Glo brings X Factor, world's biggest singing reality show, to Africa

Glo ambassadors Desmond Elliot, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Globacom’s Head of Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, Chief Finance Officer of Rapid Blue, Richard McCullough, and Glo ambassador Sammie Okposo, at the launch of "The X Factor"

The world’s number one music singing talent reality TV show, “The X Factor”, has berthed in Africa for the first time on the shores of Nigeria, courtesy of the leading telecommunications company, Globacom. The show was unveiled on Wednesday night at the GET Arena, Lekki, Lagos, confirming Globacom as the leading force that connects the youths to their entertainment passion.

The ultimate winner of the spectacular show will cart home a princely sum of $150,000 (N24million), the biggest purse among current reality TV shows. He will also win a recording contract with the internationally acclaimed Sony Music for the recording of an album and professional management of the winning individual or group.

Globacom's Head of Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, flanked by Globacom Ambassador Sammie Okposo (right) and Richard McCullough, Chief Finance Officer of Rapid Blue, at the launch of "The X Factor"

According to the company’s Head, Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, Glo is proud to be the catalyst that brought about this development and the attendant buzz cum excitement it will generate across the continent. “Africa has been yearning for a programme of this optimum quality and we are privileged to have made it possible,” an ecstatic Bello said. He added that Glo needed to do something special to signpost the special year of its 10^th anniversary, hence the gift of “The X Factor” to entertain and delight its teeming subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa and the larger public.

“This year marks the 10^th 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, which is not provided by any other music talent show in the country today.

The X Factor, a Syco-owned format, is produced and distributed worldwide by FremantleMedia. Speaking about the show’s upcoming debut in Nigeria, Jamie Lynn, EVP Sales & Distribution, EMEA at FremantleMedia 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.”

“The X Factor” is a Reality TV singing competition to find 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.

“The X Factor” has been successfully launched in major countries including UK, the United States, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain. Here in Africa, the month-long pre-auditions, which are the first stage, will kick off in Abuja on April 13 and later hold in Port Harcourt and Lagos. It will also run in Accra and Kumasi in Ghana.

Also commenting on the development, Nigeria’s Afro-calypso king, Lagbaja, said that the introduction of the programme is a historic event which underscores Glo’s profile as the biggest supporter of quality entertainment packages. “Coming on the heels of the immensely popular Lafftafest, Glo Naija Sings, G-Bam show, Campus Storm and the Big Friday Show, this is yet another proof of the company’s consistency in thrilling the youths”, he said.

The other stages of the competition include the auditions, in front of an audience; the evictions; the judge’s day and the grand finale. Bello noted that X- Factor has consistently ranked No 1 entertainment programme across the world, especially among the young adults. “With X – Factor, the entertainment scene in Nigeria will never be the same again”, he said

Globacom’s Regional Director Marketing Communications (West Africa), Charles Jenarius (left), and Chairman of Firehouse Limited, Victor Obaika, at the launch of "The X Factor", the world's biggest singing reality TV show brought to Africa for the first time by leading telecoms operator, Globacom, at Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday night.

DJ Humility and a guest

Singer Tosin Martins, Glo ambassadors Odulade Adekola and Sammie Okposo with Globacom's Head of Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, at the launch of "The X Factor", the world's biggest singing reality TV show brought to Africa for the first time by leading telecoms operator, Globacom, at Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday night.