The June 17, 2015 deadline as set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the transition from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting seems to have triggered activities in the broadcasting industry. Though not too many Nigerians are aware of the migration deadline or the processes in place to ensure that they are not being cut-off from television viewing, one of the many advantages of the digital migration would be the availability of more radio frequency spectrum for broadcasting, thereby providing opportunity for more programming content/channels to the viewers.

Bearing in mind that most terrestrial TV stations in Nigeria (also known as free-to-air stations) might be facing serious financial challenges in acquiring full digital equipment for a successful migration due to its high cost, and more importantly the need not to deprive the Nigerian audience they serve from television viewing, most of these TV stations will be willing to engage the services of platforms providers (mostly pay-tv operators) to ensure a successful migration.

But the question remains how these contents/channels will be distributed or viewed by the public, especially where platform providers are becoming more selective and demanding for content/channel exclusivity.

Believing that quality contents/programmes should be priority for pay-tv operators, why do platform providers impose tough conditions for channel/contents owners who seek to be on their platform? Will Nigerians ever have the right like their counterparts in other parts of the world, to subscribe and unsubscribe from the services of these service operators whenever they are not getting the desired value?

One is not averse to pay-tv operators owning 100% exclusivity to contents/channels developed by its content/programmes department, but it becomes worrisome when they put in place outrageous conditions for content/channel owners or providers to be on their platform.


According to a content developer who chooses to be remain anonymous, “The success of a channel/content should not be based on the amount of money spent is developing or acquiring it, but on the number of audience who are able to access such a channel/content and the positive impact it has on their lives.”

Pay-Tv operators in their quest to make “excessive profit” by constantly seeking ways to maintain and increase its subscriber’s base, should not do so at the detriment of Nigerians who do not subscribe to their services, depriving them of quality contents that ideally should be accessed by all, either local or foreign.

One still wonders why channels like CNN and most significantly TVC News, a news channel that recently launched its signals in the UK on Sky channel 572 cannot be found on all pay-tv platforms in Nigeria.

While the former is an American based news channel that has also been accused of reporting American views, one would have at least thought that pay-tv operators as a matter of national and African interest would have granted TVC News a place on their platform.

The news channel for those who are yet to access it, probably due to exclusivity demands of some pay-tv operators, is a 24 hours pan-African news channel, offering a fresh perspective on African and world events. The channel apart from challenging stereotypes and correcting factual inaccuracies about Africa is also projecting the positive values and image of Africa.

There are other channels/contents that suffer same challenges of not reaching out to all Nigerians, possibly due to limited radio frequency spectrum and licensing issues, but more annoyingly the strict demands of exclusivity by these operators.

As the digital migration draws near, it becomes more pertinent for stakeholders and regulators to properly identify and establish proper guidelines for channel/content acquisition and distribution.

Emphasis should however be on providing more quality contents/channels to Nigerians at an affordable or better still no cost, rather than pay-tv operators striving to lockdown channels/content exclusively to their platforms, thereby depriving millions of Nigerians who do not subscribe to their services of quality content.

TV viewing is not a social class thing, and shouldn’t be encouraged as such. The more quality information made easily accessible to Nigerians, the better our society and the economy.

Watch TVC News on StarTimes across Nigeria

Its just in Lagos for now. The pan-Nigeria channel number to be communicated soonest.

Thanks

Do a manual search on StarTimes, using 602 frequency.

However, TVC News is now on Channel 116, for Lagos Subscribers. The pan-Nigeria Channel to be communicated soon.

Thanks

www.tvcnews.tv or watch TVC News on StarTimes Channel 115

visit www.tvcnews.tv or watch TVC News on StarTimes, Channel 115.

TVC News a 24-hour pan-African News channel,began its live transmission today, February 28, 2013 at exactly 14:00 CAT (2pm Nigerian Time). TVC News is the first 24-hour pan-African News Channel and can now be viewed on Channel 115 on StarTimes

Day 5 had over 700 kids in attendance. It's day 6 and the excitement never ends. Come have a greater experience today

view and like page on facebook :

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cbsfuncity/394982250584048

Be at the CBS-Funcity Christmas Family funfair, from Dec. 8 -26, 2012. Venue: 1 continental way,off CMD road,Ikosi-ketu Lagos. Time: 9am -6pm daily. For more info: 08033335617, 08033182040

Like our page of facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cbsfuncity/394982250584048
Follow us on twitter. @cbsfuncity

TVC Entertainment in its effort to re-shape the social and public perception of entertainment in the broadcasting has introduced to its list of exciting programmes Boombox
Boombox is a musical and lifestyle program showcasing celebs gossips, insights into trendy issues in the entertainment industry, latest music videos, and showcasing uprising entertainment acts. Boombox shows on TVC Entertainment @ 12:05 – 12.30pm (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays), @ 12:30 – 1.00pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Kindly like the Boombox page on Facebook by visiting on the link below

http://www.facebook.com/BoomboxTVC

TVC Entertainment in its effort to re-shape the social and public perception of entertainment in the broadcasting has introduced to its list of exciting programmes Boombox.

Boombox is a musical and lifestyle program showcasing celebs gossips, insights into trendy issues in the entertainment industry, latest music videos, and showcasing uprising entertainment acts. Boombox shows on TVC Entertainment @ 12:05 – 12:30pm (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays), @ 12:30 – 1:00pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Kindly like the Boombox page on Facebook by visiting the link below

http://www.facebook.com/BoomboxTVC

TVC News pictures can only be compared to that of CNN, Aljazeera and the likes. Africa would atleast for the first time be proud of having a news station that can compete for viewers in the Global scene. Some members of the management team are:

Nigel Parsons, CEO

Nigel Parsons was the pioneer MD of Al Jazeera English, overseeing the channel from concept to launch. It was immediately recognised as one of the ‘Big 3’ global news channels,He has also worked as an editor, reporter and producer for the BBC, ABC America, CBC Canada, The New Zealand Herald, and RTHK Hong Kong.

Lemi Olalemi- Deputy CEO

Lemi Olalemi began his career in broadcasting in 1979, when he joined Radio Lagos and LTV as a producer. He then became the pioneer Director of Programmes at Channels TV, before acting as a technical and programming consultant for MITV and AIT

Stuart Young, Director News & Programmes

Stuart Young has worked in the television industry for 30 years, in international news.Stuart was the youngest ever Deputy Editor of BBC TV's flagship "Nine o’clock News", Output Editor for CNN, a senior member of the launch teams for Al Jazeera English, Euronews and Middle East Broadcasting Centre.


RICHIE DAYO JOHNSON – DIRECTOR

RDJ as he is often called brings to the dynamic management team almost three decades of Anglo/African experiential knowledge in the communications industry.He worked at GEC, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham and IBM London before becoming Joint Managing Director of Universal Communications Group and later Deputy Managing Director of The Job Paper, London.
A radio and television broadcaster by training and an alumnus of the prestigious University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, UK, RDJ is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a certified Life and Business Coach, an accomplished Toastmaster and guardian of Etiquette and Modern Business Manners.

And the list goes on and on... Africa must be heard at the global scene

TVC News would provide a better insight to this long age argument

tpia@:
africa is too big to be considered one single country.


you dont see north america broadcasting in this manner.

These are brilliant comments. Always knew that Nigerians and Africans would one day rise to clean up the mess of colonization and the negative image some African leaders have created in the past years.

Yes TVC News is owned by Continental Broadcasting Service (CBS),owners and operators of TV Continental( Now TVC Entertainment),Radio Continental 102.3FM amongst other stations. But for TVC News, the first pan-African 24 hour news station to be launched in November, it is not about the owner and the perception of the owner, but its about projecting Africa's voice at the global scene. news reporting that is fearless, relevant and reliable.

TVC News would not only broadcast in Nigeria, but can be viewed across Africa,Europe,USA etc. For the first time Africans can tell their own stories.

TVC News ... Through African Eyes

Do you think we need to project our voice at the global scene and ensure that the World see Africa Through African Eyes ? Need your comments

For the first time Africa's voice would be projected at the global scene.

TVC News, a 24-hour news channel owned by Continental Broadcasting Service Nigeria Ltd., will begin airing across Africa from November and will compete with international broadcasters for viewers.

TVC News, which will be based in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, will have offices in Abuja, the capital, and the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, Nigel Parsons, chief executive officer of CBS, said in a Sept. 21 phone interview. The company will also have offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra and Dakar, he said.

TVC News will join other pan-African stations, such as Johannesburg-based eNCA, which became South Africa’s first 24- hour news channel four years ago. eNCA has bureaus across Africa’s largest economy, as well as in Lagos, Nairobi and Beijing and correspondents in Zimbabwe, Ghana and Tanzania, according to its website.

“Part of the reason of this channel is too many foreign channels just cover death and disaster in Africa,” Parsons, who is a former managing director at Al Jazeera English, said from Lagos. “There’s a lot to celebrate, business is booming in Africa.”

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy will probably expand 5.4 percent this year as rising commodity prices and increased oil production help to offset a slowdown in Europe, according to the International Monetary Fund.

TVC News has secured agreements to air on British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) in the U.K., Naspers Ltd. (NPN)’s DSTV in Nigeria, Multi TV in Ghana, said Parsons. The channel is also in talks with TopTV and DSTV in South Africa, DISH Network Corp. (DISH) in the U.S. and Wananchi Group Ltd. in Kenya, he said.

Revenue will come from a mix of sponsorship and advertising, as well as being supported by CBS’s existing TVC Entertainment channel and Radio Continental, said Parsons.

The channel employs about 350 people, which includes editorial, technical, management and administration workers, he said. Parsons declined to comment on the amount invested in the station.

TVC News will follow “a similar model” as other international 24 hour news channels, like the British Broadcasting Corp., Cabel News Network Inc. and Al Jazeera, said Parsons.