Broadcasting
Nigeria Loses as ICPC, NBC Bicker over N2.5Bn DSO Project
Nigeria is about to miss another chance to cheetah-pole-vault into the Age of Information; a new era where knowledge drives the economy.
This new era is hinged on digital dividends through shift towards digital broadcast, which allows consumers enjoy a wider variety of shows on multiple channels with a better quality of broadcast.
In simple terms, it is the Digital Switch Over, otherwise DSO, a name given to the process of changing from analogue to digital TV broadcasting.
It also facilitates reduced power and energy consumption, and spectrum efficiency which brings a host of associated benefits for consumers and broadcasters.
Importantly, Nigeria’s television industry is expected to generate $1billion annually after the completion of the digital switch over.
The spill over is also humongous as industries like the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, would rake in additional $250m to the economy yearly.
In fact, DSO, sets a new dawn for government, television channels, producers, advertisers and most importantly, the Nigerian TV customer.
But, high wire politics combined with government sore-footedness and refractory approach have all conspired to hobble Nigeria’s march to DSO.
From June 17, 2012 to June 17, 2017, Nigeria missed five concurrent years of meeting its set target and the opportunities of wealth creation that comes with it.
Recall that the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) had set 2015 as the deadline for full transition to digital broadcast in ultra high frequency (UHF) and 2020 for very high frequency (VHF) all over the world.
Since ITU set the target, a self-motivated Nigeria had set three targets in 2012, 2015 and 2017, but failed to meet any of the targets.
The current determined effort is also being politicised as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and three others are locked in legal battle over alleged N2.5b billion fraud in the DSO project.
And as they bicker, Nigeria is sitting idly as endless opportunities in the entertainment and economic sectors fly past her.
The local companies to engaged to produce setup boxes for receiving digital signals and numerous job opportunities are also on hold.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
PAPSS Cowry to Benefit Manufacturers, SMEs
Access Bank’s Digital Innovation Earns Top Financial Inclusion Award
NIPR Postpones Maiden PRICE Awards to January 25, 2026
CBN’s New Cash Policy: A Welcome Liberalisation or a Risky Retreat?
Africa Must Build Its Own Cybersecurity Intelligence, Says Tizel CEO At AfriTech 5.0
Oluwaseun Dania Unearths How AI will Shape Africa’s Creative-AI Future @ World Bank Forum
Kaspersky Introduces Cyber Pathways to Support Career Development in Cybersecurity
Nigeria’s $618m Tech Incubator Debuts
NITDA DG Tasks Youths to Drive Africa’s Digital Transformation
Firm Urges Organizations to Check Protection of their Websites Amid Search Engine Optimisation Attack Schemes
E-Business3 days agoNigeria Records Highest Weekly Cyberattacks in Africa — Report
E-Business3 days agoJumia’s Data Shows Nigerians Turning to Digital Retail to Navigate Inflation Pressures
News3 days agoSEC to Enhance Investor Engagement with USSD Code, ISS Audio
Broadcasting2 days agoIt is Official, DStv Confirms Termination of 16 Major Channels
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Nigeria Wins Best in Technology for Development @ 2025 SERAS Awards
Telecom3 days agoNigeria-South Africa Chamber Celebrates Silver Jubilee of Bilateral Trade Ties
News3 days agoFirm Detected Half a Million Malicious Files Daily in 2025
News3 days agoNEC Endorses N100Bn Overhaul of Police and Security Training Facilities