Features@ITRealms:
Preamble:
FOR some days now, there has been a message making its round
on WhatsApp among other social media plants, reports DigitalSENSE Business
News. The message urged Nigerian parents to protest the planned broadcasting of
a Transgender themed soap opera for children starting October 27, 2015 by the
DSTV Nigeria within the nation’s airwave.
The protest:
The protesters also told DigitalSENSE Business News that
DSTV has been airing an advert for “I am Jazz on their TLC Channel 172 which is
set to start showing on DSTV in Nigeria October 27.” According to protesters,
the problem is that it is a reality TV series about Jazz, a transgender kid; an
11 year old boy who has “transitioned” into a girl. They argued that this programme is not
appropriate viewing for any youth in Nigeria; let along the young children.
Therefore, the progenitors of the protest solicited support of all well-meaning
adults and parents in Nigeria to stand up to be counted in order not to destroy
the moral fibre of the nation.
“Please let’s stand up to protect our children and the moral
fibre of this country,” part of the message read. In addition, they protesters
urged Nigerians to join the campaign against DSTV on TLC channel 172 by sending
an email to the National Broadcasting Commission at info@nbc.gov.ng, and
complain on their website http://nbc.gov.ng. As
well, they urged that this message be sent to all sympathizers’ contacts,
insisting that parents must do their part to protect the children.
Nigerian parents
kicked ….
This advice was well received as an average adult chatted in
the course of this story, said they have received in excess of estimated five
(5) per 10 Nigerian adults. Reacting to this protest, a clergy, Rev. Fr. Taiwo
Emmanuel told DigitalSENSE Business News that the challenge with this protest
against DSTV is that subscribers have parental control facility to block any
channels or category of content they do not want to view.
For another respondent, known as Mazi, yes, the clergy is
right but the real question is how many viewers and parents particularly, have
the knowledge and capability to manipulate this blocking mechanism called
‘parental control.’
This position, Mazi makes it imperative to have DSTV stopped
from the source.
Mazi’s position was corroborated by Madam Rose, who declared
“… Honestly, I can’t even put on or turn off the TV in our house. I don’t know
how to operate it but my little grandson knows!” Yet, another respondent, Chuks
Dominic, who agreed with the clergy, that the issue of parents living up to the
expectation is a big issue which must be addressed only by parents themselves.
“Yes the protest is fundamental but have we also done our
bits by going beyond monthly subscription of these services merely because we
want to belong? I think we also owe it as service to God and man to do the
needful by taking time off to learn how to put on the parental control in the
devices we buy for our households,” he said, arguing that with the ongoing
digital migration in broadcasting industry globally including Nigeria, “We have
no choice. The ball seems to be in the parents’ court.”
Also reacting, Mr. Chris Uruakpa argued that the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) must continue to safeguard the Nigerian airwaves
and ensure the rights of citizens to quality broadcasting. “The NBC must
properly regulate the industry for the good of the society,” Chris Uruakpa
declared.
Parental Control
Measures:
Noteworthy is that recently, a sister regulatory
organization, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) released a research
report on Parental Control measures for mobile telecommunications networks,
which showed that over the past twenty years, Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) have changed the ways in which young people interact with
and participate in the world around them.
The increase of Internet access
points, mobile technology and the growing array of Internet-enabled devices
combined with the immense resources to be found in cyberspace provide children
and young people with unprecedented opportunities to learn, share and
communicate.
DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that the benefits of ICTs
which include the prevalence of Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) also known
as pay TV, among other things, include broader access to social services,
educational resources and health information.
Reputational damage
at stake:
Also, NCC measurement identified ICTs as helpful to
protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse since children and
families use the Internet and mobile phones to seek information and assistance,
and to report violence.
DigitalSENSE Business News further reports that despite the
profound benefits of the ICTs to children and young people, even so they are
susceptible to a number of risks through using ICTs. Children could be exposed
to inappropriate content for their age, including contacts with potential
perpetrators of sexual abuse. They can suffer reputational damage associated
with publishing sensitive personal information online without fully comprehending
the implications of their long term digital footprint.
DSTV under
investigation by NBC over transgender channel:
The broadcast regulator in Nigeria, the National Broadcast
Commission (NBC) has commenced investigation of the allegations leveled against
the DSTV Nigeria plan to air TLC channel 172 suspected to promote transgender
programme, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.
Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Awwalu Salihu confirmed this
to DigitalSENSE Business News, saying that their attention has been drawn to
the concern shown by some members of the public about alleged plans by the TLC
channel on the DSTV to begin airing a programme, I am Jazz, the story of a
transgender child.
He also said that the Commission has since drawn the
attention of the service provider to this concern and has received firm
assurances that they will investigate, and if they confirm that the programme
is indeed promoting undesirable ideas that would offend the Nigerian public,
they would pull the plug on the programme.
The National Broadcasting Commission, he said, further
assured Nigerians that as the regulator of the industry it will continue to
safeguard Nigerian airwaves and ensure the peoples’ right to quality
broadcasting.
NBC in a press statement made available to DigitalSENSE
Business News he also said the Commission commended the concerned citizens that
raised the matter for their constructive approach to the issue, stating that it
is always ready to receive complaints from the public, and invited people to
use the complaint facilities provided on the website of the commission,
www.nbc.gov.ng, to report any unprofessional or harmful broadcast, which would
help the Commission to properly regulate the industry for the good of society.
The winner is …
Nigerians:
Just a few hours after NBC announcement on the
investigations, protesting Nigerian parents seem to have won the battle of
‘morals’ as the MultiChoice Nigeria has pulled down ‘I am Jazz’ expected to
start airing tomorrow on DSTV, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.
The Public Relations and Talent Lead at MultiChoice Nigeria,
Mr. Efosa Aiyevbomwan confirmed to DigitalSENSE Business News that they are
aware of the concerns raised by viewers across various platforms, about the
airing of “I am Jazz”, the story of a transgender child scheduled to show on
TLC, Channel 172 on 27 October 2015.
Aiyevbomwan also said that based on these concerns, they at
MultiChoice Nigeria, decided to pull off the schedule on ‘I am Jazz’ due to
show on TLC 172.”After careful consideration and wide consultation from various
stakeholders, MultiChoice informs its esteemed subscribers that the
mini-series, “I am Jazz” has been pulled off the schedule.”
Equally, Aiyevbomwan said in a press statement made
available to DigitalSENSE Business News on this matter that MultiChoice
regularly assess the impact content have on customers and reassured them that
their interests are always considered.
MultiChoice, however, pointed out that its decoders are
encrypted with the parental control feature that empowers parents with ultimate
control over what their children view. “We also encourage parents to make use
of this feature as much as possible to ensure that their children only watch
what their parents deem appropriate,” he submitted.
Conclusion:
In the overall, the protest came in handy and as Nigerians
click glasses over the pulling down of ‘I am Jazz’ it is important to note the
enabling environment created by the NBC in this campaign by being proactive
with likely complaint channels for customers of the broadcast industry
conspicuously on NBC website and via electronic mail (email).
Nigerian parents, cannot be applauded enough for taking up
this campaign and owning it as well as the nation’s media for making it a media
affair, after all society begets the kind of media they want, just as one mass
communication lecturer once put it, media cannot report on what is not
available in a given society.
Finally, the management of MultiChoice must not be left out
of commendation for listening to their teeming customers, especially in
Nigeria, for at least being attentive to the lamentations of the customer as
far as this case is concerned.
It is very important to note the parental control feature on
all payTV devices nowadays, especially the DSTV decoders and its crucial for
parents to make out time to learn how to set these controls, which of course,
the children from time to time unlock, hence, constant check is advocated.
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