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Business News of Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

FG tells Pay TV to sell rights of series, sports to Nigerians

Lai Mohammed Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that Pay TV owner must resell rights of series, sports and other contents to Nigerians.

Lai Mohammed made this known when he appeared on the NTA live programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”.

The Minister used the opportunity to condemn the attack on him for amending the 6th edition of the National Broadcasting Code which he says will benefit all stakeholders and practitioner.

“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.

He also revealed that the monopoly in the industry is responsible for its hampered growth.

“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.

Lai Mohammed said that 30% of what is spent on promoting foreign leagues in Nigeria must be spent on promoting the local league.

“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.