EMCOAN set for CEO seminar, digitization switch

The Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN), umbrella body of chief executives officers (CEOs) of content owners in Nigeria— EMCOAN is actually responsible for over 85 per cent of content/programmes on TV, radio and online in Nigeria — is set to hold its 2016 CEOs Business Seminar on May 5.

According to EMCOAN President, Mrs. Debbie Odutayo, the seminar is designed to prepare members for the challenges ahead. She added, “it is equally aimed at ensuring that the body is involved in programmes that could empower members, as well as place them strategically in the comity of content owners globally.”

She averred: “So, as a body, we are prepared to support and add value to the ongoing Digitization Migration Process and the MOPICON Bill, the body is also concerned about the capacity building of its members.”

Many see the seminar as a good step in the right direction, as there can be no effective switchover if the content owners are not carried along in the process.

Attendees at the seminar will have opportunity of tapping from the reservoir of knowledge of seasoned brand experience manager and media strategist discussing the following topics: Branding/Innovation: The Key to success for every business by Dr. Ken Onyeali, Managing Director/CEO, Mediacom Nigeria and Content that can fly by Mr. Jonadab Egbowon, Media Strategist/Planner, Starcom MediaVest Group.

In the word of the chairman, Programme Planning Committee, Mr. Paul Igwe, “our facilitators are experts, knowledgeable in the area of ‘Media Strategy, Innovations, Branding and Planning’. They will add great value to the business sense of one and all, especially the promising members of our association who require the guidance and path-breaking ideas to lead their way through the tough competition in the media industry today.”

RECALL that the body has been in the forefront of the campaign for Digitization Migration in the Broadcasting Industry in Nigeria and has been interfacing with the Ministry of Information and Culture on the best ways to move the industry forward.

Digitization worldwide demonstrates that industry and political considerations prevail in the discussions concerning the planning and the implementation of the digital switchover policies.

Regulators in Nigeria hitherto failed to recognise the inherent opportunities of using readily available expertise at its disposal just as consultation across board were not wide enough.

Odutayo had particularly lamented the way and manner in which members of EMCOAN were left out of the entire process even with its strategic position as a body of TV and radio programme producers.

It is hoped that in the next few months Nigeria can join the likes of Ghana, which appears to have gone ahead and readily serves as benchmark—where a simulcast service is run by TV stations such that a set-up box could easily receive more than 20 DTT channels; as well as Tanzania which has also made significant progress in the African television industry since it migrated to digital in December 2012 and fully establishing it in April 2015.