John Ugbe, CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, has he strategy used by the producers of the popular reality series Big Brother Naija regarding the distribution of screen time among housemates. He emphasized that providing equal screen time to all participants is “not something that is possible in entertainment.”
The show has faced ongoing criticism from former housemates who felt they didn’t receive enough screen time for the audience to get to know them well. Fans have also accused the producers of favoritism.
“I don’t think that is something that is actually possible in entertainment,” Ugbe told Pulse Nigeria when asked about the allocation of screen time for the upcoming ninth season, which runs from July 28 to October 6, 2024. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu will return as the host, and Toke Makinwa will continue to host the weekly recap show on Showmax, Big Brother Naija Buzz.
“It’s like a movie where you want equal time for every actor. The cameras tend to follow the activity. If some people are awake and others are sleeping, we’re not going to focus on someone sleeping for an hour just to equalize screen time,” he explained.
Ugbe added that BBNaija is a show about “being yourself,” noting that housemates who have been authentically themselves have often gone on to succeed.
“It is an entertaining show, and viewers at home want to see as much entertainment as possible. This links back to the criteria for selecting housemates. This show is about being yourself, as naturally as possible, and we’ve seen many participants who have been genuine do very well,” he said.