Independent Content Providers May Dump TV Stations

Following the directive by the management of TV stations, independent TV content providers may begin to pull out their programmes from local TV stations.

The directive which states that all content producers must pay up front for airtime before their programmes can be aired has indeed frustrated some producers out of the business.

In a statement by Mr. Gregory Odutayo, MD Royal Roots Communications Network Ltd, he described this policy as “trying to squeeze water out of a rock.” He further said that the producer faces a lot of challenges as they have to seek for sponsors, pay their staff, try to break even and then make profit.

A source from one of the leading TV stations that spoke to M2 said that though he does not know about any joint decision by TV stations, the reason his station decided on this is that “many independent producers tend to owe us and we have had cause to write off debts running into millions of naira.” “It is however true that some of them have withdrawn their programmes,” he added.

The stations implementing this policy include NTA, AIT, TVC and STV.