Broadcasting
Reality TV Landscape in Nigeria: The MultiChoice Impact
By Chigoziem Dike
Conversations around the appropriateness of reality shows in the Nigerian society usually elicit controversy, as different individuals strongly offer their arguments for or against the production and broadcasting of a new season of an existing show or the creation of a new one.
Without a doubt, reality shows are fast gaining acceptance among Nigerian audiences across the various socio-economic classes. A careful observation of the high audience participation recorded for these shows as well as the traction they gain in the mainstream and online media provide enough evidence.
In fact, the emergence of reality shows is not a recent trend. The earliest reality shows in Nigeria can be traced to 2003 when the Nigerian Breweries introduced ‘Gulder Ultimate Search’. This opened a gateway for other fan favourites such as ‘Big Brother Naija’, ‘Nigerian Idol’, amongst others.
However, after the Nigerian economy slipped into recession in 2016 following a recurrent drop in the global price of oil beginning from mid-2014, most of these shows were either suspended or discontinued in line with the economic realities of the country.
On the flip side, the absence of these shows left the Nigerian audience thirsting for their comeback. Regardless of the economic realities of the day, entertainment is considered an integral part of daily life for many Nigerians.
Based on demand and a desire to reinvigorate the reality show landscape in Nigeria, MultiChoice Nigeria announced the second season of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) show in 2016, ten years after its first season in 2006.
The show became an instant success attracting millions of viewers both in Nigeria and outside the country. Subsequent editions of the show further confirmed its position as a highly anticipated television show.
According to MultiChoice, the 2020 edition of BBNaija tagged, ‘lockdown’, garnered over 900 million votes for contestants across various platforms. The 2021 edition surpassed it by 300 million votes.
As such, the success of the Big Brother Naija show has reopened a gateway for other reality shows designed to thrill, educate and entertain the Nigerian audience. Some of these include the recently reintroduced ‘Gulder Ultimate Search’ and ‘Nigerian Idol’, Others include the legal reality show ‘Judging Matters’ and the adrenaline pumping and physically intense reality TV show,‘The Rush’,, amongst others.
While some argue that reality shows encourage moral decadence, vanity and profanity; some others argue that the popularity of reality shows in Nigeria spurred by MultiChoice holds more prospects than consequences.
Similarly, reality shows reflect the predominant culture, norms, ideals and conversations in society. It may be safe to argue that society is mirrored on these shows. Likewise, many of these shows are structured to also benefit the audience financially through frequent giveaways.
Regardless of the arguments against reality shows in Nigeria, evidence suggests that the gains far outweigh the negatives of reality shows.
Through the production and promotion of reality shows, MultiChoice is consistently providing the Nigerian audience with valuable entertainment and informative content. For instance, reality shows like ‘The Rush’ revolve around adventurous content and healthy competition to entertain viewers.
Additionally, reality shows have proven to provide a veritable platform for talented individuals. We have witnessed talented acts such as Bisola Aiyeola and Laycon breaking into the entertainment industry to talented chefs like Miyonsea Amosu becoming stronghold brands.
There is no denying the chain of economic impact created by these shows. The Marketing Communications industry has gained immensely in this regard. For example, brands have been spurred to increase their advertising spend to create resonating commercials and secure coveted slots on these shows.
One cannot also ignore how the Nigerian economy stands to benefit from the emergence of entrepreneurs like Mercy Eke , Nengi Hampson, Lilo Aderogba, Dorathy Bachor.
It is safe to say that MultiChoice has ignited a fire that would be hard to quench. Reality shows are here for the long haul. Just like it is generally accepted for a coin to have two sides, critics must accept that reality shows bring more gains than pains.
Dike, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos
American Tower Corporation (ATC) Nigeria and the ProFuturo Foundation have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the educational sector through digital innovation and technology.
The programme, which is being implemented in conjunction with the Kukah Centre, is expected to benefit over 5,600 school children and 34 teachers across 11 schools in Kano, Kebbi and Taraba states.
The initiative is part of a broader global collaboration between American Tower and ProFuturo Foundation, targeting education gaps in seven African and Latin American countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ATC Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Mr Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, said the partnership was aligned with the company’s Digital Communities programme, which facilitates technology-driven learning, financial literacy for adults and access to healthcare services in underserved areas.
“At ATC Nigeria, we are proud to support this impactful collaboration, which brings digital tools directly into classrooms. This partnership is not just about equipment—it’s about giving children the future they deserve,” he said.
General Manager of ProFuturo Foundation, Ms Magdalena Brier, described the partnership as a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering vulnerable communities.
“This alliance reinforces our mission to transform lives by improving access to education and digital tools. Every child and teacher reached through this programme is a testament to what we can achieve together,” she said.
Each school will be equipped with a digital learning kit, which includes computers, tablets, routers, projectors and other essential components tailored to foster interactive learning—even in areas with limited connectivity.
The initiative seeks to strengthen innovative teaching practices and promote inclusive education through digital transformation, with active support from local authorities who were present at the official launch.
About ₦2 billion changes hands in bets every day (KPMG Gaming Outlook 2025), driven by a 60-million-strong punter base that treats wagering as both entertainment and side-hustle. Industry revenue is on pace to hit US $3.63 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) by December 2025 – roughly the size of Nigeria’s entire recorded-music market.
Smartphones rule this universe: more than 90 percent of slips now start and finish on a handset, which is why the market leaders obsess over data-lite apps and USSD deposits almost as much as odds feeds.
Our Litmus Test for “Best”
To separate hype from heft we graded each book on the nine variables that still matter after the banner ads fade:
- Odds edge & market depth – average margin on EPL, NPFL and niche sports
- Live tech stack – cash-out latency, in-play uptime, streaming rights
- Payout speed & reliability
- Responsible-gaming tools (RG) – time-outs, self-exclusion, deposit caps
- Licensing strength & dispute history
- Promotions that actually pay
- Product breadth – virtuals, jackpots, prediction games, casino
- Financial resilience – operating cash flow, retail footprint, VC war chest
- Cultural traction – agent networks, grassroots sponsorships, meme power
The Heavyweights – and Why Each Owns a Piece of The Best
| Operator | What They Nail | Ticking Time-Bombs | Verdict |
| SportyBet | Biggest traffic (≈ 57 M visits / month), sub-5-second cash-outs, crazy-low EPL margin (~4.5%). | Still no retail city hubs; crash loops on older Tecno devices. | Mobile kingpin |
| Bet9ja | Heritage trust, retail agents in 20 states, jackpots like Super9ja; circa ₦10 billion monthly handle. | Dated UX; odds less sharp since 2024 revamp. | Legacy war-horse |
| BetKing | Data-driven odds, Genius Sports in-play feed, renewed deal with Gamble Alert for RG training. | Slower KYC queues at peak traffic. | RG poster-child |
| Surebet247 | NLRC Permit 0001081; cash-first agent model with mobile slip tracking; boosted welcome bonus to ₦150k; full cash-out on domestic basketball. | Android app, iOS app; livestream rights still pending. | Mobile dark horse |
| 1xBet & Betway | Global market buffet, esports, crypto options. | Offshore-licence optics; occasional geoblock glitches. | International muscle |
| NairaBet, AccessBET, Msport, Premier Bet, BetPawa | NairaBet = pioneer cachet; Msport & BetPawa blitz TikTok; Premier Bet just signed Francis Ngannou. | Each misses at least one core pillar (RG tooling, market depth or fast payouts). | Specialist niches |
Two Deep-Cut Insights the Billboards Won’t Show You
- Women are quietly reshaping the market. According to University of Abuja (“according to data from the University of Abuja”), 30 percent of urban Lagos women now gamble regularly, and a 2025 field survey found daily spend often tops ₦50,000 despite lower median income.
- Mobile-money betting dents student wallets. According to Lagos State University, mobile-money deposits explain 26.7 percent of the variance in student financial well-being – a stat that should make every platform’s RG desk sweat.
So, Who Actually Wins?
- Premier-League diehards who live for lightning-fast in-play cash-out: SportyBet wears the crown.
- Corner-shop loyalists who still like to chat with a clerk: Surebet247 Betshop nails the cash-plus-mobile sweet spot.
- Jackpot chasers who want EPL on Saturday, Ugandan Super League on Tuesday, and darts on Thursday: Bet9ja is still the Swiss-Army knife.
Punters who value self-exclusion toggles and deposit caps (you should): BetKing edges ahead.
In reality, “best” is contextual. Odds hawks, live-stream junkies, crypto degenerates and agent-network stalwarts will all point to different logos. What you don’t want is a bookie that melts down at 89′ when Villarreal finally scores.
On that front, the four names above – plus a rapidly innovating Surebet247 mobile bet shop – look built to survive Nigeria’s next data-price hike and the NLRC’s tightening audit screws.
The rest? Keep one eye on their uptime dashboards – and the other on your bankroll.
By Lukman Otunuga, Senior Market Analyst at FXTM.
A flurry of high-risk events may pump global financial markets with fresh volatility this week.
Top-tier data, including US Inflation, the unofficial start of earnings season, and US Congress “Crypto Week,” among other themes, could spell fresh opportunities.
Amidst this, uncertainty over global trade will add to the mix after President Donald Trump threatened 35% tariffs on the EU and Mexico over the weekend.
Regarding US inflation, this may impact bets around Fed cuts in the second half of this year. Markets are forecasting CPI to rise 2.6% from 2.4% in the prior month, with core CPI rising to 2.9% from 2.8%. Signs of rising prices may shave bets around the Fed cutting interest rates – boosting the dollar as a result.
Closer to home, Nigeria’s June CPI data due July 15 is expected to show signs of cooling inflationary pressures. This could offer some relief to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which aggressively hiked interest rates throughout 2024. Inflation is expected to have eased to 21.4% year-on-year from 23% in May – marking the 4th consecutive month of decline. However, the slowdown is largely a technical adjustment aided by the recent gains in the Naira amid higher non-oil exports and a weaker dollar.
The CBN is scheduled to meet later this month and will most likely keep rates unchanged at 27.5%.
One key challenge for the country will be how to re-tweak its budget for lower oil prices. Indeed, the budget was based around oil production at 2 million barrels and oil prices of $75. Brent is trading around $70 with the nation producing 1.544m b/d of crude in May according to OPEC. Nigeria is hoping to raise production to 1.9m b/d by the end of 2025. But its impact on the economy may be muted if oversupply and tepid demand keep oil prices subdued. Brent is up 4% this month but still down over 6% since the start of 2025.
MTN @ Swish Fusion Summit, Showcases 5G Rollout Strategy
Zenith Banks Leads as 8 Banks Suffer N156Bn Impairment Charges
SEC Flags FF Tiffany as Ponzi Scheme
Olatunji, NDPC Boss Calls for Integrated Strategy on Data Privacy, Cyber-Security
AccionMonie App to Empower Low-Income Households
Broadcasting2 days agoNigeria Week Ahead: Inflation, Oil and Naira in focus
News2 days agoEFCC: Accusations Against Our Chairman Are Baseless and Misleading
Telecom1 day agoMTN Nigeria Targets $1Bn Cloud Market with Largest Modular Data Centre
Telecom1 day agoNCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service
E-Business1 day agoFirm Highlights Top Risks of Quantum Computing
General News1 day agoWoodhall Capital and Partners Launch ₦1.5Bn Fund
General News1 day agoBurna Boy Distances Himself from Meme Coin, Labels Crypto as Fraud
General News1 day agoAM Best Reaffirms Stable Outlook for Cyber Insurance Market