Broadcasting

SES Study Critical for Nigeria’s Broadcast Digitalisation Drive- Freeman

Published

9 years ago

July 18, 2016

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SES remains committed to helping economic and sustainable growth in Nigeria and accelerating the digital switchover process in the region, said Mr. Paul Freeman, SES Vice President Marketing.

Freeman in an interview said that the world-leading satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite communications solutions to customers worldwide, aims to connect the entire Nigerian population with our satellites, by developing the broadcasting landscape in partnership with our local partners and in close coordination with broadcasters.

According to him, “Nigeria, as we speak is in the middle of the Digital Switchover process. We conducted the study because we saw a gap and need for such information to be available and easily accessible in Nigeria. The study has been conducted for over 20 years in Europe and there wasn’t any information of this kind focused on the African continent. Africa is a very important market for SES and we saw an opportunity to provide insight on the important role SES plays in the growth of the satellite television reach in the country”.

Describing the process, he said, that the Satellite Monitor study is an annual market research study commissioned by SES and carried out by various independent institutes.

“In Nigeria we worked with IPSOS, Nigeria a well-known research institute. Over 12,900 face-to-face interviews were conducted to ascertain the results”. The study results in an overall investment of approximately $250,000 per year.

Additionally to date, we have 7 satellites that offer coverage over West Africa today, with 2 specifically designed to provide extensive coverage over Nigeria. Each of these satellites costs around $300 million, which means hundreds of millions in the sky (satellites), plus we have invested on ground infrastructure for technical operations”.

With Satellite serving about 27% of all households and SES covers 19% of these homes at present, Freeman while speaking on the insights gained from carrying out the study, said, “The regional differences are particularly insightful as it helps us understand the areas where more homes are analogue that need converting to digital. There is no other data available offering this level of local information.

“We work with three major research institutes worldwide for the Satellite Monitor study, namely, IPSOS, TNS and GFK. In each country we have a thorough and careful selection process and in the case of Nigeria, Ipsos Nigeria was selected. We use TNS to provide analysis and support with validation processes”, he said.

SES Vice President Marketing further said, “We are targeting all homes in Nigeria with television sets, making available more high quality satellite television content to the local population. In line with the Nigeria Digital Switchover process, we have partnered with Cable Channels Nigeria Ltd. (CCNL) to provide a strategic, reliable and stable video platform, via SES’s prime orbital position 28.2 degrees East, for the provision of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct to Home (DTH) broadcast platforms in Nigeria. CCNL, a company licensed by the Nigeria National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is the certified content aggregator and platform owner for the free-to-air DTT and DTH platforms in Nigeria, and is playing a key role in the Nigeria Digital Switchover (DSO) process by getting channels onto the land-based DTT network and onto satellite as DTH, both offered under the brand FreeTV”.

“We are providing satellite capacity from the orbital position 28.2E which has tailored beans for Nigeria on two different satellites for the Nigerian digital migration, this is being used to feed the digital terrestrial system and provide direct to home (DTH)connections. Through this study SES has established a market benchmark for the Nigerian TV viewing choices that will develop into a trend over the coming years that will directly support DSO in Nigerian because it will independently track the progress of the project”.

Speaking on expected partnership with over 64 cable satellite companies nationwide, Freeman noted that SES is a neutral market partner wherever it works in the world and always open to pursuing business opportunities, stressing that the DSO will revolutionise the broadcast landscape and architecture, as well as the local, state and national economy.

On how the report will aid ancillary business in the digital TV value chain, he said, “The study will become a key tool for digitalisation, through which Nigeria will develop a more advanced TV market. This study will therefore aid broadcasters and advertisers who will better understand their addressable audience in the future. We would like this to be an annual study and expect to conduct the next study in 2017.

He affirmed that there have been palpable trends noticed from one study to the next, compared to other countries where SES has conducted similar studies. “Yes. We have tracked huge shifts in trends over the course of the past 20 years including full digitalisation processes and the development of some of the world’s most successful pay-tv operators.

“Obviously we don’t take guesses we let the data do the talking. However, we should begin to see the formal implementation of the digitalisation process bear fruit and see regional increases in DTT and satellite. We also expect more flat screens in the Nigerian market although the Tube TVs will continue to be the dominant type of TV in the market”.

On the news of a multiyear agreement contract between SES and Channels Television Nigeria LTD, he explained thus, “SES recently signed a multi-year contract with CCNL to provide a strategic, reliable and stable video platform, via SES’s prime orbital position 28.2 degrees East, for the provision of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct to Home (DTH) broadcast platforms in Nigeria.

SES will utilise teleport services provided by its local partner Computer Warehouse Group Plc. (CWG). CCNL, a company licensed by the Nigeria National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is the certified content aggregator and platform owner for the free-to-air DTT and DTH platforms in Nigeria, and is playing a key role in the Nigeria Digital Switchover (DSO) process by getting channels onto the land-based DTT network and onto satellite as DTH, both offered under the brand FreeTV”.

He also spoke on the hopes content producers, advertisers, brand owners and managers should have with a study such as this. “The study will provide a currency for the broadcasters with which they can command better advertising revenue, with advertisers now having an idea of the reach of their channels in Nigeria. It also means a new channel will be joining an already vibrant neighbourhood with an existing audience base.

On expected impact the report will have on legislations, he said, “We will make the data available to our market partners; it is not available to buy. The Nigeria Satellite Monitor is just one example of how SES supports our customers and market patters to generate business opportunities that utilise satellite capacity. For example, we also run an extensive installer training Programme called Elevate bringing technical and business skills to a new generation of satellite installers.

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Broadcasting

MultiChoice Talent Factory Calls for Entries Into Fully Funded Film Training Programme

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.

MultiChoice

The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.

According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.

MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.

Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.

Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.

Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.

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Broadcasting

Davido, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Karl Toriola, Others To Be Honoured At The Most Influential People of African Descent Awards In Lagos

Published

3 days ago

December 15, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is excited to announce the Lagos Diaspora Experience 2025, a week-long celebration of African art, culture, innovation, and connection, culminating in the End of the Year Awards & Celebration on Sunday, December 21st, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Most Influential People of African Descent Awards

This historic occasion marks the first time the world-famous Most Influential 100 Recognition & Awards Ceremony—traditionally held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)—will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria.

The week will feature events such as Diaspora Day at the Fela Exhibition (Afrobeat Meets Diaspora), Cultural Heritage Day, and Business Leadership Luncheons, all culminating in the awards celebration.

The evening will honor the Best & Brightest of the Year, recognizing exceptional individuals and institutions whose work has advanced Global African Achievement and Black Excellence across business, government, media, culture, and technology.

Key Recognitions for 2025
– Governor of the Year & City of the Year: His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, honored alongside Lagos as City of the Year for its global leadership in culture, innovation, tourism, and diaspora engagement.

– Her Excellency Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, will be honoured as Minister of the Year for her contribution to the creative economy’s role in nation branding and cultural diplomacy.

– Most Influential Woman of the Year: Olorì Atúwàtse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom

– Most Influential Man of the Year: Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, OANDO

– CEO of the Year: Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria; who will deliver a keynote address, recognized for his transformative leadership and impact on Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital economy.

Others include; Karl Toriola of MTN as CEO of the year, Uche Pedro of Bella Naija as Lifestyle Personality Of The Year, Ojy Okpe of Artise News as Most Influential News Anchor Of The Year, Stephanie Busari as Media Executive of the Year, Kayode Okikiolu as Pressman of the year, Davido as Artist of the year and several others.

In celebrating this year’s honorees, Michael Ehindero, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, owners of Martell Cognac, who emerged as Brand Of The Year expressed deep appreciation for the brand’s continued global recognition, saying: “It’s a great reward for the team who’s delivered Martell excellently in Nigeria over the years.

“We say thank you to the teams, we say thank you to our consumers and we say thank you to MIPAD.

“Martell has a lot of promising experiences in the years to come in Nigeria and with this we invite you over to Nigeria to experience Detty December”.

The ceremony will also celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 Honorees, alongside past Nigerian honorees who were unable to attend their year of recognition in New York.

“For the first time, we’re bringing our world-famous recognition platform home to celebrate excellence within the Global Africa Family — right here in Lagos,” said Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman of MIPAD. “This is more than an event; it’s a movement uniting the best of us — connecting, collaborating, and working together to change the world.”

Event Details
📍 Lagos, Nigeria
– Friday, Dec 19 – #DettyDec Diaspora Day at Fela Exhibition FREE

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– Sunday, Dec 21 – End of Year Recognition & Award Ceremony STRICTLY BY INVITATION
🎟️ RSVP: https://rsvp.oakenevents.com/mipad

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Broadcasting

NCC Blocks Piracy Sites as Nollywood Faces Rising Digital Theft

Published

5 days ago

December 13, 2025

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called for urgent adoption of advanced digital protections after blocking seven piracy sites amid escalating online threats to Nollywood content.

NCC Blocks Piracy Sites as Nollywood Faces Rising Digital Theft

The call was made during a webinar hosted by Greychapel Legal titled “Clicks, Streams, and Copyright: Who Owns Nollywood’s Digital Future?”, which brought together filmmakers, regulators, entertainment lawyers and media strategists to examine how content ownership and copyright enforcement are being reshaped by the digital age.

Lynda Alphaeus, director and head of the NCC Lagos Office, said the Commission has intensified its efforts to combat piracy across digital channels and is upgrading its operations to meet emerging threats.

According to her, Nigeria’s new Copyright Act was deliberately updated to strengthen creators’ rights amid the explosion of online distribution.

“NCC has worked, and is still working tirelessly to adapt Nigeria’s legal framework to cope with digital distribution challenges. We now have the power to block networks publishing illegal content, and we have already blocked seven websites distributing pirated Nigerian works,” Alphaeus said.

She revealed that the Commission has established a special taskforce known as the STOP Unit to coordinate anti-piracy operations online, alongside new awareness campaigns targeting local markets and schools to educate content creators and the public on copyright obligations.

Alphaeus urged filmmakers and producers to take ownership of their digital safety by deploying available technological protections to safeguard their intellectual property.

She explained that tools such as encryption help prevent unauthorised copying, blockchain technology offers immutable proof of ownership, digital watermarking allows creators to trace illegal uploads, while cloud security and regular offline backups protect creative files before they reach the market.

While noting that copyright in Nigeria does not legally require registration, she stressed that registering one’s work strengthens protection and provides legal presumptions that can be vital in enforcement.

“Whatever you register is presumed to be yours until proven otherwise,” she said, urging creators to invest in copyright knowledge as part of their business strategy.

Other speakers at the webinar reinforced the urgency of protecting Nollywood’s digital assets.

James Omokwe, film director, noted that while streaming platforms have created unprecedented opportunities for visibility and monetisation, they have also opened new vectors for intellectual property theft and unauthorised redistribution.

Solafunmi Laelle, media strategist, added that audience data, which streaming platforms rely heavily on, will increasingly determine leverage and value in film licensing negotiations.

According to her, creators who lose control of their intellectual property, whether through piracy or unfavourable contracts, also lose access to valuable data that could shape their long-term earnings.

Nky Ofeimun, entertainment lawyer, emphasised the need for creators to understand the contractual implications of ownership, platform exclusivity, and reversion rights.

She noted that many filmmakers still underestimate how quickly digital copies can be illegally duplicated or uploaded once control is lost.

The panelists agreed that as Nollywood deepens its digital footprint, piracy will continue to evolve and become more sophisticated.

They stressed that the industry must respond with equally sophisticated tools, stronger contract negotiation, and improved education around copyright.

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