…Says it’s an un-licensed foreign TV channel by NBC, using Arewa brand name to operate
The Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association, (NBMOA), has called for urgent intervention to address challenges faced by indigenous private television channels in Nigeria.
In an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for NBMOA, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, outlined the severe difficulties local broadcasters encounter, exacerbated by what he described as underhanded practices by Arewa24 TV, allegedly an unlicensed foreign channel operating under the Arewa brand name in Nigeria.
The letter, sent through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, highlighted numerous issues plaguing the Nigerian broadcast industry, including poor facilities, stringent regulations, high operational costs, and declining advertising revenues.
The letter read in part: “The Nigerian Broadcast media space is fraught with landmines that make its progress an uphill task. This is evident with the number of the Broadcast media outfits that are today rested with their skeletal remains discernible in the historical media graveyard.
“Today, the private broadcast outfits are faced with challenges arising from poor facilities, government regulation and legislations, expensive equipment, welfare and debts. Funding, access to equipment, power supply, high cost of diesel and the need for digitalization tugging at the pockets of the investors. The television broadcasting industry also faces the challenges of decline in advertising revenues.
If these points raised above are doing-in the private broadcast industries, especially in some disadvantaged zones in Nigeria, government regulation and legislations seem the greatest underhand acts that is today sinking them further”.
Recall that the recent communiqu from the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BoN), following its 79th General Assembly in Benin, Edo State, painted a dire picture of the industry, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy due to economic strains such as the removal of oil subsidies and deregulation of the foreign exchange market.
BON’s communiqu emphasized the urgent need for a Presidential Media Support Initiative to alleviate the financial burdens on broadcast media through concessions on tariffs and rates.
However, the NBMOA’s letter underscored that indigenous content private broadcasters in Northern Nigeria are the worst affected, suffering from a lack of patronage and support from advertising agencies and clients, compounded by alleged preferential treatment given to foreign channels like Arewa24 TV.
Dr. Ramalan criticized the role of regulatory bodies such as the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, (APCON), and the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), accusing them of turning a blind eye to the operations of Arewa24 TV, which he claims operates illegally and monopolises the advertising budget meant for Nigerian broadcasters. He argued that such practices undermine local broadcasters who are committed to the growth and development of the nation.
The letter urged President Tinubu to intervene urgently to halt these illegalities and protect indigenous television channels. Dr. Ramalan highlighted that while foreign entities might easily withdraw their investments, local broadcasters have no such option, and continue to contribute significantly to national security, employment, and social responsibility.
In conclusion, the NBMOA pleaded for the President’s immediate action to ensure fairness and sustainability in the Nigerian broadcast media landscape, emphasizing the critical role of indigenous broadcasters in fostering unity, peace, and development in Nigeria.
