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FAQ
GENERAL
Why was Nigeria chosen for this latest production of Big Brother?
As the most populous nation in Africa with a continental influence, a vast economic sector and a vibrant television industry, Big Brother Nigeria is the ideal home for one of the world’s most successful reality TV programs.
Why is Big Brother Nigeria a milestone production?
It is the first time ever that a Nigerian version of the show will be created featuring Nigerian housemates and using a Nigerian crew.
What is the prize for the winner of Big Brother Nigeria?
The winner of Big Brother Nigeria will walk away with a grand prize of USD100 000.
How long will Big Brother Nigeria last?
The program will run for 91 days starting March 5 with a two-hour, live, televised launch and ending on June 4 with a two-hour, live, televised finale.
How many countries in Africa will watch Big Brother Nigeria?
Over 40 countries across the continent will watch Big Brother Nigeria.
Why did M-Net decide to screen Big Brother Nigeria and not a second edition of Big Brother Africa?
The decision to create and screen Big Brother Nigeria is in line with M-Net’s commitment to constantly innovate its reality television productions. After the success of Big Brother Africa, the desire to innovate the series once more led to the decision to create the first ever Nigerian Big Brother production which M-Net is confident will draw pan-Africa audiences for the same reasons that Big Brother Africa did – for its entertainment value and its ability to showcase ordinary Africans from different walks of life.
TELEVISION
Where & when can I watch Big Brother Nigeria on DStv?
Audiences in East and West Africa can watch a weekly Monday night nomination show, a Wednesday night highlights show and a Sunday night eviction show on M-Net. Audiences in Southern Africa can watch the Monday night nomination show and the Sunday night eviction show on DStv Channel 37. In addition, all DStv premium audiences can watch Big Brother Nigeria for 20 hours daily (06:00 – 02:00 CAT) on DStv Channel 37. And finally, the Big Brother Nigeria weekly highlights program will also be shown on AfricaMagic every Saturday evening.
Why will DStv channel 37 not be seen for 24 hours a day?
Due to the need for routine maintenance of equipment and upkeep of facilities in an all-new Big Brother house, Big Brother Nigeria will be screened for 20 hours daily on DStv Channel 37. The four hours off-air will be during the program’s quiet time in the early hours of the morning.
Will DStv audiences in East and West Africa see more Big Brother Nigeria coverage than DStv audiences elsewhere on the continent?
Everyone will see the same amount of Big Brother Nigeria coverage but on different channels.
Will a local Nigerian free-to-air channel screen Big Brother Nigeria?
At this time, only M-Net and DStv channel 37 will screen Big Brother Nigeria.
Will Big Brother Nigeria be age-restricted on DStv Channel 37?
DStv Channel 37 will be an age-restricted channel. In addition, DStv viewers can access parental control options on their decoders.
If I do not have M-Net and/or DStv Channel 37. How do I get access to these channels?
Please contact your local MultiChoice office for details on how to get and stay connected to M-Net and DStv. M-Net and DStv Channel 37, which Big Brother Nigeria are screening, are available to DStv subscribers on the DStv premium package.
I do not live in Nigeria? Why should I watch Big Brother Nigeria?
Reality TV productions around the globe have found audiences outside of their physical, geographical borders for several reasons. The main reason however is because the shows offer the opportunity to watch ordinary men and women in unusual situations to see how they interact with each other and how they react to differing experiences. The results are unscripted, real accounts of human behaviour and are entertaining, emotional, provocative and enlightening.
PRODUCTION
Who is producing Big Brother Nigeria (for screening on M-Net)?
Big Brother Nigeria is being produced by two Nigerian production companies – Storm Vision Limited and Endemol Nigeria, whose parent company Endemol, owns the rights to this reality TV format.
Who will be Big Brother in this edition of the show?
A mystery Big Brother will be selected in Nigeria shortly. As in all Big Brother shows around the world, the identity of Big Brother is a mystery and will remain so before, during and after the show.
Where will Big Brother Nigeria be filmed?
Big Brother Nigeria will be filmed on location in Nigeria.
How many crew will work on Big Brother Nigeria?
Almost 100 crew will work on Big Brother Nigeria, including 80 Nigerians and 16 South Africans. The additional South African crew will share their experience gained from working on previous editions of Big Brother.
How did the production teams prepare for Big Brother Nigeria? Was any research undertaken to understand audience requirements and cultural sensitivities?
The production teams Storm Vision Limited and Endemol Nigeria prepared extensively for Big Brother Nigeria by engaging with a cross-section of the Nigerian public in a series of forum discussions to understand audience preferences, cultural diversity and public perception. The nature of the forums (which included media, subscribers, TV industry professionals, etc) was consultative, investigative and interactive.
Other than the housemates being Nigerian and the house being situated in Nigeria, how will the show be Nigerian?
There will be a variety of Nigerian personalities who will visit the Big Brother Nigeria house during the show’s duration including musicians and performers. In addition, the show’s presenters are both Nigerian.
PRESENTERS
Who are the show’s presenters?
The presenters for Big Brother Nigeria are radio personality Olisa Adibua and marketing professional Michelle Dede.
How were the presenters’ chosen?
The presenters were chosen after an audition session in Nigeria in early February 2006.
HOUSEMATES
Who was eligible to enter Big Brother Nigeria?
Any legal, permanent resident of Nigeria over the age of 21 was eligible to enter Big Brother Nigeria.
Who was responsible for the selection for the Big Brother Nigeria housemates?
The selection process for Big Brother Nigeria was run by the Nigerian production teams Storm Vision Limited and Endemol Nigeria.
What kind of person were the selection teams looking for as a housemate for BB Nigeria?
Easygoing, fun loving, open-minded, tolerant and humorous.
How many housemates will there be in Big Brother Nigeria?
There will be no more than twelve or less housemates in the Big Brother Nigeria house at any one time.
How many male and how many female contestants will Big Brother Nigeria have?
Big Brother Nigeria will have both male and female contestants and if possible, these two genders will be balanced in the house.
Are the Big Brother Nigeria housemates good examples of the people living in Nigeria?
Storm Vision Limited and Endemol Nigeria were looking for entertaining personalities to be housemates on Big Brother Nigeria. People who can keep audiences interested and who are able to tolerate living within the Big Brother house. However the housemates are not ambassadors for Nigeria, nor were they intended to be. They are a cross-section of people with personal beliefs, personal opinions and personal motivations.
Will each housemate have an eviction party? Will viewers be able to see it?
Yes, each Big Brother Nigeria housemate will have an eviction party. This party will be held on the Wednesday night after their eviction at The Vault nightclub in Lagos. Tickets for the event will be sold (watch DStv Channel 37 for information on ticket sales). In addition, the eviction parties will be filmed and will be broadcast to DStv audiences across the continent on Channel O (every Saturday after a housemate eviction).
Will the housemates all speak different languages during the show and if so, how will I be able to understand them?
Because Big Brother Nigeria is a continental production, it is not possible to make allowances for more than one language in the show. For this reason the language of the house is English. Further colloquial language variations (i.e. pidgin English) will be limited in the Big Brother Nigeria house.
Will the housemates be given any set activity whilst they are in the Big Brother Nigeria house?
Yes, the Big Brother Nigeria housemates will be given several set tasks (at least one every week) by Big Brother. The housemate’s success at completing this task, as required, may earn them a reward.
HOUSE
Will there be nudity and sex in the Big Brother Nigeria house? And will M-Net show nudity and sex to viewers of Big Brother Nigeria?
M-Net and DStv's Channel 37 will use the same guidelines regarding sex and nudity as it did in Big Brother Africa. There will be some semi-nudity screened. When the housemates are dressed in swimming attire and the like. There will be no full frontal nudity. There will also be no explicit coverage of any content of a sexual nature. In addition, Channel 37 is a rated channel and will carry an appropriate age restriction; and throughout its duration Big Brother Nigeria will be handled with sensitivity and discretion. However audiences are reminded that Big Brother is created specifically for viewing by adult audiences.
Will there be Shower Hour in Big Brother Nigeria?
There is no Shower Hour. However there is a camera in the shower of the Big Brother Nigeria house but this camera will not be switched on when a housemate is showering. This camera will only be activated should the shower be used for any other activity other than showering (i.e. housemates using the shower area to discuss which other housemate should be nominated in a certain week). Other cameras in the bathroom may show the housemate in the process of showering but only through an opaque shower door.
How will the Big Brother Nigeria house deal with the issues of differing religions?
It is one of the prerequisites of joining the house that all members are tolerant, and try not to give offence to their fellow housemates in terms of religious practice. Serious infringements of this will earn a warning or expulsion from Big Brother Nigeria.
What happens if there is violence in or around the house? How will Big Brother Nigeria handle this?
There is 24 hour monitoring of the house and there are strict security measures in place to ensure an immediate response. Further serious violent action carries with it the penalty of immediate eviction from the house.
Will the housemates be permitted to discuss global, continental and local politics?
The housemates can discuss matters of a political nature but these discussions cannot advocate hatred. Any housemate inciting violence through hate speech may face expulsion from the Big Brother Nigeria house.
Will the housemates be permitted to discuss matters of a religious nature?
All housemates will be allowed to practice their religion in the house. However the housemates are not allowed to give offence to any religious group or community. The housemates are not allowed to enter into religious discussions. The housemates are not allowed to advocate religious hate speech or violence.
Will bad language be permissible in the house?
A continued use of profanity may result in Big Brother requesting that a housemate modifies his/her behaviour. No blasphemy will be tolerated in the Big Brother Nigeria house.
How many cameras and microphones are there in the Big Brother Nigeria house?
There are 27 cameras (including 4 infra-red cameras) and 68 microphones in the Big Brother Nigeria house.
How many rooms are there in the Big Brother Nigeria house?
There are two bedrooms, a lounge area, a kitchen, a bathroom and a diary room. There is also a special ‘treat’ room with limited usage and a garden. The entire floor space of the Big Brother Nigeria house is 200 square meters.
TELEPHONY
Can I send SMS messages to other Big Brother Nigeria viewers on Channel 37?
Yes, you can send SMS messages to other Big Brother Nigeria viewers on DStv Channel 37 using the relevant SMS numbers below. Please note that all messages will be moderated and any messages with profanity, hate speech, non-approved commercial messages and/or violence will not be screened on DStv channel 37.
Nigeria: 33353 (N50 per SMS)
South Africa: (R1.50 per SMS)
World: + (International SMS rate)
How long will I have to wait to see SMS on screen?
The fastest technically possible time to air is approximately 15 minutes, however this is unlikely and could easily take up to 5 hours for your message to appear depending on a number of factors, including the make of your mobile phone, network congestion and the time it takes to moderate.
VOTING
How will the nomination and eviction process work on Big Brother Nigeria?
Every Monday afternoon, the Big Brother Nigeria housemates will be ask to nominate two housemates that they would like to see leave the Big Brother Nigeria house.
The two housemates with the most nominations will be put up for eviction.
Thereafter the public will vote (via telephone & SMS) for the housemate they would most like to see leave the Big Brother Nigeria house. The voting will be opened from Monday to Sunday each week. On Sunday, the housemate with the most public votes will be evicted from the Big Brother Nigeria house. The voting is always a vote to evict except in the final week of the show where the public will vote for their favourite housemate to win. The first Big Brother Nigeria nomination show will be on March 12 and the first Big Brother Nigeria eviction show is scheduled for March 19.
How can I vote each week for Big Brother Nigeria?
Until the last voting period (in which one votes for the winner), one votes for the housemate one wishes to leave the house from those that have been nominated.
You may vote once a day online through the Big Brother Nigeria website, or by using the following numbers:
Nigeria:
SMS only the first name of the contestant you wish to vote out to: 33351 (N50 Per SMS)
Or call (International call rates apply)
South Africa:
SMS only the first name of the contestant you wish to vote out to: (R1.50 Per SMS)
Or call (VAS Rates Apply)
Rest of the world:
SMS only the first name of the contestant you wish to vote out to: (International SMS Rates)
Or call (International call rates apply)
If I am not living in Nigeria, how do I vote?
To vote, you must call and/or SMS the international voting numbers (see abvove), or cast your daily vote on the Big Brother Nigeria website.
Is there a limit to the amount of times that I can vote during Big Brother Nigeria?
Viewers can vote as often as they would by either calling in or SMSing the relevant numbers. However votes received from the same number or website user more than 100 times per week will be disregarded after the 100th vote. This is a mechanism included to rule out the possibility of ‘syndicate voting’ and to ensure that the voting process on Big Brother Nigeria remains fair.
How are the votes counted for Big Brother Nigeria?
Every vote counts as 1 vote and at the end of each week’s voting process, the housemate with the most votes received will be evicted. The only time the vote process will change is in the final vote of the show in which the most votes received will result in a winner begin selected.
Will the voting process be audited?
Yes, the voting process will be audited by the auditing company of Alexander-Forbes and the auditors will be showcased on-air during each eviction show.
OTHER
What is MultiChoice Nigeria’s role in Big Brother Nigeria?
MultiChoice Nigeria is not producing Big Brother Nigeria. MultiChoice Nigeria provides subscription services to the multi-channel, digital, pay-TV product DStv. M-Net and DStv Channel 37, which are screening Big Brother Nigeria, are available in Nigeria on the DStv premium offering.
What are the rules of Big Brother Nigeria?
Click here to read the rules.
What other initiatives/programs involving Nigerians is M-Net associated with?
Other M-Net initiatives including Nigerian participation includes MTN Gladiators, New Directions Africa, Studio 53, Nokia Face of Africa, Doctors Quarters and the general entertainment channel AfricaMagic. In addition, the family series Edge of Paradise will premiere on M-Net in April.
Why did M-Net ask people from my country to enter and to watch this show that I regard as immoral?
Statistics have shown that Big Brother 1, Big Brother 2 and Big Brother Africa were widely watched throughout the continent. Further the choice to enter the show and the choice to view the show is an individual one.
Where does the Big Brother Nigeria revenue, generated through SMS and telephone voting, go?
The revenues generated by Big Brother Nigeria’s SMS and telephone votes are split between the mobile partners, the production companies (Storm Vision Limited and Endemol Nigeria) and M-Net, as per an international television standard. The monies are utilized to offset the expense of this vast production which is resource intensive. Further revenues are also invested back into the project to ensure a high quality of product.
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