Introduction

The National Broadcasting Commission ("NBC"), the apex regulator of broadcasting in Nigeria, is authorized by its enabling Act (the National Broadcast Commission Act 1992) to create a code setting the standards of the contents and quality of materials for broadcast in Nigeria. In 2016, the NBC issued the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (the "Code"). Subsequently, on June 11, 2020, the NBC released the amendment to the Code (the "Amendment"). As a result of some of the changes perceived as unfavourable by stakeholders, the Amendment has remained subject of controversy.

Anti-Competition and Sub-licensing

Under the Amendment, broadcasters and licensees are prohibited from entering into agreements with the intent of preventing or restricting competition. Furthermore, broadcasters and licensees are not permitted to acquire broadcasting rights in Nigeria or anywhere in the world, which may prevent broadcasters, licensees and persons in Nigeria from sub-licensing to third parties.

The Amendment further provides guidelines for sub-licensing with a view to preventing anti-competition. For instance, broadcasters are required to grant access to its premium content in the sport and news genre to all pay TV platforms. Broadcasters are also required to offer sports and news program to other broadcasters for retail in Nigeria on a non-exclusivity basis.

Sporting Rights

The Amendment generally prohibits the exclusivity of sporting rights in Nigeria. It further states that bids for sporting rights in Nigeria must be reasonable and subject to verification by the NBC. Where a broadcaster acquires a right to broadcast live foreign sports events, the broadcaster must make the right available to other broadcasters. Furthermore, to transmit prime foreign sports content, the content owner must have acquired prime local sports content with at least 30% of the entire cost of acquiring the foreign content. Where an advertiser intends to advertise any product during a foreign sport event, the advertiser must also advertise during a prime local sports event.

Web/Online Broadcast

According to the Amendment, all operators, web and online broadcasters are now required to register with the NBC. The owners of the platform shall be responsible for their content and must comply with all laws and regulations including those relating to fake news and hate speech. In effect, online platforms like Netflix and IrokoTV are now required to be registered with the NBC.

Unpaid Advertising Rates

Where a broadcaster's advertising rate has remained outstanding and unpaid for 45 days, the broadcaster is expected to notify the NBC. The NBC will then issue a notice of default to all its licensees. After a period of 60 days from the issuance of the notice of default, no broadcaster shall broadcast any advert, sponsored programmes or events of the advertiser in default or any of its agents.

Conclusion

Although the intention of the NBC is to promote broadcasting of local content and competition in the market, some of the provisions in the Amendment have been widely criticized as hampering the general principle of freedom of parties to contract, mandating parties to sublicense their broadcasting rights to third parties and generally stifling investment within the entertainment sector.

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