Oluwatosin Enesi
MultiChoice is a South African company that operates DStv, a major satellite television service in Sub-Saharan Africa and GOtv, a minor service operating in over nine countries of this area and Showmax service.
The Managing Director of the South African owned company in Nigeria is no other than the engineer with a passion for arts and an ICT expert, John Ugbe.
John Ugbe, an entertainment influencer is a Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) alumnus who has previously worked at Agip, Halliburton and NCR. He is the chief executive officer at MultiChoice Nigeria and chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria.
He studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Federal University of Technology Owerri and got his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool.
In 1998, John joined MultiChoice Nigeria as a help desk analyst before leaving in 2003 to join MWeb where he rose from IT manager to general manager of the company in Nigeria. He later joined iWayAfrica Nigeria where he worked till 2011.
In October 2011, he returned to MultiChoice to serve as managing director.
Digital Satellite Television, commonly abbreviated to DStv airs more than 200 television channels and radio stations. The list of channels differs and varies across the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.
There are five or six bouquets/packages, each with a different price range, and four add-on packages for premium film and series channels, Indian, Portuguese, French channels.
Most current-day DStv decoders also offer access to MultiChoice’s streaming platform, Showmax, along with other third-party apps through broadband connection and/or Wi-Fi connection.
Under John Ugbe’s leadership, MultiChoice rolled out three channels in three local Nigerian languages on Africa Magic, introduced GOtv, MultiChoice Talent Factory and Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
John Ugbe was awarded the 2020 – CEO Of The Year (Media & Entertainment), BrandCom Awards.
He was elected chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria in October 2021.
BON was founded in 1973 with over 140 members and they collectively own 250 radio and Television stations. Mr. John Ugbe, representing MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, is the 14th and current Chairman of BON.
BON is aimed at becoming the voice of Broadcasting industry in Nigeria while creating an enabling environment for radio, television and new media broadcasters to serve their audiences and to make a positive contribution to the development of our society.
At his swearing-in ceremony in October 2021 at Abuja, Mr. John Ugbe, promised that his tenure would focus on training, aggressive membership drive, professionalism and related issues that will add value to the organization.
In line with his promise to improve professionalism among members through training, MultiChoice Nigeria hosted a five-day intensive training on ‘Production for Television’ for BON members, facilitated by the MultiChoice Talent Factory in conjunction with Africa Magic. The training covered fundamental areas in TV production such as Multi-camera Directing, Studio Lighting, OB Van and External Broadcast, and a tour of the Studio for a well-rounded experience. The training had seasoned veterans in different areas of TV Production as facilitators: Mr. Jimi Odumosu and Mr. Bobby Heaney among others. The five-day training is the first of a set that would also cover Radio Production and Transmission Engineering.
Mr John Ugbe has always have a flair for art as he created art works and paintings, which he sold When he was younger.
Our Reporter
