Broadcasting
HiTV Loses Over N5Bn to Piracy, Triggers Bounty Hunt
HiTV has said it lost over N5 billion to piracy in the last one year, a situation which calls for concern among stakeholders in the broadcast industry.
This development has prompted the pay-TV company to take up “arms” and slug it out with pirates, culminating in the arrest of some 12 suspected broadcast pirates, among which were managers of top class hotels and proprietors of viewing centres and cafes, with the assistance of officials of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and men of the Nigerian Police Force.
According to Martins Akingba, head of Sales, “HiTV has lost over N5 billion in the last one year or so and I am just been conservative with the figure because we have lost more than that, so this step (enforcement) is inevitable for us to survive and continue to deliver quality entertainment to our valued subscribers.”
He disclosed that as part of the strategy to ensure full compliance, HiTV also recently initiated a reward system for anybody who reports an unauthorised viewing centre or hotel. “Basically, anyone who reports an unauthorised viewing centre is rewarded with the sum of N5, 000 provided the report leads to arrest and subsequent prosecution of the defaulter. By ‘unauthorised viewing centre,’ we mean any viewing centre which has not paid the commercial bouquet subscription fee of N15, 000. The informant who will be kept confidential will have to give the name and address of the defaulting viewing centre. As soon as the information is confirmed, arrest will be made and the informant will get his N5, 000 rewards immediately.”
Emeka Ogbonna, zonal manager, NCC, at the briefing after the raids in Lagos, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to track down and prosecute pirates “as the agency statutorily charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights of creative persons and investors in the creativity industry, and we will continue to relentlessly carry out our mandate to the best of our ability.”
The NCC official noted that the digital broadcasting industry has been facing virulent attacks in the last few months through the activities of some criminal minded persons. “We know that in order to watch certain stations, there is need to acquire a decoder and subscribe to the stations. It is also a fact that when you acquire a decoder, you must apply it for the purpose for which you paid. Accordingly, when you pay for a home use, you cannot apply the decoder for a business purpose.”
“These unconscionable persons have perfected acts of using decoders they acquired for home use to operate viewing centres and in hotels and bars all over the country. Some of them have gone a step further to illegally acquire electronic contraptions that enable them watch more than a station at a time even when they paid for only one. We have proof that satellite stations, in particular HiTV, did not place an outright proscription on the broadcast of their matches at viewing centres, all they asked the operators to do was to pay a higher fee so as to be licensed to broadcast the matches. These people have refused to do so and they have continued to pirate the signals of this company with reckless abandon. They were warned several times but rather than stop their illegal activities, some of them resorted to assaulting the rights owners’ representatives,” he stated.
HiTV had in July introduced a commercial bouquet for hotels, viewing centres, cafes and club houses, and embarked on a prolonged enlightenment campaign to make the affected class of people see reasons and pay the monthly subscription of N20, 000 which was later reviewed downward to N15, 000.
The company has consistently defended its position on the introduction of commercial bouquets. Olumide Amure, chief operating officer, HiTV had revealed that the company was going ahead with the imposition of the levy of N15, 000 on all operators of viewing centres across the country, and had given reasons why it became necessary to communicate the addition of this new bouquet to HiTV subscribers so that they can make better informed choices in their subscription plans.
He said though the pay TV business is primarily for private viewership, the company has made provisions for customers who desire to use it for strictly commercial purposes or who intend to bundle it with their own services to the public. It was stated that each compliant commercial subscriber will receive an authorized viewing centre signage and will be supported by a dedicated help desk.
Akingba added that the conditions for sale of HITV service is that “it is meant for use by a single domestic household or for private residential unit. Redistribution of any type of the signal from the decoder is deemed illegal. Subscribers are not permitted to exhibit or use the subscription service in public whether or not admission fees are charged. We are however aware that the entry of HiTV created job opportunities for thousands of Nigerians who inadvertently converted a private service into a commercial venture. In order to legitimize these otherwise illegal businesses pirating our content, HiTV is affording them the opportunity to regularize their businesses with the introduction of the commercial bouquet and they should embrace or face prosecution as the 12 arrested will definitely face.”
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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