Do You Still Watch???

A special thank you to AiRis and her team for helping to put together the “Up Close with AiRis” interview on the blogspot last week.  Hope you all liked it and got to know this talented artist a little better.  Seriously, go and show your support in the spring when her debut album “The AiRis Project” drops!!! Also check it out on iTunes.

Well so much to talk about these days; the primary elections back home in Nigeria just concluded, Black History month is coming up in the States and ladies, February is always big as you all like to discuss LOVE and that hallmark event known as Valentines Day. Trust and believe here on the “MY OMO NAIJA” blogspot we most definitely are going to turn up the heat in the coming weeks and start speaking on these matters.

So let me get focused…

You know recently I have thought over and over again about the state of television programming in general and quite frankly all I can do is just SMH!!!  Where did it go? What exactly are we to make of it? Does it have a promising future?

As many of you all know, much of what makes up our viewing options here in the states is shock or reality television.  I personally, not a fan of the genre and its affinity with the American public and as my man "Uptown" would say, "Yo, my life is a reality enough on its own, there is no need to be watching that bulls**t".  Truth is no matter how bad I may perceive or believe television programming to be here in America, it is virtually non-existent back home in Nigeria. 

My last recollection of great Nigerian programming was when the popular drama series "The Village Headmaster" reigned supreme in the early 80s.  I know I just dated myself... "Am only 19 but my mind is old" (Infamous Mobb Deep) LMAO!!! Seriously, "The Village Headmaster" was to everybody like "Good Times" was to African Americans in the 70s, "The Jefferson's" in the 80s, "Cosby Show in the early 90s and the "Wire" in the new millennium.  Other prominent Nigerian television programming worth noting includes Samanja, Cockcrow at Dawn and Icheoku. All had cult followings of their own with a reputable long shelf life to note.

As previously stated, I stopped living in Nigeria over 20 years ago but what I see of broadcast television during my visits from news reporting to entertainment is absolutely rubbish and embarrassing.  For example; "No Disrespect" but why is it that Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) (similar to ABS, CBS, NBC and Fox television in USA) still looks like they are broadcasting with equipment from the early 70s?  The video recorder on my blackberry mobile phone can generate better quality in production in comparison to some of the things televised on the network.   

I believe that we Nigerians underestimate the international appeal of our programming.  I can't tell you how many times people, non-Nigerians of all colors walk up to me and automatically assume that I have seen every Nollywood film released and would like to discuss it with me.  This illustrates to me that we have some level of competency and proficiency in the world of entertainment that must be brought to light more often.

As I have discussed in an earlier blog post, it appears that we have returned to the glory years of producing great music with several talented artist currently honing their skills in/out of out of Nigeria.  It’s time we demand more and expect more in our television programming.  We must not continue to function under the premise or ideology that for something to be of quality or substance, its origin and roots were fostered outside of Nigeria.  We have farmed-out almost every/anything worth consuming back home, please do not find it acceptable outsourcing your thoughts, ideas, and opinions like we have grown accustom to in recent memory.

A Few Suggestions for NTA Going Forward:

1. Privatize NTA and do without the Federal Government meddling in your affairs.

2. Actually spend and use the funds allocated in the NTA budget on operations and infrastructure and stop cutting corners.

3. Increase Advertisement and make good use of the social media outlets available.

4. Conduct surveys, polls and focus groups and target specific demographic audiences for up coming programming opportunities.

My understanding is that Nollywood (Nigerian Hollywood) is one of the leading produces of cinematography in the world.  If this is the case, why is this not transferring in our local programming?  It is true that some private television networks are doing slightly better than the likes of NTA, companies such as AIT and Silverbird to name a few.  The fact remains that overall programming options are practically non-existent.  Many Nigerians do not have the luxury of constant electricity without the use of a generator in their homes, so the idea of purchasing satellite television is cheeky.  "My Omo Naijas" love and go to great lengths to be entertained, humored and will find anything that can distract us from the current state of affairs in our everyday lives. Therefore, it only makes sense to make available to all Nigerians something to look forward to on "free" television aka public television.

Let's do better!!!