by Stanley Azuakola

It was the entertainment story everyone was talking about last week — that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had banned singer Wande Coal’s  ‘Go Low’ video on Terrestrial TV last week. Everyone had a side and online groups had heated debates on the matter.

Well, it turned out that the NBC did not actually ban the video as widely reported. NBC spokesperson, Francisca Aiyetan, explained that the commission “merely verbally advised stations should edit the musical video” before using it on Terrestrial TV stations. Aiyetan said the clarification became necessary as a result of the word going round about a blanket NBC ban on the video.

“We have no issues with the lyrics; the issue is with the video clip and just a tiny part of it. The advice is to edit that part before use on broadcasting stations,” she said.

Aiyetan, who is a rep. from the Broadcast Content and Zonal Coordination of the commission, also explained why it was important for the commission to be strict with videos aired on terrestrial free-to-air stations.

“It is important that we are extra careful with programmes on terrestrial free-to-air stations, because viewers at home receive the signals of these stations without soliciting for them. These stations more or less barge into the privacy (homes) of their viewers, with children (impressionable) watching unfettered.”