Broadcasting
MultiChoice Converges Futuristic Technologies at Command Centre
MultiChoice Africa proves its mettle by taking up cutting-edge technologies in digital broadcasting converged in its Command Centre, which enable the company beam clear signals to subscribers around Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Command Centre is the heartbeat of MultiChoice’s African operations, constantly monitoring the pulse of every channel on DStv and ensuring that subscribers in all the countries receive clear and uninterrupted signals. The centre’s most critical role is to ensure that things stay in sync with the complex satellite broadcasts that bring DStv channels to the continent.
Nested in the imposing MultiChoice complex located in Johannesburg, South Africa; the centre has rows upon rows of monitors simultaneously displaying all of the channels being broadcast on DStv. A massive central plasma screen can display four channels at once for closer viewing, with another six slim LCD screens flanking it. All the screens are fed from a rack of satellite decoders (more than 100 different types and models) which decipher signals, ensuring that what viewers at home see are well monitored, and down times mitigated.
In addition to these are large suspended plastic domes used to beam sound to individual operators so that they can check the sound quality of any broadcast, at the push of a button.
According to Llewellyn Pillay, manager, “the Command Centre is the centralized administration and monitoring point that ensures that MultiChoice Africa provides the best quality service to its customers. We make sure that everything goes on air as it should, and if anything goes wrong, we ensure that it gets fixed very quickly.”
The centre uses a collection of both machine and human monitors to watch video and sound quality. Any distortion or unwanted sound triggers an alert, and immediate action is enforced.
The Command Centre also monitors the Extended Electronic Programme Guide (EEPG), which is a detailed listing of every programme on all the DStv channels. For example, a movie on Movie Magic channel would have listed its start and end times, a summary of the movie’s plot, main cast and year of release.
Given the array of programming on the DStv bouquet, the EEPG helps viewers to get the most out of their subscription. The Comand Centre contributes by ensuring that the EEPG is always accurate for the programmes being broadcast at a particular time.
In addition to all these technological achievements, MultiChoice uses four different satellites to cover all of Africa alone. It was recently reported that the company reserved a space in Intelsat’s IS-20 scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2012, which will replace the Intelsat 10 satellite and will provide services to Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The Eutelsat W4 satellite for example, broadcasts programmes first uploaded in South Africa to be received in West and Central Africa through a satellite uplink facility in Spain. More so, the signals of the SuperSports channels face a round trip of around 70,000km to reach a subscriber in southern Africa – a distance covered in just seconds.
Broadcasting
NCC Warns DJs: Playing Music Without License Could Lead to 5-Year Jail Term

Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned disc jockeys (DJs) against publicly playing music without proper authorization or a valid license.
NAN reports that John Asein, NCC director-general, gave the warning in an advisory issued in Abuja.
He said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the growing practice of DJs playing music in public spaces without obtaining copyright licences from their approved collective management organisations (CMOs).
Asein said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, only the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or communicate it to the public.
The NCC threatened to prosecute defaulters in a case that could lead to a N1 million fine or a 5-year jail term upon conviction.
“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act,” he said.
“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.”
Asein advised DJs to obtain the necessary licences and pay royalties to the approved CMO before performing music publicly.
The NCC director-general added that the commission will arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN),” he said.
“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.
“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated with MCSN.”
Broadcasting
Netflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”

Netflix has increased its subscription fees in Nigeria for the third time since 2024, with the Premium Plan rising by 21.43%, from ₦7,000 to ₦8,500 per month.
This marks the streaming platform’s first price adjustment in 2025.
Other subscription tiers have also been affected.
The Standard Plan now costs ₦6,500, up from ₦5,500—a hike of 18.18%.
The Basic Plan has increased from ₦3,500 to ₦4,000, while the Mobile Plan moved from ₦2,200 to ₦2,500, reflecting increases of 14.29% and 13.64% respectively.
The latest adjustment aligns with Netflix’s broader global pricing strategy, which the company has linked to its ongoing investment in content and platform development. In a previous communication to investors, Netflix stated, “As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements. Which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service.”
While the company did not explicitly cite inflation in its most recent update, its website indicates that local economic factors influence its pricing structure.
“Price changes are made to respond to local market changes, such as changes to local taxes or inflation,” the statement read.
The move mirrors similar pricing shifts among other major digital and entertainment services in Nigeria.
Companies including Google, DSTV, GOtv, and Microsoft have also raised subscription rates, attributing their decisions to continued inflationary pressures and a weakening naira.
Broadcasting
NBC, Nigcomsat Launch Satellite Plan to Transform Broadcasting

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have jointly introduced “The Big Picture’, a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s renewed Digital Switchover (DSO) project.
Under the project, Nigerian households will for the first time, gain access to high-quality digital broadcasts via affordable satellite dishes, hybrid devices, and internet-enabled set-top boxes.
Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, this strategic shift marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape by leveraging the country’s sovereign satellite infrastructure.
At the heart of the initiative is NigComSat-1R, Nigeria’s only communications satellite in orbit, which will play a critical role in delivering Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasts across the entire Nigerian territory.
This satellite-first approach eliminates the traditional dependence on terrestrial transmission towers, accelerating the nationwide rollout of digital broadcasting by over 65%.
It also offers a scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready model for expanding digital access and promoting national storytelling.
Key figures, including: Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC; and Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director, Nigcomsat, have welcomed this forward-thinking strategy, emphasising its importance in maximising the use of national satellite assets and ensuring inclusive access to digital content.
An estimated 10 million homes equipped with DVB-S2-compatible televisions or decoders will have immediate access to free-to-air channels, while others will benefit from next-generation hybrid devices that combine satellite feeds with online streaming capabilities.
These new branded devices are designed with the country’s youth-dominated demographic in mind over 60% of the population is under the age of 25.
They will feature pre-installed apps, voice search functionality, parental controls, and seamless integration with NigComSat’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), offering an intuitive and engaging user experience.
In a data-driven upgrade to Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem, NBC is also partnering with global analytics firm GARB to introduce real-time audience measurement technology.
This will enable broadcasters, advertisers and content creators to analyse viewership trends across regions and devices, helping to tailor content more effectively and drive higher audience engagement. The introduction of this system is expected to boost advertising revenue by as much as 300% by 2026.
The success of “The Big Picture” will rely on robust collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other content partners are expected to supply 60% of programming for the new 120-channel platform, using both original and repurposed content.
Meanwhile, local manufacturers will contribute by producing around 5 million compliant devices annually, a move projected to create over 20,000 jobs in assembly plants nationwide.
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