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Nollywood to Get N100b from DSO

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By Dipo Olowookere

The Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Broadcasting is set to create a N100 billion Naira per annum FreeTV distribution network for Nollywood, among a number of positive spin-offs, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, disclosed on Thursday.

Speaking at the launch of the DSO in Abuja, the Minister also listed job creation, 30 free digital channels, free and easy access to Government and Public information through a touch of the remote control, current affairs and news available through the middleware on the boxes and a world class Electronic Programme Guide that will make television viewing an unbeatable experience

“We have watched our beloved Nollywood move from VHS tapes to VCD to DVD, and whereas the whole world has moved to digital consumption of content with its attendant benefits and democratisation of distribution, we have been constrained by limited penetration of Internet in our homes.

“With the middleware in our Set-top boxes/Receiving equipment, homes will be able to buy and watch the latest Nollywood movies without the need for Internet. Imagine a film released on Monday morning being immediately available to 24 million plus households at the touch of a button,” he said

In his speech entitled ‘The Best of Television For All Nigerians,’ Mr Mohammed said the local manufacture of set-top boxes, which has already begun, is already extending to local Smart TV and Tablet manufacturing, thus creating jobs.

“With our strong consumer base, we can quickly become the supplier of these equipment to the whole of West Africa. As we speak, jobs are already being created as we engage Engineers, Technicians, Retailers, Distributors and Marketers, among others,” he said.

The Minister said the Electronic Program Guide will also be a platform for Application (App) developers to create products that will make life easier for the home consumers, thereby creating and promoting an industry of developers that will operate in both the Television and Telecoms industries.

In addition, he said, the increase in Free-To- Air channels and the separation of transmission from content aggregation will spur an increase in TV production activities, as the channels will now be able to focus on their TV shows and harness the variety of human and creative skills to compete to become the most watched channel.

Mr Mohammed said the DSO would also help to grow the TV advertising market by $400 million per annum through audience measurement, adding: “Our digital environment will give equal opportunity to everyone to be rewarded for investment in creativity, and that is what the regime of forensic Audience Measurement, which Digitisation offers, will afford. If it is your programme people are watching, you will be the recipient of higher revenues because the advertisers will run to you.”

He reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to meeting the deadline of June 2017 for the analogue to digital switch over in Nigeria and other West African countries, as set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The Minister commended Pinnacle Communications, the signal distributor for the Abuja DSO, for its massive investment that heralded the success of the launch, as well as the National Broadcasting Commission, Digiteam, content aggregators CCNL, software provider Inview, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and RATTAWU.

The Pilot Scheme of the DSO was launched in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016, after two previous failures – in 2012 and 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, commissioned the Abuja DSO at the offices of Pinnacle Communications Ltd.

The President said the Federal Government is ”irreversibly committed” to meeting the June 2017 deadline for the switch over and congratulated the Minister of Information, the Director General of NBC, Pinnacle Communications and Set-top box manufacturers SMK ”for a world class performance on this switch over”.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Relive the Shows You Grew Up With on GOtv

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back-in-the-days shows GOtv

There was a time in our lives when life was simple. Not perfect, not fancy, but simple in a way that just felt complete.

We weren’t thinking about bills, deadlines, or what the future would look like. Our biggest concern? Whether NEPA would take light before our favourite show came on or if someone would change the channel at the wrong time.

Back then, happiness didn’t need planning. You’d rush through homework, eat quickly, and settle in front of the TV like it was the most important part of your day. And honestly, it was.

Those shows weren’t just shows, they were moments.

Then we grew up. Life got busier, louder, and a lot more demanding. But somehow, those memories stayed.

Sometimes it hits you out of nowhere, like a theme song or seeing your niece or nephew watching something familiar. And just like that, you’re taken back.

Back to when watching SpongeBob SquarePants felt like the highlight of your day. Back to singing along to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse like you were part of the cast. Even those “I’m too grown for cartoons” days still had room for The Thundermans and Henry Danger.

It’s funny how those shows did more than just entertain us. They gave us something to look forward to. Something that made the day feel lighter, no matter what.

But every now and then, there’s something comforting about knowing that those moments still exist somewhere. The things that once made us laugh, relax, and forget everything for a while are still there, unchanged.

Channels like Disney Junior and Nickelodeon are still running those same shows, holding onto that same kind of joy we didn’t even realise we’d miss. And platforms like GOtv quietly keep that connection alive. Because after a long day of trying to figure life out, sometimes what you need isn’t something new.

Sometimes, you just want something that reminds you of who you used to be, something that lets you sit back, laugh a little, and for a moment forget all the noise. And maybe, without even realising it, you smile, because for a few minutes, life feels simple again.

To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.

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Stripped: What Happens When Men Can’t Keep It All Together

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Stripped on Africa Magic Showcase

In a world where men are expected to have it all figured out, be strong, provide, and never fall apart, Stripped shows the reality that many don’t talk about.

A new drama series premiered on Africa Magic Showcase on Sunday. The limited series brings together a strong lineup of Nollywood stars, including Daniel Etim Effiong, Efa Iwara, Kunle Remi, Ian Wordi, and Mofe Duncan, in a story that dives deep into the pressures men face behind closed doors.

Stripped follows five friends whose lives are slowly unravelling. From career setbacks to relationship struggles and financial pressure, each man is pushed to the edge in different ways. In a desperate attempt to regain control, they take an unexpected path, stepping into the world of stripping at an upscale club.

Daniel Etim Effiong plays Kel, a former marketing executive now juggling survival and responsibility, while Mofe Duncan (Bolaji) battles to keep his business afloat. Efa Iwara stars as a music video director forced to confront a complicated personal life, Ian Wordi plays a conflicted architect, and a youth pastor caught between duty and desire, while Kunle Remi brings to life a determined hustler trying to rewrite his family’s story.

Their lives intersect when they are recruited by Yvonne, a sharp and calculated lounge owner, who introduces them to a world that challenges everything they thought they knew about themselves.

This series explores identity, pride, friendship, and the silent expectations placed on men. It also shines a light on the emotional weight many carry without saying a word, both vulnerability and moments of humour along the way.

With a strong supporting cast of equally complex female characters, the story unfolds across six episodes, building tension as secrets deepen and relationships are tested.

Watch Stripped on Africa Magic Showcase, available on GOtv Channel 8, with new episodes every Sunday at 8 PM.

To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.

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Don’t Just Watch, Decide: Final Days to Vote for AMVCA 12

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Vote for AMVCA 12

As the countdown to the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) draws closer, fans across Africa still have a chance to do more than just watch, they can decide.

Voting is officially in its final days, and this is the moment for audiences to show up for their favourite actors, filmmakers, and stories that have made an impact over the past year.

The AMVCA has always stood out as an award platform that gives viewers a choice, allowing fans directly influence who takes home some of the biggest honours on the night. From standout performances to fan-favourite productions, every vote contributes to shaping the final outcome.

Voting is quick, simple, and free. You can cast your vote via the official AMVCA website or through the myDStv and myGOtv apps. Simply log in or create an account, select your favourites across the categories, and submit. You can also vote multiple times across these platforms to increase your support.

Voting for AMVCA 12 closes on April 26, 2026, at 9:00 PM WAT, and once that window closes, that’s it, no extra time and no second chances.

A lot of people wait until the last minute and either forget or run into issues trying to vote at the same time as everyone else. It’s always better to get it done early.

The awards night will come, the winners will be announced, and conversations will happen again, but between now and then is the only time you actually get to influence the outcome.

So if there’s someone you’re rooting for, or a project you genuinely believe deserves it, this is the time to show up.

Don’t just watch how it plays out. Be part of the reason it plays out that way.

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