…Warns against free satellite transmissions with unwholesome contents.
The National Broadcasting Commission(NBC), in Nigeria has said that Channels being transmitted by Free-To-Air satellite signals with unwholesome content into the Country, “seek to threaten our Core values and deliberately seek to undermine our unity and peace, as a country”.
The Commission which said it has monitored in recent time the transmission of Free-To-Air satellite signals with unwholesome content into the Country, urged all broadcasters transmitting Free-To-Air satellite services to encrypt all broadcasting signals on their platform.
In a statement on Thursday, the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Ekanem Antia stated that it has become necessary to remind all broadcasters or operators and users of satellite broadcasting in Nigeria of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Act which are the grand laws for broadcasting in Nigeria.
He noted that Section (2) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, states, “No person shall operate or use any apparatus or premises for the transmission of sound or vision by cable, television, radio, satellite or any other medium of broadcast from anywhere in Nigeria except under and in accordance with the provisions of this act.”
The Commission also requested all Pay TV channels to observe the rules on Decency of broadcast Content, stressing that many Pay TV channels, especially, carry very vulgar, indecent and obscene contents.
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“Broadcasters must take cognisance of the Code provisions on Watershed. The Commission warns that unclassified, vulgar and obscene musical videos will not be tolerated, henceforth”, Antia noted.
The Commission also stated that, “The Broadcaster has an obligation to ensure that musical works are suitable for broadcasting before putting them on air.”
While appreciating the efforts of Broadcasting Stations for the in-depth coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, so far, the NBC urged all Broadcasters to continue to provide efficient, professional and comprehensive service to the people based on National objectives and aspirations.