Amended Broadcasting Code to curb monopolies, promote local content
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has disclosed that the newly amended Broadcasting Code will curb monopoly and exclusivity of programme content in order to create room for the local industry to grow.
Speaking on the Amendment the Minister said: “For a programme to qualify as local content, it must be authored, directed and produced by a Nigerian. In addition, at least 75 per cent of the leading actors and major supporting cast must be Nigerians; a minimum of 75% of its program expenses and 75% of post-production expenses paid for services provided by Nigerians or Nigerian companies. This initiative will considerably develop the skills, expertise and industry of the local content market.”
According to Lai Mohammed, this is a redefinition of the old regulation that 60 percent of all programmes aired during prime time must be local content.
“For example, the pay-tv sector of the Broadcast Industry had been controlled by foreign interests, while indigenous efforts to compete have been frustrated or weakened by the established control of the big monopolies.”
“Also, as part of efforts to make the #DSObyNBC proposition viable, I have directed GoTV and StarTimes to stop self-carriage by the end of June 2021,” he added.
The Minister disclosed that the DSO has been rolled out in five states so far, adding that the Federal Government is kick-starting the new rollout in Lagos state on April 29th 2021, Kano state on June 3rd 2021 and Rivers state on July 8th 2021. The rollout will continue in Yobe state on July 15th 2021 and Gombe state on August 12th 2021.
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