John Ugbe, the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, has doubled down on the strategy that producers of the hit reality series, Big Brother Naija have used to distribute screen time among the housemates, saying that it’s “not something that is possible in entertainment,” for the housemates to get equal screen time.
The show has consistently come under heavy criticism from previous housemates who have said they didn't get enough screen time for the audience to know them better or have a nuanced opinion on their character. Fans of the show have also criticised it for the matter, accusing the producers of picking favourites.
“I don't think that is something that is actually possible in entertainment,” he told Pulse Nigeria when asked how screen time will be shared among housemates when the show returns for its ninth season next week. The new season will run from July 28 to October 6, 2024. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu will return as the host. Toke Makinwa will also return as the host of the weekly recap show on Showmax, Big Brother Naija Buzz.
“It's like a movie and you want equal time for every actor in the movie. I think as much as possible the cameras tend to follow a lot of activity. So if you're sleeping and some people are awake, we’re not just going to put the camera on somebody sleeping for one hour because we want to equalise,” he said.
He added that BBNaija is a show about “being yourself,” saying that some housemates who have been authentically themselves have gone on to “do very well.”
“It is an entertaining show and I think as viewers at home, we want to see as much entertainment as possible. It links back to the question of what are the criteria [for selecting housemates]. This is a show about just being yourself, as naturally as possible, and we see a lot of people who have been themselves come out to do very well,” he said.