The Federal Government over the weekend have said it will introduce content access fees ahead of Nigeria’s migration to digital terrestrial television broadcasting by 2015. The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the revelation at the opening of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the National Council of Information in Abuja. Maku stated that the planned content access fee, which would be paid by Nigerians seeking access to television content, was undergoing final adjustments which he hoped would get the nod of the Federal Executive Council before the migration, Daily Independent reports. He further said government and other stakeholders would leverage on the new technology to make the new format more effective than the archaic radio licence fees format.
“For a long time, radio licences have not been collected and in other countries the public broadcast services are run from fees collected on broadcast content. “But unfortunately in our country, the existing constitutional provision has made fee collection less effective. “Now, we are undertaking a new format. We are taking advantage of the digital technology and looking beyond sending people to go from place to place to collect fees for broadcast content,” he said. Under this new regime, Maku explained that for anyone to have access to television content one has to pay an annual content access fee which is set to be operational. The minister outlined some of the advantages of the new broadcast content fee collection regime to include improved financial capability for stakeholders to improve content and upgrade infrastructure. He said this would help the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and other stakeholders to have access to adequate funds for sustained upgrade of their infrastructure for effective service delivery. On the NCI meeting, Maku said Nigeria was at crossroads to either transit smoothly or risk being cut-off from the rest of the world by June 2015 when the global migration deadline takes effect. He stressed the need for improved coordination and cooperation among stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria joined the rest of the world in the new digital era. “We are here because we are approaching the deadline and Nigeria must transit. “We must do everything possible, we must work 24 hours to ensure that our country is not cut-off from the rest of the world,’’ he said. The minister, who acknowledged that the process of migration was not an easy one, however, noted that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. While stressing the need for a robust public sensitisation ahead of the deadline, Maku urged the NBC, state governments and private broadcast stations to work together to ensure a smooth transition for the country. Earlier, Edward Amana, Head of the Digiteam (Federal Government’s Committee on Digitisation), emphasised the need for the training of the manpower that would drive the process effectively. Amana said states were expected to upgrade studio equipment to digital standard and re-educate their workforce on the anticipated changes in the industry. He said the signs from the states were encouraging, noting that this was an indication that the transition would be smooth. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Folasade Esan, said the issues being deliberated were urgent and of importance to the development of the country. Ms. Esan said the extra ordinary meeting would also brainstorm on previous strategies adopted in the nation’s information campaign against terrorism in Nigeria. The 36 states and the FCT attended the meeting with the theme, “Digitisation and National Security.’’
Nigerians to pay fees
to watch Television in 2015 – FG
By TODAY on July 7, 2014
used_televisions
The Federal Government over the weekend have said it will introduce
content access fees ahead of Nigeria’s migration to digital terrestrial
television broadcasting by 2015.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the revelation at the
opening of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the National Council of
Information in Abuja.
Maku stated that the planned content access fee, which would be paid by
Nigerians seeking access to television content, was undergoing final
adjustments which he hoped would get the nod of the Federal Executive
Council before the migration, Daily Independent reports.
He further said government and other stakeholders would leverage on the
new technology to make the new format more effective than the archaic
radio licence fees format.
“For a long time, radio licences have not been collected and in
other countries the public broadcast services are run from fees
collected on broadcast content.
“But unfortunately in our country, the existing constitutional
provision has made fee collection less effective.
“Now, we are undertaking a new format. We are taking advantage of
the digital technology and looking beyond sending people to go from
place to place to collect fees for broadcast content,” he said.
Under this new regime, Maku explained that for anyone to have access
to television content one has to pay an annual content access fee which
is set to be operational.
The minister outlined some of the advantages of the new broadcast
content fee collection regime to include improved financial capability
for stakeholders to improve content and upgrade infrastructure.
He said this would help the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and
other stakeholders to have access to adequate funds for sustained
upgrade of their infrastructure for effective service delivery.
On the NCI meeting, Maku said Nigeria was at crossroads to either
transit smoothly or risk being cut-off from the rest of the world by
June 2015 when the global migration deadline takes effect.
He stressed the need for improved coordination and cooperation among
stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria joined the rest of the world in the
new digital era.
“We are here because we are approaching the deadline and Nigeria
must transit.
“We must do everything possible, we must work 24 hours to ensure
that our country is not cut-off from the rest of the world,’’ he said.
The minister, who acknowledged that the process of migration was not
an easy one, however, noted that the advantages far outweigh the
disadvantages.
While stressing the need for a robust public sensitisation ahead of
the deadline, Maku urged the NBC, state governments and private
broadcast stations to work together to ensure a smooth transition for
the country.
Earlier, Edward Amana, Head of the Digiteam (Federal Government’s
Committee on Digitisation), emphasised the need for the training of the
manpower that would drive the process effectively.
Amana said states were expected to upgrade studio equipment to
digital standard and re-educate their workforce on the anticipated
changes in the industry.
He said the signs from the states were encouraging, noting that this
was an indication that the transition would be smooth.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Folasade Esan,
said the issues being deliberated were urgent and of importance to the
development of the country.
Ms. Esan said the extra ordinary meeting would also brainstorm on
previous strategies adopted in the nation’s information campaign against
terrorism in Nigeria.
The 36 states and the FCT attended the meeting with the theme,
“Digitisation and National Security.’’
Read more at TODAY: http://www.today.ng/technology/nigerians-to-pay-fees-to-watch-television-in-2015-fg/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Read more at TODAY: http://www.today.ng/technology/nigerians-to-pay-fees-to-watch-television-in-2015-fg/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Nigerians to pay fees
to watch Television in 2015 – FG
By TODAY on July 7, 2014
used_televisions
The Federal Government over the weekend have said it will introduce
content access fees ahead of Nigeria’s migration to digital terrestrial
television broadcasting by 2015.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the revelation at the
opening of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the National Council of
Information in Abuja.
Maku stated that the planned content access fee, which would be paid by
Nigerians seeking access to television content, was undergoing final
adjustments which he hoped would get the nod of the Federal Executive
Council before the migration, Daily Independent reports.
He further said government and other stakeholders would leverage on the
new technology to make the new format more effective than the archaic
radio licence fees format.
“For a long time, radio licences have not been collected and in
other countries the public broadcast services are run from fees
collected on broadcast content.
“But unfortunately in our country, the existing constitutional
provision has made fee collection less effective.
“Now, we are undertaking a new format. We are taking advantage of
the digital technology and looking beyond sending people to go from
place to place to collect fees for broadcast content,” he said.
Under this new regime, Maku explained that for anyone to have access
to television content one has to pay an annual content access fee which
is set to be operational.
The minister outlined some of the advantages of the new broadcast
content fee collection regime to include improved financial capability
for stakeholders to improve content and upgrade infrastructure.
He said this would help the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and
other stakeholders to have access to adequate funds for sustained
upgrade of their infrastructure for effective service delivery.
On the NCI meeting, Maku said Nigeria was at crossroads to either
transit smoothly or risk being cut-off from the rest of the world by
June 2015 when the global migration deadline takes effect.
He stressed the need for improved coordination and cooperation among
stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria joined the rest of the world in the
new digital era.
“We are here because we are approaching the deadline and Nigeria
must transit.
“We must do everything possible, we must work 24 hours to ensure
that our country is not cut-off from the rest of the world,’’ he said.
The minister, who acknowledged that the process of migration was not
an easy one, however, noted that the advantages far outweigh the
disadvantages.
While stressing the need for a robust public sensitisation ahead of
the deadline, Maku urged the NBC, state governments and private
broadcast stations to work together to ensure a smooth transition for
the country.
Earlier, Edward Amana, Head of the Digiteam (Federal Government’s
Committee on Digitisation), emphasised the need for the training of the
manpower that would drive the process effectively.
Amana said states were expected to upgrade studio equipment to
digital standard and re-educate their workforce on the anticipated
changes in the industry.
He said the signs from the states were encouraging, noting that this
was an indication that the transition would be smooth.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Folasade Esan,
said the issues being deliberated were urgent and of importance to the
development of the country.
Ms. Esan said the extra ordinary meeting would also brainstorm on
previous strategies adopted in the nation’s information campaign against
terrorism in Nigeria.
The 36 states and the FCT attended the meeting with the theme,
“Digitisation and National Security.’’
Read more at TODAY: http://www.today.ng/technology/nigerians-to-pay-fees-to-watch-television-in-2015-fg/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Read more at TODAY: http://www.today.ng/technology/nigerians-to-pay-fees-to-watch-television-in-2015-fg/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
