News
Christ Embassy Pastor Battles Pay-TV with Infinity TV
As a number of direct-to-home (DTH) pay TV operators die on arrival, Infinity TV, promoted by Pathfinder Communications is stirring new waves of convergence of voice, data and video/TV, enabling the provision of triple-play services, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
Much as it is a wakeup call for dominant operators like MultiChoice Nigeria, operators of DSTV and Highway Entertainment Limited owners of HiTV, Infinity TV is also inspiring African nascent commercial satellite industry.
For the consumers, the entry of Infinity TV means avalanche of choices. It is one of the immediate spinoff of the deregulation of the broadcast industry where monopoly has now given way for free market.
Pathfinder Communications Limited is led by Tony Ikeokwu, pastor of Zone 4 of Christ Embassy, the ministry spanning over 25 years founded by Rev. Chris Oyakhilome.
Ikeokwu is however not new to the broadcasting industry. He had tried through Global Plus Communications Limited (GPC) in 2006 to revive Minaj Broadcasting International (MBI) Television owned by Minaj Systems Limited.
Within a year of the five year contract, GPC, a company with interest in media across the continent of Africa claimed it made investment to the tune of over N400 million in procuring state-of-the-art equipment, and studio, attracting best talents in the industry and altering the conditions of service as regards corporate culture and human capital.
To its credits, the result was that MBI under GPC won that year the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) as Television Station of the Year and immediately became the toast of viewers with its array of youth and family programmes.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that some differences between GPC and the owners of MBI led to the collapse of the deal leaving Ikeokwu and his team to look for other avenues to further their dreams of building world class broadcasting station.
In putting together Infinity, Ikeokwu is trying to put the past behind him and learn from the mistakes that led to the untimely deaths of some indigenous pay-TV operators like Frontage Satellite Television (FSTV) and Trumpet Internet Television (TITV).
FSTV and TITV were frustrated out of business not only by competition but by government’s unfriendly policies. TrendTV which managed to wriggle out of the roadblocks now operates in fits and starts.
Without pretending about its mission, Pathfinder Communications appears ready to meet competition head on and has signed a multi-transponder, multi-year deal to deliver its new Infinity TV package over the ASTRA 2B satellite to homes throughout Nigeria.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that Pathfinder has secured two full Ku-band transponders to deliver its premium DTH line-up, which offers 45 channels of movies, music, sports, lifestyle, news and children’s programming. SES WORLD SKIES is also providing satellite IP backhaul across teleports in London and Lagos, Nigeria.
The backhaul not only aids in the delivery of popular TV shows and content, it also supports feature-rich applications such as text messaging, telephony, broadband and shopping services.
The company’s website, http://www.infinitytv.info/infinitytvguide.html, describes Infinity TV as “the refreshingly new Direct-To-Home TV that is unleashing the power of Tevolution™ beyond the imagination. It is nothing like you have seen before on Television. We call it TV unusual.
Infinity TV is a proudly Nigerian and best-in-class Direct-to-Home television company that is set to paint Nigeria, Ghana and surrounding countries purple by infusing the concept and experience of television viewing with an innovation and creativity that is beyond limits,” the site added.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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