The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on Tuesday unveiled the four television stations that would broadcast live the Rio Olympic Games to Nigerians at the NOC board room of the National Stadium, Lagos.
The stations are Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Silverbird Communications, DAAR Communications and Smooth Promotions aka Hip TV, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The President of NOC, Habu Gumel, said that the selected stations had consistently done an excellent job of broadcasting live sporting and entertainment events.
Gumel said that the collaboration is good news for sports fans in Nigeria.
“The stations we have carefully selected are renowned media organisations with which we are proud to have worked with for the Games.
“ We are delighted that they will continue as our partners beyond Rio 2016, providing fantastic coverage of the Games and related programmes for free to the widest audience in Nigeria across a variety of media platforms
“From a commercial perspective, this model is a win-win situation which will help the NOC to realise funds to support the activities of the Olympic Movement in Nigeria.
“Broadcast coverage is the principal means for people around the world to experience the magic of Games,’’ he told the gathering for the unveiling.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the owner of the global broadcast rights for the Games.
“This include broadcast on television, radio, mobile and internet platforms and is responsible for allocating Olympic broadcast rights throughout the world through negotiation of rights agreement.
“The NOC has acquired the free-to-air broadcast rights across all media platforms for Nigeria territory,’’ he said.
He added that the targets were reaching the widest possible audience, expand sports coverage, and promote the Olympic values such as excellence, friendship and respect.
Other targets, according to him, are attracting a youth audience, exploiting multiple media options and building long term relationships.
Gumel, assured the television stations that the NOC would provide all the necessary things required to make a hitch-free broadcast.
“Stations will be granted access to the Olympic archives to promote broadcast. The NOC will organise workshops to ensure that the broadcast partners follow the Olympics Charter principles of broadcast,’’ he said.
NAN reports that stations will broadcast pre-games, post-games, live entertainment at the Games, Rio lifestyle, 170 hours of live and highlights programmes customised for the African audience in English.
Live broadcast times are 4-7 p.m., 8-11 p.m. and 12-3 p.m. with the seven sports Nigeria is taking part in having live coverage.
“At least six hours coverage on each day event and full coverage of opening and closing ceremony.
“The sports are football, basketball, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, rowing and boxing,’’ Gumel said.
The NTA, General-Manager Sports, Abdurahman Ibn-Mohammed, said that he was delighted to be part of the coverage.
Ibn-Mohammed said that NTA had been showing the Games since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
“We are glad to be associated with this innovation in broadcasting. This is the first time the NOC is taking the bull by the horn.
“We are glad to be acknowledged by our best achievements. It is a good development to be collaborating with other television stations to put smiles on Nigerian faces.
“I am glad that football qualified for the Games and likewise basketball,’’ he said.
The CEO Hip Tv, Ayo Animashaun, said that he was excited about the partnership, adding that the Games were a big deal that required to be taken seriously.
“We are happy to be accorded the right to capture exciting moments from Brazil. We will be bringing behind the scenes movements to Nigerians,’’ he said.
The Secretary-General, NOC, Tunde Popoola, urged the media to portray the aims of the NOC to Nigerians.
Popoola said that they should help in enlightening Nigerians on how to watch all the actions on their television stations.
“We at the NOC enjoy the criticism from the media; it helps us to stand on our toes. Please help to tell Nigerians that they won’t be missing the Olympics,’’ he said.
