BB FANS

2.22.2006
BBNigeria

The show is to be produced by the Nigerian production team Storm Vision Limited, in association with Endemol Nigeria . Scheduled to run for 91 days, starting in March 2006, Big Brother Nigeria will involve 12 Nigerian contestants sharing one home, while 68 microphones and 27 cameras capture their lives for a continental television audience. At the end of the competition, after multiple rounds of public voting and contestant elimination, one winner will walk away with a prize of USD $100 000.

According to the Chairman of Storm Vision Limited, Obi Asika, the show will be must-watch TV. “The Big Brother concept has worked exceedingly well across the globe, with audiences tuning in to follow the romances, conflicts and joys of the contestants. I'm extremely proud that a Nigerian company is at the forefront of bringing this phenomenal TV concept to the country. We will create a production mindful of our audiences' needs and we will aim to always entertain them. I believe this production can unify Nigerians and it can give others a better understanding of Nigeria .”

He goes on to say, “We wanted to do this specific show because it takes ordinary people with no special talent and makes them the stars of the show. It's the ultimate spotlight experience – to be famous, to be noticed, to be appreciated for your abilities, your flaws, your personality, the whole package. Contestants seek this and audiences understand this - this is the appeal of Big Brother.”

Glen Marques, CEO of M-Net, agrees with Asika's outlook. In addition, he says M-Net is looking forward to continental interest in the show. “Every step we've taken, our DStv audiences in Africa have taken with us. Now with Big Brother Nigeria , we turn our attention and the attention of our continental audiences to the Nigerian landscape. Nigeria , with its dynamic pioneering spirit and growing economic presence, is the perfect home for one of the world's biggest television success stories. We are committed to this production that originates in the heart of Nigeria but will resonate across the continent.”

In addition to being filmed in Nigeria with Nigerian contestants, Big Brother Nigeria will include 80 Nigerian crew. This massive production team will operate in association with 16 South African crew.

Audiences in West and East Africa will be able to tune in for a 30-minute Monday night nomination program, a one-hour Wednesday night highlights show and a one-hour live eviction show every Sunday evening. South African viewers will be able to watch Big Brother Nigeria 20 hours a day on DStv's Channel 37.

22-02-2005
BB Nigeria

Take 12 strangers with strong personalities; lock them away from the rest of the world in a house wall-to-wall with surveillance cameras; ask them to perform daily chores, team tasks and leave them to their own devices; make them sleep in dormitories and shower on national television; ask the all-seeing public to evict one weekly and you're left with a 24-hour soap opera - and the most popular reality television phenomenon to hit planet Earth.

In 1999, the original Big Brother - based on the Orwellian concept from which the show takes its name - was broadcast in The Netherlands. Fifteen years on and the show has been cloned in over 70 countries around the world (including the innovative pan-African Big Brother Africa), with spin-offs like Teen and Celebrity Big Brother scooping similar primetime positions and the US and UK's seventh seasons proving its continued appeal.

In addition to record ratings and millions of votes cast, the series is noted for its online interactivity, with streaming video, chat forums and daily updates to Big Brother websites attracting unprecedented traffic. Beyond the show's extended acclaim, entering as civilians, housemates depart celebrities, going on to run for congress (like US contender Will Mega), launch successful music careers (like Angola 's Bruna), star in Egoli (like Namibia 's Stefan), present on Studio 53 (like Uganda 's Gaetona) and co-host Laugh Out Loud (like South Africa 's inaugural winner Ferdinand Rabie).

And the phenomenon continues… For the first time, Big Brother Nigeria hits the African continent in March 2006! Scheduled to run for 91 days, Big Brother Nigeria will see 12 Nigerian contestants sharing one home, while 68 microphones and 27 cameras capture their lives for a continental television audience, and a grand prize of USD $100 000!

Monitor
RAFSANJAN ABBEY TATYA

This is a broadcasting landmark for the nation whose movie industry has already taken Africa by storm

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OUR GAE: Gaetano Jjuko Kaggwa who was Uganda’s representative in Big Brother Africa two years ago. This time the show is only going to have Nigerians. File Photo

With the technical and operational elements well into their installation phase, plus the housemates chosen though not yet revealed, and with just a week to D-day, Big Brother Nigeria (BBN) is just about ready for action!

The African audience last witnessed the Big Brother phenomenon two years ago and that seems to be a long for the next Big Brother Africa show. However, for now we shall have to settle for BBN that is slated to be launched on March 5.

When M-Net announced late last year that it planned to screen BBN, would-be contestants enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity and though the call for entries ran for only 30 days, M-Net has revealed that an impressive 12, 940 applied to join the house.

This number is pretty significant considering that the decision to enter a reality show such as Big Brother is not an easy one. Once selected, your life changes dramatically; you have to give up your job, your family and your friends. Then you have to live in a confined space with 11 strangers for 93 days watched throughout the day by audiences across the continent. You also have to come to terms with a multitude of cameras and microphones tracking your every action and every word you say. Just like the Big Brother Africa show, fans vote out housemates they don't want in the BBN house.


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A WINNER’S SMILE: Cherise the eventual winner of Big Brother Africa

M-Net's Director of Local Productions, Mr Carl Fischer said in a press release, "It's just another good reason to watch. To see what the 12 selected housemates are like, to imagine if you could have been a better housemate and to wonder which housemate you could have lived with and who would have just irritated you!"

BBN will show on DStv's channel 37 for 20 hours a day. The four hours off-air will be for routine maintenance of equipment and upkeep of facilities in the house, which will be done during the show's quiet time in the early hours of the morning.

Audiences will also be able to watch a 30-minutes nomination programme on Monday nights, a one-hour highlights show on Wednesday nights and a one-hour live eviction show every Sunday evening.

This is another landmark for Nigeria as far as television and broadcasting is concerned because their movie industry Nollywood has already taken the continent by storm.

AccraMail
| Posted: Thursday, March 02, 2006

With just days to go before M-Net launches BIG BROTHER NIGERIA on March 5th, fans across the continent are eagerly waiting to find out just who the 12 selected housemates are.

Built in just 3 months, the BIG BROTHER NIGERIA house is equipped to follow the adventures of the housemates as they spend 13 weeks in seclusion competing for public affection and a US$ 100 000 grand prize.

With 27 cameras, 68 microphones and 21 kilometers of cabling, the house is a fully functional, habitable live studio. In addition, the house is completely capable of operating at night as well, with 4 infrared cameras geared to work in darkness.

There are two main bedrooms, one communal bathroom, a state of the art kitchen with all the modern conveniences, a lounge area and a garden. There is also a diary room, which is the only room in the house where the housemates will ever be totally alone as they interact on a one-on-one basis with Big Brother.

Designed to reflect the dominant color of the Nigerian flag, the entire BIG BROTHER NIGERIA house is shaded in tones of refreshing and dramatic green. The theme of the décor is bright, energetic and colorful and the entire house is infused with Nigerian arts and crafts. In fact, the show's producers were so determined to reflect the country's diverse culture that the directors undertook a countrywide tour to find various paintings, sculptures and artifacts.

In addition, the Big Brother Nigeria housemates will find a calming garden for their use which includes a leafy old tree, a relax area and a plunge pool. Plus the house will include a 'reward and treat' room where the housemates will be congratulated if they complete the set tasks well.

Meanwhile controlling the Big Brother Nigeria house and broadcast is a dynamic production facility which includes a main control room. The MCR is home to the show's producers and contains an impressive 35 television screens which will monitor all the activity in the house and its surrounding garden. And that's not even the tip of the iceberg when considering that almost 19 tonnes of high tech machinery and components have already been installed into this remarkable facility.

In total, the Big Brother Nigeria house is 200 square meters in floor space. The entire structure is surrounded by a 6 meter perimeter wall within which the housemates must spend the 91 day duration of the show - until they are evicted or they walk away as the ultimate winner.

But this is just a sneak peek…to see the BIG BROTHER NIGERIA house in all its detailed glory, make sure that you don't miss the show's launch on March 5 at 4pm Ghana time on DStv Channel 37.

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Big Brother Nigeria, the latest version of the global television reality show, has gone on air for the first time.

Twelve contestants entered the house, where they will spend up to 91 days, on Sunday night.

They will be voted off in turn by viewers of South African channel M-Net and the last one will win $100,000.

An Africa-wide Big Brother caused controversy three years ago - Malawi pulled it off air deeming it immoral, but its High Court overturned the ban.

There have also been South African versions of the reality show.

'Don't hold back'

Zambian Cherise Makubale, who was crowned winner of Big Brother Africa, attended the launch of Big Brother Nigeria.

She advised the six men and women entering the house to enjoy "every minute of it".

CONTESTANTS

Male

Chinedu, 24, self-employed
Ebuka, 23, lawyer
Frank, 29, dancer
Gideon, 22, graduate
Joseph, 32, flight attendant
Yinka, 26, musician

Female

Chem, 21, student
Francisca, 21, student
Helen, 25, student
Ify, 29, entrepreneur
Joan, 24, student
Maureen, 23, student

"Don't hold back, but always remember, it is a game and somebody other than you wants to win it as well," she said.

The competitors will live together in the Big Brother house where 27 cameras film their every move and a behind-the-scenes production crew give them daily chores.

All the contestants are over 21 years of age - they were chosen from 13,000 candidates. Flight attendant Joseph is the oldest at 32.

Ms Makubale says Nigeria's version of Big Brother looks promising.

"If the Nigerian movies are anything to go by, I think it will be very interesting. I am definitely looking forward," she said.

And an early conversation amongst the contestants turned to Nigeria's film industry, Nollywood, reports the Big Brother website.

Twenty one-year-old Chem felt it was unreal that Nollywood actresses playing women wake up in bed in the morning with full make-up and with perfect hair.

Story from :
BBC NEWS
Published: 2006/03/06 10:07:12 GMT

Wednesday 8th, March, 2006

At last, the Big Brother Reality television brand has berthed in Nigeria, and many are very excited and waiting to savour the visual excitement it promises.

Arguably, since a greater number of Nigerians caught the bug in 2001 when Bayo Okoh flew the country’s flag at the Big Brother Africa show in South Africa, discussions have bordered on why it is taking so long for one such show to be held in the country, considering the giant strides the country has made in motion pictures via Nollywood.

Those who argued that its coming to Nigeria was long overdue, base their contention on a couple of reasons that hold water. Apart from the huge population of television audience and followership it is bound to enjoy, some of them insisted that the success of the show in Third World countries like Argentina is a pointer to the fact that it will succeed in Nigeria as well.

Others contended that the viewership of such reality shows on the continent has been largely from Nigeria. So, it was a welcome development when continental broadcast outfit, M-Net, via its DStv Channel 37, decided to screen the show in the country.

Though, the bug has caught on like harmattan wildfire, the origin of the Big Brother Show, which is about the most travelled television reality show in the world, is dogged with claims and counterclaims.

Findings have it that Big Brother television reality show was originally screened in The Netherlands in September 1999 and subsequently was cloned across the globe.

Full Article Independentng

Thursday 9th, March, 2006
Stories by Charles Okogene,
independentng
Senior Correspondent, Lagos

If winners of the on-going Big Brother Nigeria were to be announced today, Ebuka Obi Uchendu, Gideon and Ifeoma Ejikeme would have come tops in that order. The trio seem to have tickled the fancy of most of the viewers who sent in their SMS to the housemates.

Ebuka, the lawyer in the house whose lovely, smooth but moderate biceps and generally well built body, was the first choice of almost all the ladies who sent in short messages of encouragement to the housemates. Interestingly, most of the messages (on the first day) came from viewers in countries like Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, and Uganda South Africa. Some of them very suggestive. Why not? Who will not appreciate a lovely body, which he flaunted with a sleeveless T-shirt? With words like “Ebuka you’re da bomb, Ebuka is hot in the house. Hi! Ebuka, you are rocking the house. Your bicep is sweet”.

Ifeoma and Gideon did no go unnoticed. They had a fair share of the text messages. Ifeoma particularly stood out with her choice of cloth that brought out all the vital statistics. Quite effervescent, she was practically all over Chinedu leaning over him all in the name of playing the worth game.

Good house, good looking housemates, nice kitchen, little wonder some of the girls just couldn’t leave the kitchen. Well, who no like beta thing?

Stories by Charles Okogene
Independentng
Senior Correspondent, Lagos

Call it a solidarity prayer or wish for one of their own and you won’t be wrong. This, exactly is what is going on in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos State that has over the years come to be associated with everything negative, since the Big Brother Nigeria started last Sunday.

All the folks in AJ, as the ghetto which has produced the likes of Emmanuel Amuneke, the ex-Super Eagles whose two goals gave Nigeria African Cup of Nations trophy in Tunisia in 1994 at the expense of the Zambian national team, Pastor Taribo West, Galala exponents like Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh and a couple of others in the field of arts and entertainment is called are almost on their knees praying and wishing that Gideon will put AJ in the map of communities where positive things and people come out of.

Though, not many residence of the suburb have been able to see Gideon in the Big Brother House because of lack of access to the super rich channel, DSTV, which broadcasts the programme, that has not in any way affected their for goodwill wishes for their bloke to walk out of the house as the last man standing with the $100,000 prize money at the end of the 91 days the housemates are expected to stay in the house.

“Gideon’s success will rub-off on us; it will once again show that AJ is full of youths with a lot of positive vibes. All we want is encouragement and a level playing ground. We, here in AJ know that AJ is not what people think it is. We have talents here in quantum and we know Gideon will once again prove us right. He is going to do us proud because he has all it takes. He has the physique, the brain and you know he has a body no woman can resist,” a resident of AJ who gave his name simply as Ibezimako boasted. “We will shame all those who believe that anything bad must come out of AJ kingdom.”

22 years old, Gideon is an undergraduate of Applied Chemistry who describes himself as a free spirited, fun loving and realistic person. He sees the Big Brother Nigeria as a platform for endless possibilities and so wants Nigerians to stay glued to it for the whole duration of three months and one day.

Though never gone out of Nigeria, Gideon would have like to see what makes both South Africa, the country of The Madiba and the Bahamas thick if given the opportunity. Why not, with endless possibilities of winning $100,000 at stake it won’t be out of place if Gideon wants to go sight seeing in Bahamas.

He relaxes his body and soul by working out at the gym and listening to soul inspiring music. Now you know the source of his biceps.

Cherise phoned on Wednesday and said she was having a good time there, being involved with the series. She wasn't due to be there all the way through but maybe from time to time throughout.

March 13, 2006
All Africa
Moses Serugo

Big Brother is now in Nigeria and contrary to fears that Ugandans would not take to this edition, viewers are lapping up the show, which premiered last Sunday.

I walked by a kafunda in my neighbourhood and the patrons there were glued to the screen watching 12 Nigerian strangers get to share a house for up to 91 days. It did not matter that there was no Ugandan in the house.

The fact that Nigeria is fast turning into a cultural powerhouse on the continent may propel the show. Just look at the huge programming chunk the Nigerians take of the content on DStv's indigenous Africa Magic channel! Another reason to watch is the belief that 12 Nigerians in one house is a recipe for mayhem.

The opening show was a drag. The applause was induced and there were several technical glitches. The microphones went off a couple of times and the satellite feed was unstable.

The housemates arrived in antiquated Mercedes Benzes compared to the sleek BMW X5's the contestants in Big Brother Africa (BBA) in 2003 rode. The house décor is nice though and there's a good mix of housemates this time.

The male housemates seem to be the viewer favourites if the comments on the SMS onscreen strap line are anything to go by. The female viewers look glad that not all Nigerian men look like the teddy bear that BBA's Bayo was. Of the six-chiselled pack, Gideon is the most boisterous while Ebuka is the ladies' man probably because of his boyish charm.

The female contestants are nothing to write home about, at least for now. One of them is a single mother and I still don't know why they had to wear hairpieces. Here is some bad news for all you "peeping Toms". There is no shower hour this time. The cameras in the bathroom and toilets will only pick up mischievous acts.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
ZimbabweTelegraoh
Entertainment Reporter

Big Brother Nigeria is now in its second week and for the housemates the weeklong honey moon is over.

The first eviction is on on Sunday and after seven days in the house, the 12 housemates, six male and six female, had sized each other long enough to decide who they want out of the house.

The housemates are the six females: Ichemeta, Helen, Maureen, Francisca, Joan and Ify. The males are Frank, Ebuka, Chinedu, Yinka, Gideon, and Joseph.

On Monday each of the housemates was asked to nominate the person they wanted out of the house, and Ichimeta got the highest number of votes (8) followed by Yinka (5).

So viewers who are watching the reality programme on DStv’s Channel 37 will have to vote by either an sms or email who, between Ichemeta and Yinka should be the first to leave Big Brother Nigeria House this Sunday.

The housemates’ votes began to reveal tensions in the house. Ichemeta was most often described as being opinionated and separating herself from the other housemates, while Yinka was criticized for not fitting in, as well as telling the other housemates what to do instead of doing it himself.
Brother Nigeria will run for 91 days and the housemate who will remain in the house will walk away with US$100 000.

The housemates live in a house and are cut off from the outside world but all their movements in the house are captured live on television and seen by millions of television viewers across the Africa.

Saturday 1st, April, 2006

After completing the task (using their compasses to cross the river and devising a model bridge), Housemates relished a delicious lunch.

They received food packs from the storeroom that contained a variety of foods, including salad, beans, chocolate, coffee and sausage. But they flouted two rules during their dining experience: they did not jog when moving, nor did they keep their sticks by their sides as instructed by Big Brother. The Housemates were each given a stick before their morning excercise, that they have to carry around with them all day today or risk punishment. Most of them divorced their sticks and married the food! Only Helen, Katung and Sandra held their sticks while eating.

Swapping of food was the order of the day – coffee for chocolate, beans for salad, milk for sausage. Reminded of the scrubbing task ahead, Joe jocularly offered milk to anybody who would do his chore for him!

Gideon and Maureen sat side by side at the dining table, giggling and laughing often – either the meal was extremely palatable or it was a cupid-driven smile. The two also successively gave thanks to God after the meal, as if it was pre-planned.

Proactively, Sandy did not wait for the sound of the buzzer before she began cleaning the house. Ebuka and Chinedu clung to their sticks while they scrubbed (unlike when they ate), using them as props to loaf about on. Gideon added some colour to the housecleaning, singing and dancing while scrubbing. While Sandra merely grinned in admiration of the song, the others took their cue from AJ City’s muscle man and chimed along, injecting some spirit into the mundane exercise.

Independent Nigeria

Saturday 1st, April, 2006
By Charles Okogene,
Senior Correspondent

Who will be third housemate to leave M-Net’s 91-day reality show BIG BROTHER NIGERIA? Who will walk away from the USD 100 000 prize? Who will say goodbye to fans across the continent? Will it be Joseph or will it be Chinedu?

These are the questions facing African audiences this week after the Big Brother Nigeria housemates identified 24-year-old Chinedu and 32-year-old Joseph as the two people they would most like to see leave the show. Self-employed, Bachelor of Arts graduate, Chinedu drew 6 nominations while Joseph drew 5 nominations.

Now Chinedu and Joseph face a long week ahead as the public votes to determine who will be evicted on Sunday April 2. And in true democratic style, voting is open to absolutely everyone…so whether you’re watching on DStv Channel 37, following the action on M-Net or AfricaMagic, keeping updated on the website or tuning in via broadband, you too can participate and make your voice heard!

This is Joseph’s second nomination for eviction and Chinedu’s first time as a nominee for eviction since the Big Brother House opened on March 5. And if Chinedu, who had found a soul mate in Joan is voted out by the viewing public, he would become the second housemate to go after being nominated for the first time. The first housemate to bid the house bye on the strength of first nomination was Chem, who got evicted at the very first eviction; and if Joseph goes, he would have equaled the record of Yinka who was evicted on his second nomination who escaped eviction; and if he survives the fury of Big Brother Nigeria audience that is scattered all over Africa and beyond, he will be standing toe to toe with Francisca who escaped being evicted on his first nomination the first time she was nominated.

IndependentNigeria

By Rose Onoja
Monday, April 17, 2006

The eviction of Joan Agabi, April 9, is Big Brother Nigeria's most emotional moment

Big Brother Nigeria, BBN, the on-going reality television show witnessed one of its most emotional moments on Sunday April 9. That was the day Joan Agabi bade farewell to the BBN House. She was evicted.

Her eviction surprised most members of the audience. Many were disappointed with her choice for eviction. But some avid followers of the programme think that her eviction was expected especially when Chinedu Amah who was known to be her boyfriend in the house was already waiting outside as a result of the eviction.

Agabi received more votes from the public than her rivals, Ify Ekikem and Francisca Owumi. Agabi also came out tops in the nomination as she got five votes against her fellow nominees, who got three each.

It was a popular opinion in the forum that Ekikem would be the one to walk away from BBN. Opinion seemed to have swung against Agabi's after her quarrel with Owumi over Ebuka Obi-Uchendu earlier in the week. Agabi's pronouncement that she would "make Owumi's life a living hell," did not go down well with a lot of people. Perhaps that comment was the major reason that turned the votes against her.

Full story : NewswatchNGR

bigbrothernigeria.com

Maureen’s Big Brother Nigeria house experience came to an abrupt and surprising end at the eviction show on Sunday.

Her sweetness and psychological theories could not save her from the wrath of the SMSers, forum posters and voters, who disliked her highpitched laugh, her romantic entanglements (no doubt they were envious of her hookup with the hunk of the House!) and, questionably, her laziness. She leaves Gideon behind, wondering what may have been, but in her absence, will he move onto other things? — bigbrothernigeria.com