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Tag: Big Brother Naija

  • Big Brother Naija house leak reveals upgrades

    As reality television show, Big Brother Naija, is set to start on June 30, a major leak has revealed major upgrades of the house located in Nigeria.

    Insider sources also revealed that there have been multiple teams and vendors working day and night shifts on the project.

    “The pace has been fast considering the scale of the development, the complexity and number of overlapping processes”, the source revealed.

    Although MultiChoice have not disclosed the exact location of the house, fans of the famed show are eager to see what the house would look like as the house is an integral part of the show.

    During a media briefing in January, Chief Customer Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, said it will be the first purpose-built facility in Africa and perhaps in the world housing all the zones in one complex. Previous facilities had the house, studio for the live shows, production and post-production units all in separate buildings and sometimes in different locations. This new and improved BBNaija house measures about 1800sqm with an additional 250sqm for support building services such as the sick bay and artiste lounges and is designed and built to be bigger and better than any of the Big Brother Africa or Mzansi houses. For example, the studio for the live eviction shows is said to be double the size of what was in the house in South Africa, which means we can expect bigger performances, wider coverage of studio audience reactions and other stage and sound production. Fans should also expect to have more camera vantage positions in the house to capture even more content as the house is designed to take 7x hand held cameras and 32 que ball cameras that will capture every activity in and outside the house.

    Speaking of the house’s exterior which will have a garden area which provides grounds for a jacuzzi and other outdoor recreational activities, the insider promised that the garden area will be the most beautiful BBNaija garden.

    Then there’s the arena where the adrenaline racing Friday night games happen. This area will also be receiving a major upgrade by up to 270sqm, providing more room for pulsating ground and mid-air activities, themed games, puzzles and competitions this season. The in-house club would also be better equipped to give the housemates this season more room to party with celebrity DJs.

    Although the general layout of the BBNaija house is the same every year, the décor varies for each season based on the theme. This year’s theme is yet to be unveiled.

    Since its debut in 2006, BBNaija has helped to enhance the quality of TV production in the country. It has also facilitated technological transfer between Nigerian and South African production firms who managed the inaugural show. Aside from these technical firms, other groups that range from the editorial crew to makeup artists and costume designers earn on the show.

     

  • Winner to get N60m in next BBNaija show

    With the new season of Big Brother Naija making its premiere on June 30, 2019, MultiChoice Nigeria has upped the ante with the announcement of N60 million worth of prizes for the winner.

    The breakdown of the prizes includes: a N30m cash prize; a top of the range SUV from Nigerian automaker, Innoson Motors; a trip to Dubai for two packaged by TravelBeta; a home make-over courtesy Scanfrost; a year’s supply of Pepsi and One Africa Fest VVIP experience; a year’s supply of Indomie noodles & Munch it; and a brand new Oppo mobile smartphone. There’s also a bonus prize of two VIP Tickets to watch a European Football final game LIVE, courtesy BET9ja.

    This season’s grand prize is an increase from the previous edition, which saw Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe walking away with N45m worth of prizes.

    Read Also: BBNaija season 4 premieres June 30

    Speaking on the increased prize money, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe said: “Each edition of Big Brother Naija significantly improves on all aspects of the previous season and this year is no different. The winner of season four will walk away from the house with a N30m cash prize and a top of the range SUV amongst many other exciting prizes. The Big Brother Naija winner will also emerge as the most popular and marketable personality on the continent, as the show is known to launch prominent careers in arts, entertainment and other supporting industries.”

    Another major development for this year’s edition of Big Brother Naija is the return of the House to Nigeria. While the location of the house has not been revealed, fans of the show have nonetheless been excited since the announcement was made earlier this year.

    Season 4 of Big Brother Naija returns to DStv and GOtv screens on Sunday, June 30 at 7pm WAT. The 24-hour show will be live on DStv channel 198 and GOtv 29 and available on all DStv packages and GOtv Max and Plus packages.

  • Why Nigerians can’t wait for Season 4 of Big Brother Naija

    Big Brother Naija, Africa’s number one reality television show, is making a highly anticipated return on June 30 and Nigerians all over the world are beyond giddy with excitement. Although the show makers, MultiChoice Nigeria, have not officially announced the theme for the new season, graphics and posters reading “Spicy Hot” have been deployed all over social media to promote the show. Apart from the show’s endless supply of drama and sheer entertainment, Big Brother Naija has been able to excite Nigerians, and Africans, in a way that no other show on this part of the Atlantic can.

    Somewhere between the colourful characters the show makers select every year and the odd but interesting tasks that the Housemates have to engage in, therein lies the secret of the Big Brother Naija magic formula. One distinct element that Big Brother Naija possesses, is that it has made its success elusive and many times unattainable for copycats and knock offs is its ever-changing nature.

    Season after season, the show changes in a way that is unique to its cause but without losing its identity. It’s an intricate and delicate balance that MultiChoice has mastered and been able to recreate successfully for three seasons. The first season of Big Brother Naija first aired back in 2006. Much like many first attempts, season one was a glorious run of trail, error and lessons learned. When the show came back in 2017 with the “See GoBBe” theme, it was clear that the producers had done their homework, made some necessary adjustments and were ready for business.

    2018’s Double Wahala edition was a result a seamless broadcast of entertainment which had Nigerians everywhere hooked. From classrooms to beer parlors, nail salons, Bible study meetings and social media, Big Brother Naija content was inescapable. As hard as it is to imagine, this new season will be even more riveting and here are a couple reasons why.

    Read Also: Big Brother Naija season 4 kicks off in June

    One of the biggest criticisms of Big Brother Naija was that it was shot in South Africa, not Nigeria. The show’s producer always cited the fact that running a reality show round the clock in Nigeria was not the simplest of tasks. It would appear, however, that they’ve been able to crack the logistics code because in January, Mr. John Ugbe, the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria announced that this year’s season will take place in Nigeria.

    Big Brother Naija’s return to Nigeria has definitely set off a new level of loyalty to the show in Nigerians. A number of fan fiction conspiracy theories and jokes have emerged since the announcement as fans speculate how the show’s producers will “Nigerianize” the show as a result of the location.

    Another reason Nigerians are more excited for this year’s edition of Big Brother Naija than they’ve ever been is the audition process. Multitudes of hopefuls turned up for Big Brother Naija auditions all over the country earlier this year which definitely raises the stakes for the show’s producers because it means they have a bigger pool to fish in. This year’s audition process also featured the first online audition.

    Apart from the over 5, 000 who showed up at venues for audition, MultiChoice also held online auditions. This elaborate selection process has created a lot of buzz about who the lucky men and women in the Big Brother house will be. This is because at the end of the day, Big Brother Naija is about the people who inhabit the house and how much they resonate with the viewers.

    If we’ve learned anything from fans of Efe or even Tobi and Cee-C, it is that Nigerians love an unlikely hero and an underdog they can root for. Nigerians have gotten so passionate about their favourite housemate that they’ve organized themselves and bought gifts and hosted parties for them upon their exit from the house. That’s the true magic of Big Brother Naija at the end of the day – looking at your television screen and seeing yourself in someone you’ve never met. In a day and age when representation matters more than ever, Big Brother Naija has filled a unique space in the hearts of Nigerians – the desire to be seen.

  • Beyond the voice of biggie

    As Big Brother Naija reality show is about to enter another season, one of the myths of the Big Brother show is the voice of the  all-seeing instructor called Biggie. He is to be heard, imagined, but not to be seen; neither by the housemates nor fans of the show.

    The curious case of this stern and sometimes genial personality, one could liken to that of Nigeria’s mask-styled Afrocentric singer, Bisade Ologunde, aka Lagbaja, who separates career from his person.

    But just as some people have bumped into the singer without his mask, many would have met Biggie without knowing he is the one.

    Such celebrity status gratifies the personality financially, but painfully, conceals stardom.

    Those who think they know Biggie may just be wrong, because the organisers go the miles to conceal his identity. Not even the housemates who only build a mental image of him, going by their daily interaction and some feel of intimacy.

    Indeed, Big Brother is all you need to know of him. He is just a voice.

    Those who follow the show closely would tell you that each time you think you have Biggie figured out; he takes an entirely different direction.

    Recall a task given to housemates few seasons ago, whereby they were asked to imagine what Biggie is. The outcome was an interesting exercise.

    Efe came up with a picture depicting Biggie as a faceless, yet ubiquitous person who sees everything. Debie Rise thought he was a father figure who is warm and stern at the same time, while TTT drew a faceless, yet omnipresent person. Uriels’ imagination was that of a man who wore glasses and was part of the beard gang, while TBoss depicted him as a Cyclops with one eye that could see everything. She even gave him a funny hairdo. Marvis on the other hand merely scrawled the word ‘Big Brother’ and perched a crown at the end of the Big, while Kemen’s picture was a bit confusing. The only visible thing on it was the Big Brother logo.

    Read Also: BBNaija season 4 premieres on June 30

    Listening to why they had pictured him the way they did, Big Brother commended housemates and told them that the Big Brother house was also a forum for continuous and constant learning as well as an avenue for showcasing their creativity.

    Indeed, the housemates were all correct; Biggie was everything they ever painted, even more than they ever imagined.

    Fast forward to last year’s show, colleagues were quick to remind Alex that she would see Leo again, after the former appeared to be crying her heart out. ‘No one has died,” one of them told her. With this, I imagine why colleagues cry when their close pals are evicted in a show where none of them would remain forever. And I thought of the outside world as some heaven, and the Big Brother House a kind of earth.

    Imagine 20 housemates as creations that occupy the earth in this show when it starts on June 30, 2019. As the show progresses, they must ‘die’ one after another in what is called eviction. They cry freely for their close pals, but are consoled that they will meet outside the show to part no more. Imagine how Leo was looking when he joined Ebuka on stage after his eviction. Looking at Alex from the screen as she cried uncontrollably, he said she was the reason he was feeling sober; in essence, his grieve was not for losing the prize money. Imagine how our departed ones look down at us, unable to come back, unable to touch or talk back to us… And just as we talk about the judgment day, the society, the fans, already have their ways of judging these housemates, and some will be stunned by other realities when they come out. The prize money is the earthly reward, how the society receives each housemate, and the fortune they make as a result of their three-month sojourn is the real reward of the ‘judgement day’.

    I look forward to the reality of another Big Brother Naija in its usual edutainment form.

  • Big Brother Naija Season 4 to start June, says Multichoice

    Pay television channel, Multichoice Nigeria, has said the Season 4 of its reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, which kicks off in June, will be filmed in Nigeria.

    Announcing the return of the reality TV show on Sunday, Multichoice said this year’s edition has the theme: Forget Wahala.

    It said Ebuka Obi-Uchendu will return as the show host for the third time, adding that the reality TV show was scheduled to be filmed in some other countries as well.

    Multichoice Nigeria had teased the audience with a possible theme for the fourth edition, Forget Wahala, on May 2.

    The first edition was tagged Big Brother Nigeria, while second edition had the theme, See Gobe; then the third edition was tagged Double Wahala.

    Auditions for the fourth season held in February, while online auditions held in March with the audience voting for one housemate to join the members of the house.

  • Big Brother Naija season 4 kicks off in June

    Pay television channel, Multichoice Nigeria, says season 4 of its reality TV show, Big Brother Naija will kick off in June, and it will be filmed in Nigeria.

    Announcing the return of the reality TV show on Sunday, Multichoice said the 2019 edition was themed – “Forget Wahala”.

    It said that Ebuka Obi-Uchendu would return as the show host for the third time, adding that the reality TV show was scheduled to be filmed in some other countries as well.

    Read Also: Facts about Big Brother Naija Fourth Season

    Multichoice Nigeria had earlier teased the audience with a possible theme for the fourth edition, ‘Forget Wahala.’ on Friday May 2.

    The first edition was tagged Big Brother Nigeria, while second edition had the theme, ‘See Gobe,’ then the third edition was tagged ‘Double Wahala.’.

    Auditions for the fourth season held in February, while online auditions held in March with the audience voting for one housemate to join the members of the house.

     

    NAN

     

  • Big Brother Naija provides entertainment, opportunities, Nigerians say

    REALITY television show, Big Brother Naija, provides entertainment and opportunities, Nigerians have said in a report by Plaqad Limited.

    Nigerians also said the show was polarising, enriching and also was a source of empowerment.

    The report was presented during the MultiChoice panel session at 2019 edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NEC Live.)

    Present at the event were CEO MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; Executive Head Content, MultiChoice Nigeria; Busola Tejumola, Media Personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu; Ex BBNaija housemates, Tobi Bakre and Channel Director, M-Net, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu.

    The report stated that the show while airing was the most watched programme on television compared to the Englsh Premier League or Christian music concert, The Experience.

    “61.5% of respondents say they would rather watch Big Brother Naija than the English Premier League, or popular Christian music concert, The Experience

    20.5% preferred ‘The Experience’,” said the report.

    “17.9% say they would rather watch a premier league match.”

    The report also found out that “70% of viewers love Big Brother Naija for its strong entertainment credentials while 6% say it is educative.”

    Speaking at the event, Ugbe said: “As soon as a housemate leaves the #BBNaija house, we make sure they meet with psychologists who will bring them back to reality and prepare them for the outside.”

    Ugbe said that to them at Multichoice, BBNaija is not seen as a talent show.

    “With #BBNaija you don’t have to win to be successful; case point – Ebuka.”

    Former housemate, Tobi Bakre, also noted that the show was life-changing for him.

    “I got into #BBNaija because I wanted to change my career path and when I left the house, there were people ready to try me at everything I wanted to try,” he said.

    “The show exceeded my expectations. I went into the #BBNaija house with about 25,000 followers and came out with about 300,000 followers.”

    Reacting on what informs selection at auditions, Busola Tejumola said: “There is no right or wrong way to present yourself at #BBNaija auditions; we just want people to be themselves.”

  • HOW ‘BIG BROTHER NAIJA’ CONTRIBUTES TO THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

    THE fourth season of Big Brother Naija will be held in Nigeria. This will be the second time the popular reality show will hold in the country. The first edition was in Ikeja GRA, Lagos in 2006.  That edition featured Katung, Francisca, Ify, Sandy, Frank, Joseph and Helen. It also had Ebuka, who has been the anchor for the last two seasons, Gideon, Maureen, Joan, Chinedu, Yinka, and Ichemeta.

    But after a ten-year hiatus, the second edition tagged See GoBBe held in South Africa in 2017 and featured an all-Nigerian housemate such as Efe, Tboss, Bisola, Soma, Gifty, Uriel, Debbie-Rise, and Kemen. Others are Bassey, Bally, Miyonse, Marvis, and Thin Tall Tony.

    During the Double Wahala edition, as the 2018 season was tagged, there were numerous calls for the return of the reality show to the country. Viewers took to social media to state their displeasure about a Nigerian show holding in a foreign country, thereby enriching them.

    Even the Nigerian government weighed in with the Minister of Information and Culture directing the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to determine whether Multi-Choice, by shooting the show in South Africa, had breached the Nigerian Broadcasting Code in any way.

    This year, Nigerians were appeased when Multichoice announced that BBNaija was coming back to Nigeria.  Speaking on its return, Martin Mabutho, the Chief Customer officer of Multichoice Nigeria had this to say: “It made sense that we bring it here. The first one we did was See GoBBe, and Double Wahala last year eclipsed See GoBBe …it was completely flawless. Now at that state, we said there’s no doubt that bringing the show to Nigeria would be the right decision. It would be worth the investment and it’s exciting for us. Corporate Nigeria and sponsors have latched onto it in a big way so, in my view, it’s going to be bigger than all the shows we have ever done.”

    So, what does this homecoming mean for Nigerians economically?

    The show while focused primarily on entertainment has a multiplier effect that resonates across industries and value chains with significant impact on the nation’s GDP which is currently worth $397.472 billion.

    The gains accrue in sectors as far-flung as entertainment and telecoms, fashion and hospitality, tourism and media with significant opportunities for local and international brands to reach a continental-wide audience and a key demographic group. For instance, last year it was revealed that 170 million votes were cast in the course of the season providing huge revenue earnings for the telecom providers. The winner is determined via votes which can be cast through text messages or online. Votes via text cost N30 each. Conservatively speaking, if 10% of the 170million votes which was cast last year were done via SMS, that’s 30 multiplied by 17million!

    A show like Big Brother Naija requires an army of cameramen, and technicians of various stripes to get made. These crew members are quartered and catered too. Add to that number DJs, artists and the media who are flown in to perform and cover the event especially eviction weekend. They are lodged in hotels. The show runs for 3 months, so each week, hotels see an influx of artists and their company, media and their crew, and DJs who jam at the parties.

    This season’s BBNaija will be bringing to jobs to Nigerians. Starting with the building of the set – in the past, the organisers of the reality show cited the impracticality of duplicating sets as one of the reasons for hosting the show in South Africa. But with this new development, it means Nigerians will be earning some cool cash from the set building for the show.

    MultiChoice has always maintained that the production crew of the BBNaija show is 90% Nigerian. Hopefully, with the return of the show to the country, the number will peak at 100%.

    Production crews are vital to the realisation of the show. Someone has to set the camera and hidden microphones that put the housemates under constant surveillance. There is the content producer that scripts the direction of the show for each season.

    Makeup artists and costume designers will also experience a boost in business as they will be contracted to clothe the host and the housemates.

    More apparent is how BBNaija empowers its housemates through the fame they get from being on the show, giving them a springboard to launch careers in the Nigerian showbiz industry. Easy examples are Ebuka Obi Uchendu who has parlayed his Big Brother stint into a lucrative career as a television host and Gideon Okeke who is a household name even though he is not a Nollywood staple.

    All in all, Big Brother Naija’s return to the Motherland is a step in the right direction for Nigerians with evident gains for the economy.

  • BBNaija to hold reunion for 2018 housemates

    Ahead of the opening of the 2019 edition of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), organizers have announced plans to hold a reunion for its 2018 housemates.

    Multichoice Nigeria made the announcement after it opened the dedicated channel of the reality TV show a few weeks back.

    A short clip, posted on Instagram, from the upcoming reunion, Ifu Ennada is seen in a rage while Alex tries to calm her down and a security aide takes charge.

    Also, the host for three editions, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is seen intervening alongside security personnel.

    Read Also: BBNaija concludes online audition

    The `Double Wahala’ season was one of the editions characterised with so much drama, love, and tactics.

    Double Wahala which means double trouble lived up to its true meaning with the pairing of the housemates.

    Highlights of the double Wahala included Cee-C and Tobi’s on and off relationship; fights between Alex & Cee-c; Anto and Lolu’s casual relationship.

    Also, was the love tangos between TeddyA and Bambam; Miracle and Nina.

    The edition was won by Miracle Igbokwe.

    NAN

     

  • BBNaija: Remembering Tobi Bakre, Cee-C, Uriel’s journey to stardom

    Season 4 of the hugely popular Big Brother Naija reality TV show is due back on our screens this year according to organizers of the show, MultiChoice Nigeria. In just three months since this was revealed, the show – and all that it represents – has generated a lot of excitement and frenzy among viewers who are anticipating the next stars that will emerge from this competition.

    Speaking about stars – no matter what side of the divide you sit on – you will admit that BBNaija is a great talent factory where stars are made. By just becoming one of the housemates on the show, you can be propelled to heights unimagined and unlock doors to many opportunities. With the help of a ‘Big Brother’, ex-housemates achieve a boost in their career trajectories which would have hitherto taken years to achieve.

    For instance, pre BBNaija season 3 Double Wahala, Tobi Bakre wasn’t a household name. It was in fact his older brother Femi Bakre, the founder of Kraks, a comedy brand with over 2 million followers across social media platforms, who had some level of popularity.

    Tobi was a low-key guy who worked in a bank and took up photography as a ‘side hustle’. He was about your average Nigerian youth who had dreams of making it big and making his mark in the creative industry. Those hopes and dreams took a big leap when he went into the BBNaija house. Although he did not win, emerging second runner-up was in no way a small feat. He has since risen to become one of the most liked personalities in the Nigerian social media space recording a spike in followership by 450% since the show ended, as he revealed in an interview with The Guardian. In real life, his new-found fame fetched him some mouth-watering deals with big consumer brands including Unilever, Amstel Malta and Jumia. He has also taken up some acting gigs and is currently the star of one of Africa Magic’s shows, Hustle. Speaking on his time on Big Brother Naija, Tobi says it helped him discover some skills he was oblivious of such as being able to create things with his hands. “It (BBNaija) helped me recognize some of my talents actually not just to myself, but to the ever-growing audience. That kind of sets you on the path already”, he was quoted to have said in an interview.

    When Cynthia Nwadiora aka Cee-C stepped on stage and made her way into the BBNaija Double Wahala house, no one envisaged the firebrand she would be! Cee-C was unarguably the most controversial of the lot and she didn’t care whose ox was gored as she made known her views and opinions on subject matters – and fellow housemates. After 85 eventful days in the house, she came in second place, missing the number one spot by a few votes. Cee-C, a lawyer, worked as an outdoor advertising practitioner and was relatively unknown before going into the BBNaija house. Today, not only does she have 1.4million followers (and counting) on Instagram, she has become a fashion influencer and has worked with brands like Nairabet, Amstel Malta, Huawei Mobile and House of Lunettes. She recently launched her sportswear line, Cegar, which has so far been a major hit among her fanbase. Hate her or love her, you cannot deny her presence in the social media influencer space. She reportedly charges an average of N500,000 to advertise for brands on social media and her followers which she refers to as ‘spartans’ make a good study of celebrity fan love and loyalty. She is forever grateful to the platform BBNaija presented because according to her, “I probably would have never gotten elsewhere!”

    In 2017, Uriel Oputa was an upcoming musician who needed the big platform that Big Brother Naija presented. During her time in the BBNaija See Gobbe house, Uriel was popular for her melodramatic yet entertaining diary sessions. After finishing in 9th position, Uriel bagged several endorsements and hosting gigs for some big brands such as Maggi, PayPorte, Pedini – Bosch Nigeria, Peak Milk etc. She currently has over 800 thousand followers on Instagram, a thriving wig business and is still a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.

    Perhaps the most fascinating thing about these ex-housemates is that none took the prize money home. They all dropped out of the competition at different stages and yet are celebrated successes in today’s pop culture. It goes without saying that the BBNaija platform is one that offers a plethora of opportunities.