Globacom Launches The X Factor In Nigeria.

RUNNING Glo Naija Sings for two seasons might not have been worth the while of indigenous telecommunications company, Globacom, which last week, made public, its acquisition of a new music talent reality format called The X Factor.

Glo had partnered Multichoice in its previous project, which saw upcoming Abuja-based singer, Christian, winning the coveted prize money of $100, 000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) in 2011. The show however did not fly in 2012, until this new revelation by Glo, of The X Factor project.

The ceremony for the new show, which held at the GET Arena, Lekki, spoke volume, as the company prides itself with the unique selling points of the format - a world leading music singing talent reality TV show. The X Factor, a Syco-owned format, produced and distributed worldwide by Fremantle Media, is coming to Africa for the first time, and Globacom is proud that it is starting in Nigeria, the hub of its business. The show is also expected to draw participants from Ghana, the second business home of the Glo network.

Glo will be beating its own record of $100, 00 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) in the rested Glo Naija Sings, with a more attractive offer of $150,000 ( equivalent of N24million) for the eventual winner of Glo X factor. This is the highest prize money that would be offered by any reality show organizers in Nigeria at the moment.

The would-be winner is also expected to enjoy a recording contract with the internationally acclaimed Sony Music for the recording of an album and professional management of the winning individual or group.

The X Factor, like other reality shows, seeks new talents. It is contested by aspiring singers, drawn from public auditions and is open to all ages, sex, styles, solo acts or groups. A major difference between the show and others is that the judges also double as coaches for the various groups. It is peculiarly split in stages, following the contestants from auditions through to the boot camp, the judges' homes; to the grand finale. Dancers are also featured and contestants could accompany themselves on guitar, piano or any other musical instruments.

Globacom's Head, Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello is excited about the show: “Africa has been yearning for a programme of this optimum quality,” he said, “and we are privileged to have made it possible.”

Bello revealed that the spur for Globacom, also include the fact that the it is marking is 10th anniversary this year, and The X Factor, is just another way of celebrating the company's success in the last one decade.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of our operations and this programme is, in part, our modest way of thanking our subscribers for their loyalty and patronage,” he said.

Commenting on the ultimate prize of $150,000 to the winner, Bello said that this is in sync with the profile of the show. “The unprecedented top prize is a reflection of the premium status of the programme; this is in addition to the coveted Sony Music contract with the attendant post-season super star status for the winner and international stardom”, he added. This, according to him, is not provided by any other music talent show in the country today.

Speaking about the show's upcoming debut in Nigeria, Jamie Lynn, EVP Sales & Distribution, EMEA at Fremantle Media said: “The X Factor is one of the leading entertainment shows of this generation and we're absolutely delighted to be working with Glo to bring Nigeria its own version. The blockbuster show has enjoyed immense success all over the world and we have no doubt it will make the same impact in Nigeria as it has had around the globe.”

Successfully launched in major countries including UK, the United States, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain, organizers say The X Factor, will in Africa, schedule a month-long pre-auditions in the first stage, will kick off in Abuja on April 13 and later hold in Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Accra and Kumasi in Ghana.



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