Amidst the clouds of uncertainties surrounding the 2015 general elections, Nigerians can now enjoy moments of warmth, excitement and laughter with the broadcast of season five of Nigeria’s leading music reality show, Nigerian Idol, season 5, which began on Sunday, March 1, 2015, on both terrestrial and satellite TV stations across the nation. The broadcast, featuring mind-blowing performances at the just concluded auditions, offers quality entertainment to the millions of viewers and fans of the family-oriented talent-hunt show. Some of the TV stations airing the show are NTA (National), STV (both DSTV and Terrestrial), Superscreen (9 pm) and Smash TV (8pm on CONSAT). Others stations on Startimes are WAP TV (9pm), AMC (7pm), Rave TV (7pm), Cool TV (9pm), Wazobia TV (8.30pm), Real Star TV (8pm), Oodua TV (7pm) and V. Channels TV (8pm). It will be recalled that Nigerian Idol franchise owners, Optima Media Group (OMG), with show sponsors, Etisalat, Payporte and Dabur Toothpaste, recently concluded nationwide auditions for this season in five cities which included Benin City, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja and Lagos.
Speaking about the auditions and what the expectations are for the viewing public, one of the celebrity judges, Darey Art Alade noted that the increase in the level of competition makes the show all the more interesting. He said, “There is a lot of competition-new voices, new faces, I can’t wait to hear them blossom and go up the ranks, I guess top 100 as we whittle down to the finalists later on as the weeks go by.”
Also speaking on the quality of talents unearthed at the auditions, another judge on the show, Dede Mabiaku assured on the readiness of the participants to offer viewers quality entertainment. “Wonderful talents, more prepared minds because based on how we are going with it, the talks we had with some of them will empower them to keep working on themselves before they get to the top 100”.
The show which is a unique platform for young Nigerians with exceptional music talent to showcase their talent is the only music TV reality show in Nigeria with a global appeal that currently cuts across 46 countries. Nigerian Idol focuses majorly on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million and some high-end devices.