Business
Nollywood battles internet pirates as streaming booms
Nigeria’s film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, is grappling with rising cases of internet piracy as streaming is booming.
‘Blood Sisters’, produced by Mo Abudu, premiered in May 2022 to rave reviews from movie fans, has since ranked number 9 on Netflix globally and attracted about 11.0 million hours of viewing.
However, the movie, which is supposed to be exclusive to Netflix, has been uploaded on NetNaija, a free-to-air streaming platform notorious for movie piracy. It is not only Blood Sisters that is now streaming free on NetNaija, nearly all the Nigerian movies, including ‘King of Boys: Return of the King’ released on Netflix, have been uploaded on the piracy platform.
‘Blood Sisters’, ‘King of Boys: Return of the King’, and many other Nollywood productions are also being downloaded from 02Tvseries. As of May 15, the platform has recorded 51,533 views for ‘Blood Sisters’.
BusinessDay’s visit to NetNaija also shows that ‘Blood Sisters’ is one of the trending Nollywood movies and has the most comments on the platform. Other streaming platforms where Nigerians download new movies include Moviesjoy.to, Fzmovies, Tfpdl, and Topnow.se. YouTube also houses many pirated movies but ‘Blood Sisters’ and other Nollywood titles are yet to find their way on the Google-owned platform.
“Filmmakers are not making enough money here. So to see them lose money to piracy is painful. My fight is not with the people who can’t afford Netflix subs. But at those making money off piracy,” said Dika Ofoma, communications officer at TNC Africa, a film and TV production company.
Ofoma sees NetNaija as a piracy platform that is providing people’s hard work illegally to their audience and making money off it.
“That’s criminal,” he said.
According to data from GIPC and NERA Economic Consulting, the global movie industry’s revenue losses from digital piracy are between $40 and $97.1 billion per year.
Online piracy thrives because of huge demand. Apart from patrons who are trying to avoid paying for monthly subscriptions on platforms like Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, others say platforms like NetNaija are necessary to bridge the gap between those who can afford internet data and those not able to afford data. Almost all the piracy platforms enable users to download the movies and watch offline, whereas Netflix allows subscribers to download but they can’t watch outside the app.
NetNaija told BusinessDay on Sunday that its mission is to provide information and entertainment for its users. It would not, however, comment on allegations it was pirating other people’s work or how it makes money, given that it offers its services for free.
It is estimated that pirated video material gets over 230 billion views a year. More than 80 percent of global online piracy can be attributed to illegal streaming services.
Experts predict that the global online TV and movie industry will continue to lose revenue in the future. According to online piracy statistics, the movie and TV industry will lose $51.6 billion to online piracy by 2022.
The streaming service industry has transformed the movie industry in Nigeria and around the world. Streaming has not only made it convenient for people to watch their favourite movies and TV shows, it has boosted the income of practitioners in the industry.
Streaming has become so popular that many streaming services now have their own studios where they can produce their content. A Business Insider article reports that in 2019, Netflix alone released 371 movies and TV shows. In 2021, Netflix was again in the lead with 39 percent of original content being released from their studio, with HBO Max just behind them at 37 percent.
While Africa houses more than 1 billion people, a report claims it has less than 5 million subscription video-on-demand users. Millennials are also more likely to find piracy normal.
Ofoma says to curb piracy, it could be better to consider going through the cinemas in terms of distribution for films.
“If cinemas are people’s (first) locations and tickets are affordable, I think that will discourage illegal downloads,” he said.
He, however, acknowledges that the growing level of poverty makes it more complicated as there are more poor people who cannot afford cinema tickets or the cost of subscription for SVODs like Netflix. Monthly subscription for Netflix ranges from N1,200 for mobile-only, N2,900 for basic to N4,400 for premium subscribers. HBO Max subscription cost N5,900 and the average cinema ticket cost N1500.
“But I do believe that if the films are available to them and affordable, piracy sites would become less of an option for them. And that will help curb the activities of piracy sites,” he said.
Lagos, Nigeria – May 10, 2024 – The Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Executive Committee (Exco) Elections held on May 9th, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The AGM, a hallmark event in the breadmaking industry, brought together esteemed members and industry leaders to reflect on the achievements of the past year and chart the course for the future. The assembly provided a platform for robust discussions on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, fostering collaboration and innovation within the sector.
One of the pivotal highlights of the AGM was the democratic process of electing the new Executive Committee to lead PBAN into its next chapter of growth and excellence. With a commitment to transparency and accountability, members cast their votes to elect passionate and visionary leaders who will steer the association towards its strategic objectives.
The newly elected Executive Committee comprises dynamic individuals renowned for their dedication to the breadmaking industry and their unwavering commitment to advancing its interests. Their diverse expertise and collective vision promise to propel PBAN to new heights of success, innovation, and sustainability.
Names and positions of the Executive Committee:
1. Emmanuel Onuorah – President
2. Abayomi Awe – Deputy President
3. Emmanuel Onyoh – General Secretary
4. Abayomi Okikiola – Assistant General Secretary
5. Kene Mbuba – Treasurer
6. Babalola Thomas – Public & Industrial Relations Officer
7. Ekaette Okoi – Assistant Public & Industrial Relations Officer
8. Adijat Olaniyi-Olopade – Financial Secretary
9. Adebiyi Adebowale – Auditor
10. Oludare Oladeji-Ojo – Compliance & Provost Officer
11. Abisola Dejonwo-Tokan – Welfare Officer
“We are thrilled to have successfully concluded our AGM and Exco Elections,” said Emmanuel Onuorah, President of PBAN. “The enthusiastic participation of our members reflects their dedication to the growth and prosperity of the breadmaking industry in Nigeria. With our newly elected Executive Committee at the helm, we are confident in our ability to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive positive change for our members and stakeholders.”
PBAN extends its gratitude to all attendees, participants, and volunteers whose contributions were instrumental in making the AGM and Exco Elections a resounding success. The association reaffirms its commitment to serving the interests of its members, promoting excellence in breadmaking, and contributing to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
A Nigerian actress and movie producer, Toyin Abraham Adeyemi, has revealed that it took her just two months to produce her alleged N500 million budget movie, Malaika.
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She made this revelation during a chat with the media while addressing the disturbing thread of piracy in the Nollywood industry.
A victim of piracy herself, Toyin, as she simply called, lamented how her N500 million budget movie was leaked on Telegram and how she was able to salvage it with the help of her team.
“If you look at me, I’m actually not okay. I’ve to come from the hospital; I’ve been having panic attacks. It’s not easy shooting a movie for close to N500 million and just seeing it out there.
“I saw my movie and another movie, and I thought I was dreaming, and they said, ‘No, you’re not dreaming,’” she said.
She went on to disclose that the hackers announced on Telegram that they were going to upload the movie by 12, which they eventually did.
When asked how long it took her to produce the movie, Toyin responded that it took her almost two months.
“I shot Malaika for two months, almost two months,” she replied.
By a comparative analysis, on average, Hollywood studio movies are shot within 30 to 120 days, with outliers falling below or above this range. The length of principal photography depends greatly on the scale, genre, and length of a film.
“Lift,” the new Kevin Hart-led heist thriller now streaming on Netflix, took approximately five months; between March and July 2022 to be precise, for filming with a $100 million budget.
Toyin further disclosed that her advocacy against movie piracy isn’t about her interests alone but for the general good of the industry.
“This is not about Malaika or any movie in the cinema; it is not about tribe. It’s about the creative industry; it’s about the entertainment industry. Because this is the only thing we do,” she stated.
The much-anticipated movie, “Behind The Veil,” has officially made its debut on Amazon Prime, promising viewers a captivating experience filled with twists, wit, drama, and a spectrum of emotions.
The film, directed and written by Toyin Moore, offers a unique blend of storytelling, featuring an eclectic cast of talents from various nationalities.
Starring Rotimi Salami, Khadijah, Taiwo Olutayo, Toyin Moore, Dapo Opayinka and Juanita Imeh.
Others are Alex Mike, Nora Brown, Mabel Marquez, Rasheed Ijaiya, Lydia Tett Olet, and more, “Behind The Veil” showcases a diverse ensemble that brings the narrative to life.
The executive producers, Comdnt Alistair Soyode and Toyin Moore, have played pivotal roles in bringing this cinematic masterpiece to the Amazon Prime platform. The movie’s director, Toyin Moore, has lent her creative vision to the project, ensuring a compelling and immersive experience for the audience.
Dwayne Josephs, the Director of Photography, and the post-production team at DDFILMWORKS have contributed to the movie’s visual brilliance, promising viewers a visual feast.
“Behind The Veil” is not just a movie; it’s an emotional roller coaster that explores the complexities of life. With valuable lessons embedded in its narrative, the film is set to resonate with audiences seeking more than just entertainment.
Viewers can follow the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/placeholder_title/dp/B0CH8DZWFT on Amazon Prime.
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