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Pay TV Subscribers Call for Pay Per View Technology

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Emeka Mba, DG, NBC
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Pay TV subscribers in Nigeria have appealed to the relevant regulatory bodies in the nation’s broadcast industry to compel Pay TV operators in the country to introduce the Pay As You View option to enable them get services commensurate with what they pay, according to Tribune Business.

A survey carried out among a cross- section of subscribers in the country revealed that while a negligible few still prefer the present arrangement of a monthly subscription, majority of the subscribers see the Pay As You View option as the best for them in a country, with a huge infrastructure gap like Nigeria.

For instance, the issue of erratic power supply and the viewing challenge usually associated with bad weather, they argued, had made the Pay As You View option imperative.

The Pay TV option enables the subscriber to pay for the exact number of hours such subscribers spend watching a programme on a Pay Tv channel.

A subscriber with one of the oldest Pay TV platforms in the country, Felix Ayedun, believes the Pay As You View (PAYV) option remains the best option for subscribers in this part of the globe.

“What I see in the present arrangement is that, it is not mutually beneficial. It is an arrangement that benefits only the service providers and not the service consumers.

“Otherwise, how do you explain a situation where you have to pay for a service you never really enjoy? Sometimes you do not view these things for a couple of days, but once your subscription is on, you are paying. Why not toe the telecoms line? Before, telecoms services used to be post paid and when the reforms in that sector took place, some of the operators ganged up to insist on payment per minute, even when it was apparent that sometimes the talk time was not even half of a minute. It only took competition to break the gang up against subscribers then,” he argued.

Felix believes until the nation’s broadcast industry is fully liberalised and investors are encouraged, such kind of exploitation would not be put to a halt.

For London-based Leye, who has been having a running battle with his Pay TV service provider, if introduced, the PAYV option would further drive customer traffic to that industry.

He argued that a lot of Nigerians, especially those based outside the country, shied away from subscribing to Pay TV offerings since they believed they would not get services commensurate to what they were paying as subscriptions.

“For instance, if you are sure you can always continue your viewing from where you stopped the last time you were in Nigeria, you would want to subscribe, even if you are not based in Nigeria,” he agued.

However, Rahmon Olopade’s argument for preferring the Pay TV option is slightly different. He is also one of the subscribers to the oldest Pay TV platform in the country. But, since he relocated to a new area, he no longer enjoys the luxury of public power supply. He generates his own power and only uses this at night for just a few hours.

“I have temporarily suspended my subscription, not because I no longer enjoy the services, but because I consider it a huge waste of resources to subscribe to a service that you would only be able to enjoy for a few hours in a day,” he argued.

Olopade believes all these would have been taken care of if the Pay TV option had been available.

Curiously, subscribers clamouring for this payment option will have to wait a little bit longer as the Tribune Business checks with some of these Pay TV service providers revealed that plans to introduce such payment option are not  in the offing  yet.

“No such plans yet. The clamour has been on for a long time, but I don’t think the industry is ripe for that yet,” replied a staff of one of the Pay TV service providers who would not want his name in print.

While giving reasons it should not be introduced in the country yet, another staff in the corporate affairs department of foremost Pay TV service providers in the country argued that the introduction of the PAYV option might not necessarily translate to cheaper rates.

“For instance, sometimes they pay as much as $50 to watch very important tournaments such as title fights in countries where subscribers enjoy such options. And to think that this is even more than what some subscribers here pay for a month is another thing entirely,” he stated.


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Broadcasting

How Flavour’s Uplifted Album Changed the Game: 15 Years of Igbo Pride and Global Hits

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Fifteen years ago, something truly special dropped onto the music scene: Flavour N’abania’s second album, Uplifted. This was a first showcase of his talent. With powerful vocals, masterful highlife production, and a deep connection to his cultural roots, Uplifted solidified Flavour’s reputation as a gifted artist.

At the time of its release, Uplifted smashed through borders and cultural divides, all thanks to Flavour’s deep commitment to celebrating his Nigerian roots, especially his Igbo heritage. This powerful connection to his culture has made him a major force, not just in Nigeria, particularly in the East, but also among the Igbo community dotted around the world.

The sheer success of Flavour’s cultural expression is highlighted by Spotify data from Uplifted and his other tracks. Even though his songs are deeply rooted in his culture and often sung in Igbo, they’re getting massive plays all over the globe.

Uplifted itself has stayed a big deal on streaming platforms, with its standout tracks racking up some serious numbers. Among the most-streamed hits from the Uplifted album are Ashawo Remix, Adamma, and Oyi (I dey Catch Cold). These tracks, along with other timeless fan favourites like Time To Party, Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), and Game Changer (Dike) have all contributed significantly to Flavour’s overall streaming success, proving their lasting appeal. Reflecting on the album’s anniversary during an exclusive chat with Spotify, Flavour revealed that for him, “Adamma” truly captured the essence of Flavour from the Uplifted album era.”

From the heart of Nigeria to global playlists: Flavour’s universal pull

Flavour’s music really does have a universal pull. His songs have popped up in over 2 million user-made playlists, which shows just how much people are connecting with and sharing his tunes. And get this: in the last three years, from 2022 to 2024, Flavour’s music has seen a growth in streams, a total stream increase of 134% globally, and a 573% increase across Sub-Saharan Africa.

While 51% of his total audience is in Nigeria, his influence stretches far and wide with the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, and France all among his top listening countries. That’s a truly global footprint, reaching across Africa, Europe, and America.

Leading Flavour’s listenership in Nigeria is a strong showing from Lagos, accounting for 38% of his Nigerian audience. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State also follow closely, making up 22% and 16% respectively, together claiming 76% of his Nigerian audience. He also enjoys love in the east as two Eastern Nigerian cities, Enugu and Onitsha, break into his global top 10. Big international cities like Greater London, Johannesburg, and New York City feature prominently too. This wide geographical spread shows how his music crosses all sorts of borders.

Who’s listening? A look at Flavour’s fanbase

Flavour’s audience is diverse with Gen Zs (18-24 year olds) as his biggest fans globally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. This strong youth appeal is vital for his long-term success. While his music celebrates women, men form the majority of his listeners globally (57%) and in Sub-Saharan Africa (63%).

The lasting success of Uplifted highlights how digital streaming has completely changed the music industry. Platforms like Spotify have given artists like Flavour ways to connect with fans everywhere. These days, streaming data gives us a clear, numbers-based look at an artist’s reach, showing that Flavour’s cultural stories, delivered in fluent Igbo, truly resonate far beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Flavour’s strong link to his Igbo roots, seen in his music, has driven his global success, acting as a cultural bridge for Nigerian traditions. The ongoing popularity of Uplifted and his other songs on streaming platforms proves that genuine cultural expression, mixed with great artistry, ensures lasting success today. As Uplifted hits 15 years, it showcases the power of culture worldwide.


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Nigeria Week Ahead: CBN decision, ECB and USD in focus

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By Lukman Otunuga, Senior Market Analyst, FXTM

This will be a week defined by high-impact events and corporate earnings from the largest companies in the world.

Nigeria’s central bank is expected to hold interest rates on Tuesday.

This decision is likely based on still stubbornly high inflation despite price pressures easing in recent months. Inflation slowed to 22.2% year-on-year in June, its third consecutive decline. A CBN rate cut could be on the cards in H2, but this will be on the back of persistently falling price pressures.

Looking at the NGX All Share Index, it has gained almost 10% month-to-date – pushing 2025 gains to nearly 30%. This means the NGX is currently outperforming the S&P500 and Nasdaq100 who have gained roughly 7% and 11% this year respectively. The Naira spot has held its ground against the USD this year after depreciating almost 70% in 2024.

Outside of Nigeria, earnings season is in full swing with US banks reporting strong results last week. Now the spotlight shines on big tech with Alphabet and Tesla reporting on Wednesday.

Alphabet shares gained 14% in Q2 amid strong AI product demand and growth in the cloud business. However, bulls may need a fresh catalyst to push Alphabet’s year-to-date gains out of the red. Tesla is down almost 20% year-to-date and could extend losses if its latest quarterly results are below market expectations

On the data front, key releases from Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States may influence global sentiment.

But the main event for FX markets could be the European Central Bank decision on Thursday. No changes are expected to interest rates, but any clues offered on future moves could spark fresh volatility. Traders are currently pricing in a less than 50% probability that the ECB cuts rates by September

Speaking of FX, the dollar has weakened across the board with the DXY tumbling toward 97.70. This weakness could be based on mounting pressure from Trump to cut US rates and caution ahead of the tariff deadline on August 1st.

Note: Nigeria faces a 14% reciprocal tariff on its goods imported into the U.S, effective from August 1st.


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Big Brother Naija Season 10 to Premiere July 26 with Record ₦150m Grand Prize

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Big Brother Naija Season 10
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MultiChoice Nigeria, today announced the highly anticipated return of Africa’s biggest reality television show, Big Brother Naija, for its landmark 10th season. Set to premiere over two nights on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, 2025, the new season promises 10 weeks of captivating drama, strategic gameplay, and unparalleled entertainment, culminating in the grand finale on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

Big Brother Naija Season 10

The audition process for this milestone season was meticulously designed to unearth the most engaging and dynamic personalities from across Nigeria. Audition registrations were held from May 3rd to May 7th, 2025, and saw an overwhelming response, followed by rigorous in-person auditions conducted in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu from May 16th to May 18th, 2025.

Speaking on the upcoming season, Busola Tejumola, Executive Head, General Entertainment, MultiChoice Group, expressed her excitement: “Today we are not just announcing another season, we are celebrating a legacy.”

While the official theme for Season 10 will be unveiled on the premiere night, viewers can anticipate a fresh wave of excitement. The beloved Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is returning as host, guiding viewers through every twist and turn of the season. This 10th season also has the highest prize at stake – valued at a whopping N150million.

Fans can catch the premier live on July 26 and 27 exclusively on Africa Magic Showcase, Family and Showmax at 7 PM WAT. The Sunday live eviction shows will also air exclusively on these channels. The 24/7 live stream will be available on DStv Channel 198, GOtv Channel 49, and on Showmax.

“BBNaija has become more than just a television show; it is a living, breathing cultural force. It has given voice to a new generation of talent, creatives, entertainers, and the influencer community, and it has refined what homegrown entertainment can achieve when it is done at scale with intention and ambition,” added Tejumola.

With a two-night opening live show for Big Brother Naija Season 10, the season is poised to build upon the legacy of its predecessors, with fans expecting a more dynamic and entertaining experience. Still speaking on what the season holds Dr. Tejumola said “Today we are not just announcing another season, we are celebrating a legacy. From the very first time we introduced Big Brother Naija in 2017, we had an inkling that we had something special. What we couldn’t fully imagine then is how deeply the show would resonate not only in Nigeria but across Africa and in the global diaspora, where our stories continue to connect people to home.”

This milestone season for the iconic show is not without the usual lineup of sponsors. The gold sponsor for the 10th season of the show is Guinness Nigeria. Other sponsors include Smirnoff, Gordons, HFM, Pepsi, Aquafina, Supakomando, Tolaram Group, Bet King, Golden Penny Foods, Haier Thermocool, Checkers custard, and Innoson Motors, among others.

Viewers can catch all the live action and special broadcasts on DStv Channel 198, GOtv Channel 49, and Showmax. The live Sunday eviction shows will air exclusively on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151, GOtv Channel 8), Africa Magic Family (DStv Channel 154, GOtv Channel 7) and on Showmax.

DStv and GOtv subscribers can also watch the show on the go using the DStv and GOtv Stream apps available on the Google Play Store and IOS App Store.


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