Information Minister, Lai
Mohammed, has condemned the attack on him over the amended 6th edition of the
National Broadcasting Code (NBC).
Mohammed said the position of the
federal government was that Pay Television owners must sell rights to
Nigerians.
He spoke on NTA live Programme
“Good Morning Nigeria” monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The amended code introduces new
rules and regulations on web/online broadcasting, local contents, production of
advertising for local goods and services, music, acquisition of sports rights,
exclusivity and national emergencies.
Mohammed says it will reposition
the broadcast industry in a manner that will benefit all stakeholders and
practitioners.
“It is unfortunate that even
those who would benefit in the new regime have been so carried away and
confused by critics of the amended code that they are also attacking us. Those
we are protecting are those who are vociferous in our attack,” he said.
The minister noted that when
there is monopoly and exclusivity, growth is hampered particularly as it
relates to local contents.
“We said, henceforth, you cannot
go and buy a series or opera or rights for sports and refuse to sell to
Nigerians. For instance, if you buy Premier League, and a small operator
approaches you to resell, you must resell to him.
“We will not dictate the price at
which you are going to resell but you must resell at a price to be agreed by
both parties. It is only in Africa that you have exclusivity and monopoly of
contents as a business model. In the UK, you watch premier league on any
channel,” he said.
Mohammed explained that the
amended code also ensures that, in sport, when an advertiser spends about one
million dollar in promoting foreign league, the advertiser must also invest 30
percent of that one million dollar in promoting the local league.
Furthermore, the code ensures
that films, music, advertisement and series meant for consumption by Nigerians
must be made in Nigeria.
“You cannot go and make your
advertisement, films or reality show outside Nigeria and bring it to play on
our airwaves. Why must you go outside Nigeria to make a film or advertisement
that can be done in Nigeria,” he added.
The minister stated that the code
stipulates that if an advertiser owes a TV station money, such advertiser
cannot place advert on another channel until the indebtedness is cleared.
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