologies and Call Centre Operators.

Mr. Musbau Rotimi Salami, general manager of Integrated Television Services (ITS), one of the signal distribution companies for Nigeria’s DSO implementation and handlers of the Ilorin switch-over project, speaking with Sunday Vanguard at the NTA Ilorin Transmission Station, Ganmo, during the visit of the National Assembly ad-hoc committee on DSO, called for the review of the current business model arrangement put in place by the NBC to allow for more favourable operating and cost maximisation.

ITS, which came into being as a result of the report from Presidential Action Committee Report on Digital Migration in Nigeria, has done the needful by taking on the infrastructure of the FRCN, NTA, etc to ensure digital distribution to Nigerians. Salami explained that the organisation had been ready since May 22, 2017, when they began to expect the NBC contractor to install the equipment on their platform.

His words,’’ We of the ITS have been ready since May 22, 2017, but the way the platform is designed by NBC is such that they provide the equipment, the conditional access program, the EPG. They have a contractor who does this and we have informed them since, to come and integrate those systems on our platform. So, we are ready, but the NBC needs to be ready too’’.

The ITS GM explained further that the assignment of his firm is to build a transmission platform that, “will receive and transmit signals both from national, regional and local here in Ilorin”.

 He went on: “We have been able to receive signals on the DCS platform, those signals belong to the NBC”.

“Right now, there are about 22 of them, but they need to program signals specifically for Ilorin, they need to create programs specifially for Ilorin, they had to complete national signals and local insertions.

“For now, we are concentrating on those infrastructures of NTA that we used for signal broadcast.

But unfortunately, what we can only inherit from this transition is the mast and the transmitter hose. NTA’s transmitters are obsolete, they are analogue and they are not even supported by the equipment manufacturers anymore, so they are not useful in the new process.

“So, the only benefit we have here now is the mast, the transmission hose. Like Ilorin, their antenna is obsolete, their antenna is VHF, while we are operating on UHF; so virtually, the only thing we have gained here is the mast”.

He also said that for the process to be completed, the NBC needs to make the EPG system available, saying that it’s the signals that would be used to activate the decoder for the receivers at home.

Above all, Salami stressed the need for the NBC to make the set of boxes available and affordable for residents.

The ITS boss, who said the review of the existing business model is imperative to allow for equitable benefits for operators and stakeholders, noted that the business model has been a bone of contention for so long, especially for signal distributors.

“Already the Minister of Information and Culture has called for a review of it. We are eagerly awaiting the review as this will discourage the current situation where those who operate at the fringes and contribute minimally from reaping so much at the detriment of the major stakeholders”, he said.

Salami also assured the visiting NASS members that the Ilorin project met the requirements for the launch and commissioning but only waiting for the team from NBC to put its technical inputs.

Speaking on the significance of the National Assembly members visit, he asked it afforded the ITS the opportunity to explain its side of the story, adding that everything done at the Ilorin center had been to standard of global broadcasting equipment installation.

The ITS boss dismissed the claim that the equipment used at the Ilorin centre was obsolete.

He said such claim was misplaced and amounted to a lack of understanding of the technology behind the equipment used. He used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians on the need to put the nation first in every aspect of business relationship.

“We must ensure that national interests come first above personal and parochial interests. Integrated Television Services is conscious of the history behind it and will work to protect the interest of the Nigerian television consumers and the entire broadcasting industry in Nigeria.”

On the quality of the DSO, he said: “When fully operational, the ITS will have on its platform over 30 channels on its Free TV bouquet, thus delivering unbeatable state of the art quality television experience and pocket friendly plan to the people of Kwara State”.

The members of the National Assembly, after the inspection of the equipment and interaction with stakeholders, told journalists that the digitalisation of broadcast industry was a done deal.

According to the leader of the six-man team, Hon Chris Emeka Azubogu, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation,” we have seen the level of readiness and asked critical questions and they provided answers.

“We are sure from what they have said that they are ready, we have seen that the equipment are there, they are well and ready to hit the ground running.”


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Meet ADU Candidates 2024: ITREALMS collaborates with Awba-Ofemili Chatroom

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The international multiple award-winning, ITREALMS Media group, is collaborating with Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom to organise a week-long ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024’ on social media for the forthcoming Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) general elections aspirants.

At press time, Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom boosts of hundreds of indigenous membership from the rice producing community in Awka-North of Anambra State, both locally and in diaspora, whereas ITREALMS is a media entity with clouts in the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to entrench digitalSENSE in the society.

Speaking on this collaboration, the Editor-in-chief of ITREALMS Media and publishers of ITREALMS Online, Sir Remmy Nweke, said the initiative is to afford all indigenes of Awba-Ofemili the opportunity to meet with some key aspirants, who aspire to any elective positions during the 2024 general elections, especially from the secretariat to presidency.

The weeklong ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024,’ Nweke pointed out, would afford aspirants to reach ndi Awba-Ofemili in one room both home and abroad, share their manifesto to over 200 members of the group.

Additionally, he said aspirants would be able to take constructive feedback to enable them gauge the expectations of ndi Awba-Ofemili.

Also, he said that the session would be hosted in collaboration with the leadership of Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom on WhatsApp from Monday 25th through Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Nweke, who would be moderating the session, said it offers aspirants the possibilities of leveraging social media to engage and market themselves to teeming youths and every eligible adult in the town and diaspora for the forthcoming ADU general elections slated for Monday, April 1, 2024 at Awba-Ofemili Civic Center.

ITREALMS Media group www.itrealms.com.ng pioneered this in 2021 as part of our contribution in endearing peace and democratic education, among other tenets to help the good people of Awba-Ofemili make informed decision and have a sense of direction in building Awba-Ofemili we want,

Equally speaking, the chief administrator of Awba-Ofemili ChatRoom, Mr. Fred Nweke said that the ‘Meet ADU Candidates 2024’ sessions are expected to enable participants set agenda and interact with aspirants in various offices not limited to Secretary-General, Vice President-General and President General for this year.

He urged every indigene of Awba-Ofemili to use the medium to interface with aspirants and provide relevant feedback they could use after their elections.

Recall that in year 2021, ITREALMS Media group, pioneered ‘Meet ADU Candidates’ as part of its contribution in deepening peace and democratic education, among other tenets to help the good people of Awba-Ofemili make informed decision and have a sense of direction in building Awba-Ofemili they want.


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Ghanaian Musician, Stonebwoy, Stars on Glo-sponsored African Voices Playmakers

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This week’s edition of the Glo-sponsored African Voices Playmakers, a magazine program of Cable News Network (CNN) is featuring the unique talent of Ghanaian Afropop and reggae star, Stonebwoy.

In an honest interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, the 36-year-old, whose real  name is Livingstone Etse Satekla, claims to be the “King of Afro-dancehall.” He serves as the CEO of the Accra, Ghana-based musical ensemble Burniton. His commitment to bringing the Black diaspora together via his musical genre serves to further his fame.

Stonebwoy is no stranger to awards. In 2015, he won the Best International Act: Africa title at the BET Awards and the Artist of the Year title at the Ghana Music Awards, among other honors and recognitions. In addition, he received two Billboard plaques and Boomplay’s Golden Club plaque for garnering a staggering 100 million streams on the site.

He was included by YCEO and Avance media in their list of the 2019 50 (fifty) young CEOs. The list was established in 2018 to recognize outstanding young people who are dedicated to offering answers to some of Ghana’s issues. “Happy Death Day” and “My Name Is Ramadan” are two high-profile films in which Stonebwoy has acted.

African Voices Playmakers will be shown on DSTV Channel 401 on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. with repeat broadcast the same day at 11 a.m. Further rebroadcasts will be on Sunday 3.30 a.m., 6.00 p.m. and on Monday at 3.00 a.m. The edition will be repeated next week Saturday at 7.30 a.m., 11 a.m., on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4.00 a.m.

 


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Safeguarding the Source: World Water Day and the Crucial Role of Home Water Filters

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As we commemorate World Water Day, the global focus on the significance of fresh water highlights the urgent water challenges confronting our planet. With escalating scarcity and pollution endangering our water sources, it’s time for individuals to step up, taking center stage in addressing this issue.

The spotlight now illuminates the transformative potential of home water filters, which not only helps reduce the usage of single use plastic water bottles but also leads to a more sustainable lifestyle Access to clean, safe water is not just a privilege; it’s a fundamental human right.

In the face of mounting global water crises, home water filters emerge as a beacon of hope, offering a tangible solution to ensure the purity of our most precious resource.

The World Health Organization warns of the grave health risks posed by contaminated water sources, underscoring the urgency of securing a safe water supply. Investing in home water filters isn’t just about personal health; it’s a collective commitment to safeguarding public health and well-being on a global scale.

QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness focused direct selling company, and staunch advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). With a firm dedication to sustainability, QNET has pioneered a range of products that not only meet ethical manufacturing standards but also leave a positive impact on the planet.

In the quest for clean water, home water filters emerge as unsung heroes, diligently working to strip away impurities and contaminants, delivering a steady flow of clean, safe drinking water directly to your home.

Trevor Kuna, Chief Transformation & Reputation Officer at QNET, emphasizes the company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and the UNSDG, stating, “Home water filters offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution, reducing our reliance on single-use plastics and promoting responsible water consumption.”

Introducing QNET’s HomePure range, featuring the revolutionary HomePure Viva and HomePure Nova. These state-of-the-art home water filters boast a cutting-edge 9-stage water purification system, effectively eliminating an astounding 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, ensuring water that’s not just safe, but pristine.

Kuna also stated that “Investing in home water filters isn’t merely a personal choice; it’s a powerful statement in support of global water conservation efforts.

By embracing sustainable water practices at the grassroots level, we can ease the burden on our planet’s water resources.

World Water Day serves as a poignant reminder that every decision we make, including the choice to install a water filter, ripples outward, shaping the health of our planet”.

As we mark World Water Day, let’s take a moment to contemplate the indispensable role water plays in our lives and the weighty responsibility we shoulder in preserving this invaluable resource.

By adopting home water filters, we take proactive steps to safeguard the health of our families and pave the way for a future where clean water flows freely for all generations.

Together, as conscientious custodians of our planet, we can rewrite the narrative of the global water crisis, forging a path toward a sustainable, healthier world for all.


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