Broadcasting
Cut Costs to Help Your Business
As price hikes continue to hit the economy, small business owners are fighting to keep their heads above water. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to cut unnecessary costs and examine all areas of a business to see where savings can be achieved. Overhead expenses, which take up a significant chunk of revenue, are an obvious place to start, but your most significant cost savings could come from making a series of smaller cuts and implementing innovative solutions.
1. Go paperless
The cost of paper and ink may seem insignificant, but it can add up to a big business expense over the course of a year. It’s a commonly recurring business cost that you can reduce by encouraging employees to be mindful of paper wastage and to stick to the following rules: Reuse waste paper for notes instead of throwing it away; set all work computers to print double-sided by default; print documents in a smaller font, and file important documents on your computer instead of in a portable file.
2. Flexible working arrangement
The cost involved in renting an office, coupled with furnishing and other daily and monthly overheads, is such an expensive affair, especially during these tough times. To help manage these costs, you may consider adopting a flexible working style where your team can either work remotely or in a hybrid model with frequent virtual meetings to keep the human interaction going. Using co-shared working spaces is another option where you only pay for the day that you need to be in an office environment. This way, you will not have to worry about office running costs as these spaces cater to all your office needs. Some even have an unlimited supply of coffee! Lastly, move to a smaller office and have your team come on a scheduled basis. For instance, have each department come in on a specific day of the week. This way, you get to maximise the small office efficiently.
3. Reconsider traditional services
A long-term contract for cleaning can result in expensive monthly bills and may not suit your small business’s needs. A cost-efficient alternative is to hire cleaners only when you need them to come in once or twice a week with pre-vetted, trustworthy cleaners.
Doing what you can to keep staff healthy makes good financial sense, too, as sick workers can slow down productivity. With August being Nigeria’s coldest month, Awazi Angbalaga, SweepSouth’s Country Manager, suggests a weekly clean of keyboards and desk phones to stop your office from becoming a germ-filled battleground. “Our hands and the surfaces we touch are the superhighways for germs, and because we touch our phones and keyboards so often, they top the list of the dirtiest items on our desks. A cleaner can wipe down frequently-touched objects with a disinfectant on a weekly basis to keep them clean,” she advises.
4. Leverage social media advertising
Truth be told, traditional advertising is so expensive that many small businesses can’t afford it. Paid social media advertising is much cheaper and will provide a savings opportunity, but if even that is too much for you to afford right now, you can build your company’s social media following organically on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. It is a much slower process, but it won’t cost you anything. You will also be able to authentically express your brand’s personality and build trust with your audience. The only cost will be your time, and a firm commitment to be regularly active and proactive on the accounts you’ve created.
5. Use freelancers and contractors for non-core work
Contracting out the jobs in your company that don’t require full-time employees can help cut overhead costs. Freelancers and interns are useful for one-off projects and non-core activities, such as data entry or document processing. They’re easier to hire and cheaper to employ, as you’re not expected to provide them with costly benefits like medical aid or leave. Make sure though, that you have proper contracts in place to set expectations and mitigate risks, for both parties. Bear in mind that freelancers may not share the same loyalty and passion for your business as full-time employees, so it makes for sound business practice to balance your staff complement by hiring a combination of both full-time employees and freelancers.
6. Switch off lights, machines and computers after hours
To help keep energy costs under control, make it a company policy to switch off air-conditioners, non-essentials lights, gadgets and equipment before staff head off home each day. Putting computer monitors into sleep mode will also cut down on unnecessary energy consumption and save money. If you run your business from a home office, make the switch to LED bulbs and opt for energy-efficient appliances to help reduce your monthly electricity costs. For a longer-term solution, consider a hybrid solar system that includes batteries for backup, while keeping a lifeline connection to the grid. This will make it possible to use essential appliances, such as a laptop and routers, in case of a power outage ; with minimal disruption to your business.
7. When in doubt, go without
If you’re struggling to allay costs, make it a practice to constantly ask: Do we really need to buy this? Do we really need to replace something? Think every purchase through instead of just spending the money on buying bigger and newer things. Even when times aren’t tough, it’s prudent to use what you already have until you are certain you need something new.
Cutting costs shouldn’t just be a periodic exercise to improve your bottom line. Good business practice dictates that you should regularly evaluate all operational expenditure. This will assist you in growing your bottom line and reducing the risk of cash-flow trouble in the future, as well as helping you become a more efficient business overall.
Broadcasting
Konga Communications Hosts NBC Delegation, Reaffirms Commitment to Excellence and Compliance
It was a landmark day at Konga Communications as the team from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) paid a working visit to the studios of KongaTV and KongaFM 103.7 recently.
L-R: Team Lead, KongaTV, Ayo Jimi; NBC Lagos Zonal Director, Raphael Akpan; Head, KongaTV and KongaFM, Ifeoma Ajumobi; National Broadcasting Commission Director General, Charles Ebuebu; Director Public Affairs, NBC, Susan Obi; Team Lead Technical, KongaTV and KongaFM, Ahmed Jaiyeola; Team Lead, KongaFM, Chidi Okenne
The visit marked a significant step in the station’s journey toward delivering high-quality, engaging, and regulatory-compliant content.
Led by Charles Ebuebu, director general, NBC, the delegation also included: Raphael Akpan, Lagos Zonal director, and Susan Obi, director of Public Affairs.
They were warmly received by the leadership of Konga Communications, including: Ifeoma Ajumobi Head (KongaTV and KongaFM); Ayo Jimi, team tead KongaTV; Chidi Okenne, team lead KongaFM, and Ahmed Jaiyeola, team lead Operations.
The NBC’s visit was both insightful and productive, with the regulatory body offering invaluable feedback and guidance on content direction and operational standards.
Emphasizing the importance of community engagement and responsible broadcasting, the NBC urged KongaTV and KongaFM to incorporate climate change sensitization into their programming and scheduling.
This is a crucial move in the global fight for environmental awareness.
Furthermore, the commission stressed the need for the station’s content to reflect at least 70 percent commerce-related programming and 20 percent news, aligning with Konga’s core mission to bridge the gap between entertainment and commerce.
The NBC also advised the station to actively encourage audience feedback, creating an open channel for listeners and viewers to share their perspectives, no matter how critical.
Speaking on the visit, Ms Ajumobi, expressed gratitude for the NBC’s support and reaffirmed the station’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of broadcasting.
“We are incredibly honored to host the NBC team and gain from their wealth of experience and insight. Their feedback gives us a clear roadmap to strengthen our content, enhance audience engagement, and ensure we stay true to the NBC code. At KongaTV and KongaFM, we are fully committed to creating innovative, commerce-driven, and informative programming while also championing important causes like climate action and community development. This visit has further inspired us to raise the bar,” Ajumobi said.
As KongaTV and KongaFM continue to grow their reach and impact, the collaboration with NBC is a testament to their resolve to deliver quality content that educates, entertains, and empowers. The future is bright, and Konga Communications is ready to lead the charge.
Subscribers in Nigeria have threatened to boycott the services of Multichoice Nigeria, the parent company of satellite television, DSTV and GOtv after a shocking review of their tariff plans by over 20 per cent.
This is coming as the he Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), summoned the PayTV company to explain its proposed subscription price increase.
Recall that in a surprise notification to customers, DSTV on Monday, announced an upward review of their plans effective March 1, 2025.
It is uncertain whether DSTV received regulatory approval to proceed with the upward review which is the second in the last 10 months.
The company reviewed its prices in April last year.
In this fresh development, Multichoice told subscribers that its premium DSTV package has been reviewed to N44,500 from N37,000 and Compact Plus reviewed to N30,000 from N25,000.
DSTV Confam plan was raised from N9300 to N11,000; Yanga and Padi reviewed to N6,000 from N5200, and to N4,000 from N3,600, respectively.
Similarly, the price for GOtv Supa Plus was raised to N16,800 from N15,700; the Supa package reviewed to N11,400 from N9,600; the Max plan was reviewed from N7,200 to N8,500, the Jolli plan was reviewed to N5,800 while Jinja and Smallie were reviewed to N3,900 and N1,900 respectively.
Although Multichoice admitted that consumers were also battling economic challenges, it said it arrived at the decision after “in-depth analysis”.
The decision by DSTV and GOtv has heightened the frustration of subscribers who are still battling with the April 2024 price list.
Ebuka Michael with X handle, @e_bukamichael said, “Nigerians wake up! It is time to boycott Multichoice! We can’t be struggling to feed and still struggle to pay half the minimum wage to watch DSTV. This is extortion and it must stop”.
In a further effort to boycott DSTV subscribers, an aggrieved consumer, @silentwilsn shared “Websites where you can stream football, movies, soap operas, kids’ shows, and even live TV offering everything available on DStv and GOtv for free”.
Other subscribers like Adetokunbo Ademola with X handle, @iamade040482, blamed lawmakers and regulatory agencies for DSTv’s constant upward review.
He lamented, “I don’t blame them ,DSTV. I blame Nigerian lawmakers who give them this chance due to corruption. What exactly is stopping Nigerians from getting ‘pay as you watch’ package?”
FCCPC in reaction, said, “Exercising its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC directed the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at the Commission’s headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025, according to the statement issued by Ondaje Ijagwu, director, Corporate Affairs on Tuesday, the commission’s summon is in line with its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA.
“This action follows MultiChoice’s formal notification of the price adjustment, which raises concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and perceived anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.
“The FCCPC is deeply concerned that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases, amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse”.
FCCPC said Multichoice will be sanctioned if found wanted.
“Should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, the FCCPC will be left with no other option than to impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers”, the commission said.
The FCCPC said it is engaging the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure fair competition and consumer protection within Nigeria’s broadcasting and digital subscription landscape.
MultiChoice Nigeria has announced an increase in subscription rates for its DStv and GOtv packages, effective March 1, 2025.
In a statement issued to customers on Monday, the company cited the need to maintain the quality of its service as the reason for the price adjustment.
The statement, titled “Price Adjustments for DStv and GOtv Packages,” read, “Dear Customer, please note that effective 1 March 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages. This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology.”
This increase came nearly a year after the company’s last price review, reflecting rising operational costs.
MultiChoice attributed the hike to economic pressures, including the depreciation of the naira and high inflation, which have significantly impacted its business operations in Nigeria.
According to the new pricing structure, the DStv Compact bouquet will rise from N15,700 to N19,000, while the Compact Plus package will now cost N30,000. The Premium subscription will increase to N44,500.
For GOtv subscribers, those on the GOtv Jinja package will now pay N3,900, up from N3,600.
The GOtv Plus package will increase from N4,850 to N5,800, while GOtv Max will now cost N8,500. The GOtv Supa and Supa Plus packages will be priced at N11,400 and N16,800, respectively.
MultiChoice has consistently defended its price adjustments, pointing to economic realities that have made running its services in Nigeria more expensive. The company maintained that the price review is necessary to sustain its offerings and ensure continued access to quality content.
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