Channels Television is a Nigerian independent 24-hour news and media television channel based in Lagos, Nigeria. The parent company, Channels Incorporated, was founded in 1992, a year before the Nigerian government deregulated the broadcast media. It began broadcasting in 1995. Its primary focus is producing news and current affairs programs on Nigerian domestic issues. The Channel's mission is to act as a watchdog on governmental policies and activities.

Channels Television
Channels Television logo
CountryNigeria
Broadcast areaUK
Africa
HeadquartersLagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerJohn Momoh (Executive Chairman)[1]
Olusola Momoh (Executive Vice-Chairman)
History
Launched1992 (1992)
Links
Websitechannelstv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
UHFChannel 26 (Benin)
UHFChannel 31 (Abuja)
UHFChannel 39 (Lagos)
UHFChannel 45 (Kano)
Streaming media
channelstv.com/liveWatch live
(Available worldwide)
TVPlayerWatch live (UK only)

History

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Channels Television was founded in 1995 as a private television station[2] with only 15 employees by Nigerian veteran broadcaster and entrepreneur John Momoh and Sola Momoh, also a broadcaster.[3] The company commenced operations in Lagos, south western Nigeria and has since grown to include three other stations in Abuja, Edo and Kano states. It also has bureaus in almost every state in Nigeria, including stringers and affiliates in other parts in Africa, as well as strong relationships with international media organizations which allows access to information around the world.

The channel was licensed in June 1993 and allocated a frequency on UHF (Channel 39). It began transmission two years later under the name, "Channels Television", and the first terrestrial broadcast was on the 1st of July 1995, with John Momoh reading the first news bulletin. Channels TV currently broadcasts to an audience of over 20 million people.

The channel was an affiliate of TVAfrica. In 2000, it wanted to broadcast UEFA Euro 2000, but it and other interested broadcasters in Nigeria faced legal issues from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission over the legality of the network, which, according to the regulator, wasn't registered in Nigeria.[4]

2008 closure

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In September 2008, Channels Television was shut down by President Yar'Adua, who sent Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) to shut down the station and to arrest its senior staff due to channel's report of Yar'Adua's bad health. The report by Channels Television was attributed to information received from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). However, after the investigation, NAN announced that the channel did not issue any statement regarding the President stepping down, but instead, its computer was hacked into. In protest, Channels TV discontinued its use of the NAN wire service up to this date. It was proven that the e-mail received by Channels TV was a hoax sent from a computer in the Ivory Coast. Nigeria's Minister of Information, John Odey, gave the statement to the BBC emphasizing the government was angered by the report.[5][6]

Production

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Channels Television's team has produced feature programs, which have received commendation throughout the country. Video footage of events and happenings in Nigeria, shot by the Channels Television news crews have been used widely by broadcast organizations such as BBC, CNN and ITN. Its flagship program, "News at Ten", is considered as the most popular and most watched news in Nigeria.

Since 2009, Channels Television organizes and hosts "Channels National Kids Cup", a sport event for school children from sixteen Nigerian states held in Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.[7] General Manager of Channels Television, Steve Judo, stated that Channels Television is socially responsible media and as such chose to engage in the development of football from the roots.[8]

2012 Nigerian bombing

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In January 2012, journalist Enenche Akogwu, who worked as a correspondent in Kano for Channels Television, was shot and killed while reporting on coordinated attacks there claimed by the radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram. According to his colleagues, Akogwu had shown up after a bombing and began filming a crowd gathered there without knowing they were armed sect members.[9]

 
Channels TV headquarters

Awards and recognition

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  • Named "Best Station of the Year" twelve times (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) by The Federal Republic of Nigeria's Media Merit Award Trust[10][11]
  • 2013: Awarded "Best TV Station in Africa" by African Achievers Awards, Achievers Media[12]
  • 2013: Named "Most Compliant Television Station In Media Category" by Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria[citation needed]
  • 2013: Awarded Lagos State Ministry of Education's "Jam Feast" award for its contribution towards youth invention and educational development[citation needed]
  • 2013: "Best Report On Maternal Health" by the Society of Gynaecology And Obstetrics Of Nigeria (Sogon)[citation needed]
  • 2013: Customer Service Excellence Award in Media[citation needed]

Partnership

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On 22 March 2014, Tezuka Productions partnership with Channels TV to broadcast 8 episode spin-off series of Astro Boy, Little Astro Boy, which was aimed for preschoolers on Channels TV's children's block.

On Friday, 14 August 2015, Deutsche Welle said it had signed a partnership agreement with "Channels TV" to demonstrates the long tradition of airing a positive view of Africa.[13] Peter Limbourg, the Director-General of Deutsche Welle describe Channels TV as a great television station and a perfect partner for Deutsche Welle. Limbourg said "We at Deutsche Welle think that we have to report the great things that happen in Africa, especially in Nigeria.[14]

John Momoh, the Chief Executive Officer of Channels TV described the partnership as "Made from heaven".[15] He said, "This is part of our strategy to tell the African story, especially that of Nigeria, from the African perspective so that we do not leave this key element of definition of who we are, what we do and why, to other people to tell on our behalf".[16][17]

In August 2015, Channels TV signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations on News coverage. The United Nations was represented by Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.[18][19]

Programs

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Program
Air days Time Presenters
Sunrise Daily Weekdays 7 a.m.
Chamberlain Usoh
Maupe Ogun
Bukola Samuel-Wemimo

Kayode Okikiolu

Ayo Makinde

Sunrise Saturday Saturdays 9 a.m. Ayo Makinde
Alero Edu
Business Morning Weekdays 10 a.m. Ini John-Mekwa/Ladi Williams
Politics Today Sundays 8 p.m. Seun Okinbaloye
Sport This Morning Weekdays 9 a.m.
Cecilia Omorogbe
Austin Okon-Akpan
Yemi Adebayo
Community Report Fridays 12:30 p.m. Dare Idowu
Channels Book Club Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. Olakunle Kasunmu
Diplomatic Channels Mondays 8:30 p.m. Amarachi Ubani
Aviation This week Sundays 9 p.m. Bukola Joe-Oketumbi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Channels TV wins best Nigerian TV award for the eighth time". APO Source. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Nigerian jet crashes with 100 on board". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Once upon some glamour TV gals". The punch News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Broadcasting Regulation and Broadcasting In Nigeria: An Overview Of The Approaches" (PDF). International Institute for Science, Technology and Education. 2013 (PDF). Retrieved 8 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  5. ^ "Channels TV Shut Down by Yar'Adua". Nigerian Curiosity. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  6. ^ "The Drama Behind Closure of Channels Television". Sahara Reporters. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. ^ Ajom, Jacob (20 May 2013). "16 schools for Channels National Kids cup". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  8. ^ Busari, Kazeem (21 May 2014). "Channels National Kids Cup kicks off". Punch. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  9. ^ Gambrell, Jon (21 January 2012). "2 journalists killed in Nigeria amid unrest". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Channels TV once again wins best Nigerian TV award". Biz Community. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Channels TV Wins Best Nigerian TV Award for the 8th Time". Nigeria Communications Week. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  12. ^ "africanachieversawards.net". www.africanachieversawards.net. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  13. ^ "Nigeria's Channel Television partners Deutsche Welle". Communicatio. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "DW and Nigeria's Channels TV announce major cooperation". dw.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "Channels TV, Deutsche Welle signed partnership agreements". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  16. ^ "Channels TV, Deutsche Welle signed partnership agreements". Thisdaylive. Archived from the original on 2015-08-19. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  17. ^ "Channels TV, Deutsche Welle partner for better, balanced reporting on Africa". The Guardian News. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  18. ^ "Channels TV Signs MoU With United Nations". News Africa Now. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  19. ^ "United Nations, Channels Television Sign Broadcast Agreement". Channels TV. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
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