NBC’s Content Feudalism Sparks Outrage in Nollywood

Content streaming platforms Netflix, iROKOtv, and Amazon, as well as pay television channels, ROK TV and Africa Magic; are considering cutting off further investments in the Nigerian film industry; after the Nigerian Broadcasting Company (NBC) released a controversial new code.

The new code AKA sections 9.0.1 to 9.0.3 as well as sections 9.1.1.8 to 9.1.1.11, basically make exclusivity illegal. In simpler terms, NBC is making it illegal for Netflix and other streaming platforms to have sole ownership of Nollywood content.

Rather, these entertainment platforms wold have to sub-license content from Nigeria. This is a huge blow, worthy to be considered an assault on Netflix and other platforms; which have heavily invested in acquiring Nollywood content.

Check out this screenshot of the amendment below:

Unsurprisingly, industry stakeholders were not too thrilled to find out about this new development; which in actuality, is more of a regression. Many Nollywood filmmakers have condemned the amendment for its authoritarian stance on content.

One of the opposers of this bill is actress and filmmaker Judith Audu-Foght; who called for fellow industry members to fight the amendment or risk their jobs; under the hashtags #MyContentMyProperty and #nbcdontkillnollywood.

Check out her post below:

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 So after I FUND, I SUFFER, I SHOOT and my EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS is taken from me? My name is JUDITH AUDU and I say a big NO to this clause on the 6th amendments by NBC @nbcgovng !!!! Everyone in the Movie/TV Space in Nigeria, needs to Speak up and end it, it affects all of us and jobs will be lost!!! #mycontentmyproperty #mycontentmyright #nbcdontkillnollywood #nbcdontdrivenollywoodinvestors #MYCONTENTMYPROPERTY @seunoloketuyi @goldmynetv @thenetng @ynaija @pulsenigeria247 @tnsnigeria @instablog9ja @tundeednut @nporeports @trybestv @playground_ng @lindaikejiblogofficial @bellanaijaonline @nollysilverscreen @apexngr @nollywoodonline @olorisupergal @eeliveng @the_commentsection @channelstelevision @silverbirdtv @wazobiafmlagos @wazobiamaxtv @legacytvng @amcchannels
 
A post shared by  Judith Audu-Foght (@judithaudu) on Jun 10, 2020 at 2:32am PDT
 

IROKOtv founder Jason Njoku also voiced his aversion to the new bill. Njoku stated that it would destroy PayTV as well as tank the investments that stakeholders have made in Nollywood.

Check out his tweets below:

Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) In making exclusivity illegal, compelling sub-licensing of content & regulating price, are effectively turning private enterprise into state property. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. Interference Distorts Markets. If implemented this 100% destroys PayTV in Nigeria

— JasonNjoku (@JasonNjoku) June 10, 2020

This our champagne socialism & zero input style of policy making is the reason Nigeria is stunted in everything. I invest billions Naira in content then I am compelled to share with everyone else as NBC sets the price 🤷🏾‍♂️Why? Dark forces or incompetence is at play here. Ridiculous

— JasonNjoku (@JasonNjoku) June 10, 2020

Mary Remmy Njoku lamented about the NBC destroying her business. She then guaranteed that because of the new amendment, Nollywood would be starved of investment from DSTV, Netflix, and others; which have basiccally become the life force of the industry.

Check out her post below:

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @nbcgovng NBC is coming for my business!!. And the business of over 2000 creative and unemployable Nigerian youth. + Over 20000 actors I employ every year!! As a Filmmaker, How can you take away my right to sell MY content, who to sell to, when to sell and how much to sell? If @dstv @irokotv @netflix and other investors stop funding Nollywood, the industry is dead!!! Nollywood is my life! Our life! My content is my property!!! #mycontentmyproperty #nbcdontkillnollywood. @seunoloketuyi @goldmynetv @thenetng @ynaija @pulsenigeria247 @tnsnigeria @instablog9ja @tundeednut @nporeports @trybestv @playground_ng @lindaikejiblogofficial @bellanaijaonline @nollysilverscreen @apexngr @nollywoodonline @olorisupergal @eeliveng @the_commentsection @channelstelevision @silverbirdtv @wazobiafmlagos @wazobiamaxtv @legacytvng @amcchannels
 
A post shared by  Mary Njoku (@maryremmynjoku) on Jun 10, 2020 at 4:03am PDT
 

Indie filmmaker Chiemela Nwagboso talked about how the lack of funding from streaming platforms resulting from this bill will lead to unemployment; because movie sets employ a lot of people and demand much funding.

Check out his post below:

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 My name is Chiemela Nwagboso. CEO of Mela Movies an independent Producer. I really don't understand what's going on and I hope this news I saw in Vanguard isn't true. FG sending Private Sectors out of Nigeria then we're really DOOMED. Each time I'm producing I always Employ over 120 persons working under me and with this it has reduced in a way unemployment for these ones.. So if Nollywood is affected it's going to affect these numbers working with me. Please FG don't do this I beg of You, there's no how you'd force people on how and who to sell their content to.. Please FG stop which ever plans to undergo this. "He stated that NBC is seeking to turn private enterprise into state property and be the one to determine the scale of dividends am investor should reap on his investment. "https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/nbc-codr-netflix-amazon-irokotv-africa-magic-may-end-investment-in-nigeria/#MyContentMyProperty #NBCdon'tDriveNollywoodInvestors #IStandwithIROKOTv #IStandwithDSTV #IStandwithNETFLIX #IStandwithAMAZON @seunoloketuyi @goldmynetv @thenetng @ynaija @pulsenigeria247 @tnsnigeria @instablog9ja @tundeednut @nporeports @trybestv @playground_ng @lindaikejiblogofficial @bellanaijaonline @nollysilverscreen @apexngr @nollywoodonline @olorisupergal @eeliveng @the_commentsection @channelstelevision @silverbirdtv @wazobiafmlagos @wazobiamaxtv @legacytvng @amcchannels @maryremmynjoku @roknigeria @irokotv God bless Nigeria
 
A post shared by  Chiemela Nwagboso (@chiemela33) on Jun 9, 2020 at 11:59pm PDT
 

This outrage is quite called for because for a country that claims to be democratic and capitalist, the NBC is trying to enforce a feudal system where filmmakers are not allowed to own, control, and trade content as they wish.

READ ALSO: Why We Pulled ‘Sugar Rush’ from the Cinemas – Censors Board Boss

This could destroy the foundation of online streaming before the revolution is complete; thus leaving a lower standing for the budding content creators of the future who would have depended on streaming sites for capital to set off their dreams.

It is quite unclear how this falls into the agenda for progress; but it seems as though the NBC like other Nigerian government bodies is just another bully that does not want to see people win.