HIPTV JOINS HITV

Starting from a slump in rating due largely to its disappearance from major television stations where it used to air, urban music channel, Hip TV, has made a clean break from the norm. Last Wednesday, HipTV started airing on its own 24-hour channel on home-grown satellite television, HiTV. Hip TV Channel 9 began programming at 8pm Nigerian time May 31. E-Punch sources say the arrangement is a mutually beneficial one for both parties. While HiTv’s strength in the area of sports has been considerably weakened by the loss of rights to broadcast both the Premiership league and the UEFA Champions league, Hip TV, on the other hand, had always wanted a platform to reach a wider audience. This was echoed by the executive producer of the wholly entertainment channel, Ayo Animashaun. “HipTV producers and HiTV are partnering to deliver superior entertainment news content to consumers and to a wider audience in Nigeria and the UK. This is a dream come true. Viewers should brace up for unprecedented programming and the kind of variety they’ve been asking for.” Some of the programmes that endeared HipTV to television buffs include video profiling, documentaries, interviews and segments like‘Caught Out There’, ‘I Thought You Knew’ and ‘Dead Curious’. Animashaun is also the founder of Hiphop World Awards and Hiphop World Magazine.

ITS A TWIN AFFAIR

Following in the footsteps of their mentors, P-Square, Taiwo and Kehinde Olusola, known as Twins Affair, are positing, strongly too, that they are the next big thing to happen to Nigerian music. Their optimism is infectious. In fact, their recent output, Oh Bad Gan, is listen-worthy. The song is delivered in near-flawless rap and harps on the dejection that comes with being overlooked by the opposite sex.


According to the twin brothers, “Like P-Square, we produce our songs ourselves, thus giving us room to interpret a song just as we want it and make it acceptable to our fans. We are a work in progress and we are putting our all into ensuring that we are consistent and relevant over a long period of time.”


Taiwo and Kehinde are both music graduates of the Delta State University, Abraka. According to them, they started music professionally about four years ago as singers and music producers working with a host of up and coming artistes

BANKY W AND SHASHA BECOMES SAMSUNG'S BRAND AMBASSADORS

Even if they do not admit it, the good times have rolled in for self-acclaimed First Lady of rap, Sasha, and velvet-voiced R n B crooner, Banky W. The duo was unveiled as the new brand ambassadors of Samsung at a well-attended ceremony in Lagos on Thursday. The deal is said to be very lucrative. While it is Sasha’s first multinational brand endorsement, Banky W is luckier, as he used to be Etisalat’s brand ambassador.


The Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Fady Khatib, says the company recognizes the importance and impact of dynamic brand ambassadors, which is in tandem with the company’s brand positioning exercise aimed at maintaining its leadership position in the country.


More so, Banky W and Sasha’s blend of spirit and style, success and charm, Khatib says, strongly match with the Samsung brand which prides itself on innovation, style and superior products.


“Their dynamism, combined with our brand expertise, will help us present our products in different, innovative ways to consumers. We are, indeed, very proud and privileged to have them as our Brand Ambassadors.”


As Samsung ambassadors, Banky W and Sasha are expected to endorse the Samsung Mobile brand and make appearances at company events and activities.


Banky W says, “Samsung Mobile represents the hope for a better tomorrow given its commitment to providing quality products and services as well as the development of youths in Nigeria. I’m indeed very proud to be associated with them.”


On her part, Sasha notes, “Samsung Mobile embodies so much of what I believe in since the company is dedicated to providing consumers not only with quality products but a way of life as well. Samsung Mobile is a brand that is dedicated to being a socially and environmentally responsible corporate company in every community where it operates around the globe. It gives me great pleasure that from today, my name will be synonymous with one of the World’s most famous brands.”


Excited, Storm Records (Sasha’s label) boss, Obi Asika, says, “We want to congratulate Sasha who is an iconic artiste and represents for all young females what is possible when talent meets hard work. Banky W has always been a talent and has become a major force on the Nigerian and African scene. I am particularly happy that Storm has been able to position this deal with two of Nigeria’s most talented artistes. On a personal note, I must pay special tribute to Tola Odunsi who led this initiative with Samsung and has managed to integrate all the elements of this unique relationship. Again, we want to thank Samsung for supporting Nigerian talents in the real sense and for giving Storm the privilege to work with them as we build this platform.”

BIGIANO SURVIVES A TERRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT

Music star, Bigiano, now wishes to be known as Bigiano Kuti. Kuti, for those who are not too conversant with the name, literally means he who refuses to die. Not to worry, the young man is still in his senses and his parents are still very much alive. He has reasons for the new addition to his name.


Last Monday, on his way from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he missed performing at the inauguration of the new governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, Bigiano was involved in an accident that would have thrown the entertainment industry into another round of mourning. Luckily for him, except for some body pains, he survived unscathed.


He says, “The accident happened at Shagamu Junction. I was in the car with my hype man when a trailer suddenly veered off its lane and while trying to avert a collision, my car bumped into a ditch and when I came out, I just found myself being dragged under the trailer. I didn’t know what to do. I was just praying. Everything happened within seconds and before I knew it, I found myself in a nearby bush.”


He says the first thing he did was to check if the other passenger was alive before removing the air bag that had buffeted him. He tells E-Punch, “It was a close shave honestly. The car is beyond repairs. But I thank God I am still alive.”


Indeed, he should. Burgeoning entertainers such as Da Grin, CD John and Chidinma of the Koko Mansion fame were not so lucky.