The Chairman, Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Alh. Ikra Bilbis, has said that the Board would further study the Broadcast Rights and new amendments, so as to give adequate audience to a few other Stakeholders who have ventilated their opinion.
In a statement on Thursday, the Chairman stated that, “The Board of the National Broadcasting Commission acknowledges the efforts of Management and industry Stakeholders, who spent time to come up with new amendments in the administration of the Broadcast Industry especially with the issues of Broadcast Rights, in the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“While acknowledging all the efforts of Management and other Stakeholders in reaching a consensus, it has become obvious that more voices need to be heard, and a few other Stakeholders who have ventilated their opinion to be given adequate audience.
“The Board would further study the new amendments and will reconvene next week in its attempt to respond to, and smoothen the rough edges of the new amendments”, he said.
The amended version of the 6th edition of the broadcast code was released following recommendations of the Committee on the Reform of the NBC and the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The new code which requires that all online broadcasters are registered with the Commission, will prevent PayTV and streaming platforms from making content exclusive and compel them to sub-license content at prices it will regulate.
According to the NBC’s code, these distribution platforms will be forced to sub-license their content to other broadcasters in Nigeria. This, it states, will create room for competition in Nigeria’s movie industry.
