In an electrifying media briefing held on Tuesday in Lagos, the stage was set for the ninth season of Big Brother Naija, Africa’s most popular reality TV show. Hosted by the charismatic Uti Nwachukwu, the event had prominent players in the Multichoice media space present.
The CEO of West Africa Multichoice, John Ugbe, the Executive Head of Content and Channels in charge of West Africa Multichoice, Dr Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head of Corporate Affairs, West Africa Multichoice, Caroline Oghuma, the Executive Head of Marketing West Africa Multichoice, Tope Oshunkeye, were all in attendance.
Tejumola set the tone for the evening with her welcoming remarks, saying, “Welcome to another roller coaster season. Big Brother has gone beyond the realm of TV. It is, without a doubt, the biggest reality TV show in Africa. Over the years, it has evolved into a platform that not only entertains but also generates intense conversations and highlights societal issues. Every season has brought a blend of unique excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments, and I am proud to say that this season will be no different.”
She revealed that this season boasts a stellar lineup of sponsors, with Guinness as the gold sponsor. The sponsors include Munch It, Colgate, Airtel, Dano, Amatem, Nexus Appliances, Travel Beta, Morning Fresh, and Innoson Motors.
During the Q&A segment at the briefing, Tejumola assured that while the core format remains unchanged, fans can expect plenty of twists and turns from Biggie and for the first time in Big Brother Naija history, housemates will enter the house as “pairs”.
“The selection criteria haven’t changed,” she explained. “What we asked for this year was for pairs to enter, which is a first. Individuals usually enter as singles, but this year, we asked for people to come with their friends, besties, family members, wives, husbands, partners, to enter the show together as a pair. That was our selection criteria. Everything else is the personality of the pairs that we auditioned. The format itself remains the same, but as you know, they are cranking up the creativity this season.”
This season promises an even bigger spectacle, with a grand prize worth ₦100 million and a brand-new SUV. The house design has been completely revamped, offering a fresh and exciting environment for the contestants. This year also introduces a new and improved DSTV app, enhancing the viewing experience and making it easier for fans to support their favorite housemates. Voting for contestants will be conducted on the DSTV app as well as the website. Voting limits will be allotted based on the subscription package of individual viewers.
Oshunkeye announced a promotional offer for DSTV and GoTV decoders. For the duration of the season, DSTV decoders are available for N22,000, while GoTV decoders are priced at N19,900. This promotion will run until the end of the season on October 6.
Oshunkeye also introduced an exciting viewer engagement game called “Lock-in.” This game will allow viewers to predict the winners of immunity challenges, with each correct prediction earning N1 million.
Adding to the excitement, “The Buzz,” an exclusive Big Brother Naija show hosted by Toke Makinwa, will return this season, promising behind-the-scenes insights and more.
Big Brother Naija season 9 is set to premiere on Sunday, 28th of July 2024 at 7pm, West African Time on all Africa Magic channels, followed by the live show on channel 198 on DSTV and channel 48 on GoTV. It will run for 71 days, with the finale happening on October 6, 2024. The theme of the season will also be unveiled on the night of the premiere, guiding viewers on what the season would feel like and what to expect. The show will be available for streaming on Showmax.
The organisers of the reality show have however promised a pre-season event at Ikeja City Mall (ICM), on the 20th of July, 2024, offering fans a unique Big Brother experience. “We’re going to set up a house, almost like a Big Brother house, and we’re already calling on fans of the show to join us and experience that. We are not doing that alone, we’re also doing that with our sponsors, Guinness and Smirnoff and a whole lot of them where you get to experience the moment of being in the house with cameras, party time, just being in the house and experiencing it.”
With all these exciting developments, Big Brother Naija Season 9 is set to captivate audiences once again, delivering unparalleled entertainment and drama. The countdown to July 28th has begun, and fans can hardly wait to see what surprises Biggie has in store.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi, Melissa Enoch
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