NBC FORCES MULTICHOICE TO DROP OFFENSIVE TRANSGENDER KIDDIES SERIES

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has directed MultiChoice, the parent company of DSTV, to drop a drama titled: “I am Jazz”, a mini-series about a transgender child. The NBC confirmed the development in a statement Monday.

The NBC said the programme was capable of corrupting youths adding that it offended Nigerian law, which prohibits homesexuality.

“The attention of the NBC has been drawn to the concern raised by some members of the public about some alleged plans by the TLC Channel on DSTV to begin airing a programme, I am Jazz, which is about a transgender child.

“The commission has drawn the attention of the service provider to this concern and has received firm assurances that it will investigate and if it concerns that the programme is indeed promoting undesirable ideas that will offend the Nigerian public,” it added.

Meanwhile, MultiChoice Nigeria says it has complied with the directive of the NBC.

A statement from the organisation said it was aware of the concerns raised by Nigerian viewers across various platforms about the movie.

“After careful consideration and wide consultation from various stakeholders, MultiChoice informs its esteemed subscribers that the mini-series, “I am Jazz” has been pulled off the schedule.

“We regularly assess the impact our content have on our customers and we reassure them that their interests are always considered.

“However, we take comfort in knowing that our decoders are encrypted with the parental control feature that empowers parents with ultimate control over what their children view.

“We also encourage parents to make use of this feature as much as possible to ensure that their children only watch what their parents deem appropriate,” the pay-per-view broadcaster said.