Pay-tv companies in Nigeria have continued to be on a steady rise through stiff competition as they strive to outdo one another with various content on their platforms. ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, GBENGA BADA, writes on how, in the last decade, MultiChoice Nigeria has gone a notch higher to position itself as the go-to platform for some of the globe’s biggest reality TV shows, drama series all-round entertainment for the whole family.
With competition as fierce as ever, media companies and marketers have relentlessly engaged viewers to win them and keep them. One of the ways has been through exciting and innovative local and international content.
Over and over again, consumers have continued to query the value offered in comparison with the subscription pricing and repeatedly, MultiChoice Nigeria has remained on its toes in matching viewers’ desires with innovating local and international content.
MultiChoice Nigeria joins a list of well-funded media companies that support new formats and experiences while seeking to differentiate their offerings from the increasing volume of content rolled out by a growing roster of competitors through new channels, shows, and series. Predictably, competition for consumers’ attention and spending remains intense among pay-tv companies as consumers gain access to new content from an array of increasingly content providers.
While pricing remains a significant topic in not only the Nigerian pay-tv market but also the global market, consumers continue to question the value they get from these cable networks from time to time.
However, with the pay-tv companies working hard to outdo themselves, consumers continue to yearn for more entertaining content.
Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, reaffirmed the pay tv’s commitment to making services more accessible saying, “At MultiChoice, our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and while we pride ourselves on being the nation’s leading entertainment platform. We know that our success is hinged on the experience our customers have while interacting with our services. This has informed our deliberate shift to more convenient and responsive digital options.”
MultiChoice Nigeria’s Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, Dr. Busola Tejumola, was quick to explain how the pay-tv company has continued to create content to match viewers’ consistent desires.
At the 2021 Multichoice Showcase, Dr. Tejumola explained that creating and adding more exciting content to the long list of content on the DStv and GOtv platforms is a priority which is evident in how viewers have been held spellbound from the first quarter of the year to the fourth quarter.
Leveraging on the success of our reality shows like ‘Nigerian Idol’ and ‘Big Brother Naija’, which have kept viewers on the edge of their seats, new shows and content are coming to Africa Magic Showcase, Urban and Family, and Akwaaba Magic throughout the rest of the year and the first quarter of 2022.
A channel that will showcase live festivals and events across West Africa will also be popping up soon. Tejumola also revealed that brand new series like Dilemma, Venge, Movement Japa and The Rishantes will join a long list of existing shows and series that are returning for a new season. “Existing shows like ‘Turn Up Friday’, ‘Owambe Saturday’, ‘Music Buzz’, ‘Unmarried’, ‘Date My Family’, ‘Judging Matters’, ‘Shoot Your Shot’, ‘Love Come Back’, ‘The Flatmates’, ‘The Johnsons’, ‘My Siblings and I’, and more will return with new seasons while brand new shows, ‘Movement Japa’, ‘Dilemma’, ‘Venge’, and ‘The Rishante’, will quell viewers’ yearnings for more till 2022.” Dr. Tejumola expressed.
Dr. Tejumola also revealed that viewers who were further given an edge can expect even more lifestyle content from Honey TV, especially locally-made content from Nigeria. Lifestyle shows that include ‘Talk With Toke Makinwa’
Winnie Okpala (Zeelicious’) cooking show, ‘My Naija Plate’, ‘Drum Crime Series’, ‘Kid’s Kitchen Relay’, and the second season of ‘Pastor’s Wives,’ will be giving viewers the option of varied content to consume.
Known to be big on reality TV shows, The Gulder Ultimate Search, which is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria, will rent the air for another 10 weeks.
Lending credence to the array of contents available on DStv, Rashineh Ifoh, Lead Content, Pop Central TV, opened up on the channel’s offering saying they include discussion shows, reality series, and other formats. Ifoh further stated that to join the variety of shows and content on MultiChoice Nigeria’s DStv from Pop Central TV are ‘The Rush,’ ‘Uncut With BamTeddy,’ ‘Phenomen-ally’, ‘Another Angle’, ‘Story Africa’, and ‘Side Men.’
Joining Ifoh, Akintunde Bada-Johnson, Country Manager, ViacomCBS, also gave insight into what viewers can expect to see on their channels on the platform. He said, “We have something for everyone – especially on MTV Base, BET Africa, and Nickelodeon.”
Despite the array of channels and content served to viewers by MultiChoice Nigeria, the pay-tv company raises the bar with its on-demand video platform, Showmax. From the first Nigerian-produced comedy series, ‘Ghana Jollof’ to ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos,’ the company keeps achieving giant strides with Showmax.
