Encomium
+ Organizers rake in over N7 billion
THE 2013 edition of the most watched television reality show, Big Brother Africa was successful by all rating. It kicked off on Sunday, May 26, 2013 and ended on Sunday, August 25, 2013. The reality show gulped all of N375 million. The breakdown is as follows:
THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE – Big Brother House is in a studio complex in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa. The grand edifice is close to Wynberg. The building has housed all housemates since the inception of the reality show in 2003. Sources claimed that it was bought for that single purpose. Constantly renovated yearly for the reality show, annual renovation costs the organizers a fortune. According to our source, all of N10 million went into it to make it habitable for housemates.
FEEDING – Housemates are usually spoilt silly with every type of food and condiments one could imagine, with champagne, fruits, ass
orted wines, juices, the list is endless. The refrigerators are often well stocked to last as long as possible. To feed 28 housemates for three months, all of N10 million was spent.
MAKE
-UP ARTIST AND TOILETRIES – Interestingly, organizers spared no cost to make sure housemates felt at home and are comfortable in Biggie’s House. Stylists, barbers are often invited to the house to give housemates new look while their
toiletries are ordered from leading stores. N5 million is often set apart to cater for all of these.
PERFORMING ARTISTES – Talented acts from all over Africa were invited to electrify the stage at the opening ceremony. Nigerian artistes D’Prince, Wande Coal, Don Jazzy performed at the opening gala. Some other artistes were invited from South Africa as well. MNET spend all of N40 million for all invited artistes in the course of the show.
WHAT THE HOST GOT – On-air personality, I. K. Osakioduwa hosted this year’s edition for the fifth time. It was rumoured that he got N10 million.
THE CREW – Numbering up to 50, the crew were all prepared to ensure that all went well for the 91-day journey. Monitoring cameras, microphones, doing studio works, movement in and out of Big Brother House. The organizers spent N50 million to ensure the crew were at their best.
ADVERTISEMENT AND PROMO – The media were not left out on the organizers’ bill. We learnt advertisement and promo cost N200 million both before the show and while the show was ongoing. They covered television, radio, billboards, print media. It also included posters.
THE CASH PRIZE – All of USD300,000 equivalent to N45 million went to delicious Dillish Matthew, who won the reality show.
TRAVELLING EXPENSES – Some of the crew were flown from Nigeria, while some came from other African countries. Housemates were also flown from their respective countries to South Africa. Conveying the cast and crew of the reality show cost N5 million.
HOW MUCH THEY RAKED IN- MNET and its co-sponsors, Airtel raked in millions from the reality show. Fans made frantic effort to save their favourite housemates for eviction every week. And Airtel charged N100 per SMS. About five million people voted per week for their favourite housemates. For the 13 weeks (91 days) that the show was on, the sponsors raked in over N7 billion. Excluding SMS by regular fans of the show!
-SHADE WESELY-METIBOGUN
