Deji Badmus: Life after Channels

Deji Badmus

Deji Badmus’ exit from Channels TV   in August last year came as a shock to many TV faithfull. Although the reason behind his resignation is not fully known, the chubby-looking, Lagos-based broadcaster says it was not a spontaneous decision.

“I left because I had come to a point when I had to move on to concentrate and pursue other interests. I would not want to divulge or go into details of what transpired because of the many controversies that earlier reports generated.”

Although the former Head of Reportorial and Political Desk at Channels Television does acknowledges missing being on TV, he says he is still actively involved in the industry albeit in a different capacity

He says, “I miss being on TV. I think it is only natural to miss what I used to do before. For now, I am a freelance broadcaster for various organisations in Nigeria and abroad, covering a wide range of issues. I am also on the verge of opening a production outfit here in Lagos. It will be an online news website-an online based TV station. We had to settle for an online channel because we do not have the licence to broadcast yet. I am also into consultancy alongside my partners.”

Citing the absence of competition and dearth of skilled man power as some of the challenges confronting the Nigerian broadcasting industry, Badmus who observed his National Youth Service at Taraba Television 2002 and joined Channels TV two years later, also acknowledges its many limitations.

“Although the industry is a vibrant one, many people want to set up TV stations but Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation keeps saying there is no licence and that Lagos is jammed. We can only hope that all that will change when they go digital in 2014. Also, the fact that there is no competition in the news industry is a shortcoming. For instance, for now Channels is the only station that has carved a niche for itself as a solely news station. When there is stiff competition, the programming quality will improve and those that can’t come up with good programmes will naturally die,” he explains.

While terrestrial cable stations such as DSTV and Star Times do provide some form of respite, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University graduate of  Mass Communication, notes that they also have their own shortcomings.

“The major problem they face is access because money is a challenge. Let’s not forget that the lack of manpower is also a set-back. We don’t have broadcast training colleges in Nigeria besides the TV College in Jos, Plateau State. The stations themselves do not invest in training or send their staff abroad for training. So, everything they learn is on the job and these contribute to the problems    plaguing the industry,” he says.

PUNCH