‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ crashes as MTN dumps sponsorship
Popular TV Quiz game show, anchored by resonating voiced TV presenter, Frank Edoho, ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ was on Sunday evening rested.
Findings by Business Hilights indicated that the scheme had been facing paucity of fund and serial loss of viewership in the last few years since its airing was moved from Friday evening to other days and obscure times.
However, the key reason for the sudden stoppage cannot be unconnected with the pullout of core sponsor, MTN Nigeria.
Several Nigerians who had been following the game show which hit the airwaves around 2004, say it was popular for its educative quizzes, excitements and assemblage of Nigerians from many walks of life.
The scheme at a point carved a segment for both school children scholarship scheme, poor but popular Nigerians who had paid their dues without much to show it, christened ‘Who deserves to be a millionaire’.
The game is organized in a format that puts the person on hot seat after rigorous but brief contest in an incremental tension as he or she navigates from paltry N5,000 to N10mn
The show’s anchor and popular comedian, Frank Edoho at the end of the 13th season on Sunday broke the news, saying it wouldn’t be back until they can secure a new sponsor.
Analysts tend to trace the pullout of MTN to biting effects of recession, CSR spending restructuring and impacts of the SIM registration breach fine. Efforts to get more details from officials of MTN on the main reason behind the sudden pullout failed, but some public affairs pundits traced the development to lack of re-branding of the entire show, 13 years after which to some extent forced it to face relevance crisis.
Business Hilights investigations revealed that the quiz game show which comes first with fastest Finger is encouraged with three life lines including 50/50, phone a friend and ask the audience has recorded some top winners as follows:
Osazuwa Osahon Daniels – 5 million Naira (Year 2009)
Aroma Ufodike Chimuanya – 10 million Naira (Year 2009)
Omotola Akinsola – won house worth N50 million naira (Year 2009)
Babatunde Oni Oladipo – 5 million Naira (Year 2010)
Nnaemeka Ubaekwena – 5 million Naira (Year 2012)
Winifred E. Karieren – 5 million Naira [First female to win 5 million] (Year 2012)
Sammy Abraham – 5 million Naira (Year 2013)
Olalowo Olatokun – 5 million Naira (Year 2014)
