Broadcasting
Prof. Jerry Gana Canvases Stakeholders’ Support for Renewed Anti-Piracy Campaign
Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, while underscoring the relevance of the creative industries to Nigeria’s economic development, has charged stakeholders in the copyright industry to intensify support for the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and its renewed campaign against copyright piracy.
Professor Gana, a prolific author and academic, made the call as the Special Guest of Honour at the Abuja Book Exhibition, with the theme: “Bringing Back the Reading Culture”, hosted by Flomat Books in collaboration with Christian Booksellers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) in Abuja.
The former Minister stressed the need to create an environment that would encourage the sustainable development of talents in Nigeria.
He condemned the activities of copyright pirates and expressed satisfaction with the renewed fight against copyright piracy by the Commission through a sustained anti-piracy campaign.
He urged authors and publishers to take advantage of the various digital formats now available in presenting their books and other reading materials to the new generation of readers while also retaining the physical formats for posterity.
Sharing his personal experience in the world of books, he narrated how his love for books has continued to inspire him to write more books in spite of his busy schedule.
Assuring the NCC and the publishing industry of his fervent support in the fight against piracy, he recalled that as a former Minister of Information, the Ministry then supervising the NCC, he had given full support to the various initiatives of the Commission in its efforts to stem piracy, noting that the fight was getting tougher.
Speaking on the topic “Bringing Back the Reading Culture: Books, Piracy and the Sustainability Dilemma”, the Director-General, NCC, Mr. John O. Asein, urged publishers to understand the needs of young readers, many of whom were “born digital” and, therefore, more comfortable with electronic devices.
He pointed out that publishers have the responsibility to make more books available in formats that the reader would be most comfortable with in order to bring back the reading culture. He reasoned that it was time to invest in e-books and provide children with cheaper access to e-libraries to compensate for the dwindling numbers of well-stocked libraries.
The Director-General also observed that although the activities of copyright pirates might be misdiagnosed as helping to make books available to readers, it was indeed a cancerous growth and unless brought under control, would kill the book industry in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian book industry and the sustained production of reading materials are under threat by copyright pirates and like other criminals, unless their illicit and parasitic activities are checked, they will destroy the very industry that they live on, leaving society with a famished book sector”, he stated.
The Director-General reassured of the Commission’s commitment to reducing the piracy index in the interest of publishers, booksellers, authors and other investors in the creative sector.
Mr. Asein expressed concern over the growing sophistication of the pirated copies, “many of which compete with originals in quality, thereby making it more difficult for copyright operatives to detect”.
He advised publishers to support the Commission’s initiative to introduce anti-piracy devices for use in the book industry.
The Director-General further reiterated the Commission’s resolve to stamp out street sales of books and other copyright works, arguing that street vendors have become a major source of pirated works.
Thanking Prof. Gana for his open endorsement and show of support for the renewed antipiracy campaign, Mr. Asein called on well-meaning Nigerians to also identify with the efforts of Government and shun suspicious books and other copyright materials in the interest of the creative economy.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said that Nigerians will no longer pay annual Digital Access Fees under the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja,
Ebuebu said viewers only need to purchase an approved decoder and satellite dish which cost below N20,000 to enjoy free television permanently.
“Previously, users paid an annual digital access fee of about N1,500, described as an administrative charge.
“The new system removes that annual fee. It provides free access to free-to-air television channels without any payment.
“Premium channels will be introduced later. Viewers who want those additional channels will be able to access them through paid services.
“Nigerian content on free-to-air channels remains free to watch. Unlike Pay TV, this platform does not require monthly subscriptions for its basic service,” he said
Ebuebu said approved decoders for the FreeTV will cost less than N20,000 and authorised sales outlets will soon be announced.
He urged Nigerians to wait for official information on approved dealers for the DSO decoders, warning that unauthorised sellers are exploiting growing public demand.
He reiterated that people only need a free-to-air decoder, along with a satellite dish instead of the old antenna system to receive the DSO signal.
“Once the equipment is installed, viewers can access all available channels across the country without paying any subscription fees,” he stressed
The DG dismissed claims by some retailers that there are different categories of decoders sold at varying prices, stressing that such sellers are not authorised by the commission.
According to him, the NBC will soon publish the list of approved dealers, official prices, and locations where genuine decoder boxes and accessories can be purchased.
The NBC boss said the DSO project is designed not only to improve television broadcasting but also to stimulate economic growth by creating jobs, attracting investment, and opening up opportunities for businesses that support the broadcasting industry.
Ebuebu noted that content producers and broadcasters stand to benefit significantly from the nationwide reach of the DSO platform.
Unlike the previous system, where many stations had limited regional audiences, he said the new platform will make their channels available to viewers across Nigeria.
He added that the introduction of audience measurement technology will provide scientific and reliable data on television viewership.
Ebuebu added that audience measurement technology will give advertisers greater confidence in placing adverts and enable broadcasters to demonstrate the true size and reach of their audiences nationwide.
Uchenna Mbunabo, Nigerian filmmaker, has raised concerns over the alleged unauthorised broadcast of Nollywood films by some Ghanaian television stations, calling on Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA) to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws.
Uchenna Mbunabo, Nigerian filmmaker
Mbunabo made the remarks during a conversation with James Gardiner, deputy CEO of the National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana.
He questioned whether it was permissible for television stations in Ghana to download Nigerian movies from YouTube and air them without obtaining permission from the producers.
“I noticed that Ghanaian TV stations, the way they are stealing our films and showing them for free with impunity. Is it legalised in your country for TV stations to go on YouTube, download people’s sweat and show it for free?”
According to Mbunabo, some Ghanaian television stations have been downloading newly released Nollywood films from YouTube and broadcasting them without authorisation, depriving producers of revenue generated through the platform.
He also stated that he had not witnessed Nigerian television stations engaging in similar practices and questioned what measures Ghana was taking to protect filmmakers’ intellectual property.
Responding to the concerns, Gardiner acknowledged that the issue exists and said the National Film Authority had begun engaging relevant stakeholders to address it.
He disclosed that the NFA has held discussions with the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) on improving copyright enforcement.
Gardiner explained that while Ghana has copyright laws, enforcement remains challenging because many television stations now operate digitally and may not have physical offices within the country.
“There are copyright laws, but they are not effective because a lot of the TV stations don’t have offices. Most of them are now digital, so they operate from anywhere. They can even have a Ghanaian TV station but be operating from Austria simply because it is digital.”
He added that authorities are considering a new licensing framework that would require broadcasters to undergo a fresh licensing process to improve monitoring and enforcement.
According to Gardiner, television stations found guilty of illegally broadcasting copyrighted content would be required to compensate affected producers through fines.
He added that repeat offenders could face suspension of their broadcasting licences, while a third violation could result in the revocation of their licences.
Although he did not provide a specific timeline, Gardiner said the reforms were already underway and expressed hope that significant progress would be seen next year.
Mbunabo welcomed the proposed measures but urged the National Film Authority to expedite the process, stating that unauthorised broadcasts continue to affect filmmakers’ ability to recover production costs through legitimate distribution channels such as YouTube.
He also stressed that his comments were not directed at Ghana’s film industry, noting that he has worked with several Ghanaian actors over the years and supports collaborations between Nollywood and Ghallywood.
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