NBC Directive Brews War Between Independent Producers and TV Stations

Olaseeni Durojaiye-

The aftermath of the directive by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to television stations to air programmes with local content alone on prime time (7pm – 10pm) may be brewing a cold war between some members of the Independent Television Producers of Nigeria (ITPAN) and some advertisers in the country.
Findings by M2 reveals that the differences bothers on the financial implications of revenue from advertising on some soaps currently airing on prime time. M2 gathers that some of the advertisers appear to prefer the imported soaps, especially the Mexican soap operas.
An independent producer who has about three different soap operas running on different stations said that what the advertisers currently pay hardly cover his production cost adding that there is need for a review.
“The people who brought in the Mexican soaps can afford to take peanuts because they didn’t spend much to acquire the broadcast rights, some of the soaps are old in their country of origin anyway,” he quips.
Another independent producer, Tunji Bamishigbin, explains that the terms of broadcasting on some major television stations can be very frustrating. He told M2 that “A situation where a station takes away 60% from the revenue from advertising, leaving 40% for the producer can be very frustrating.”