Bigger and better! Nigerian Idol launches Season II… announces Charles
Oputa as new judge and Tiwa Savage, Ill Rymz as new hosts

After an electrifying first season that saw the crowning of the first ever Nigerian Idol, Yeka Onka, the global music phenomenon returns to Nigeria
for a second season.

Season II of Nigerian Idol is produced by the Optima Media Group (OMG) and Rapid Blue Format. It continues to enjoy the sponsorship of Etisalat, in
association with Sony and Pepsi. This year, they have partnered with Beat FM and Air Nigeria which is the official airline of Nigerian Idol Season
II.

This was revealed at a media & VIP launch on 28 September 2011 at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The event also witnessed an electrifying performance of the hot new single ‘Follow U’ by Season 1 winner, Yeka Onka. The singer was produced by Chocolate City’s Jesse Jags.

“Nigerian Idol will be an even more exciting television experience this season,” its executive producer, Rotimi Pedro, said. “The last three shows of NI garnered more viewership, especially with the youth demographic, than any other music reality show – proving the point of the power of the Idol brand across the globe. We are committed to ensuring that the standards from the past show – in terms of content, production and interactivity are surpassed this time around. This is Idol – it’s the real deal.”

The cycle of the show remains the same, spanning seven months, the producers have confirmed. The season kicks off on October 7th with auditions in four Nigerian cities – Abuja, Port Hacourt, Enugu and Lagos, where auditions end in November. Nigerian Idol hopefuls simply have to go to Nigerianidol.com in order to register.

“Based on audience feedback and to enhance the unique Idol experience this season, we’ve made a few major changes,” said Mr. Pedro. These exciting new changes include, a new judge; musician, former music association president and TV host, Charles Oputa, fondly known as Charly Boy.

The judges’ line up however retains songstress Yinka Davies and international choreographer and musician, Jeffrey Daniels who has returned this season.

After hotly-contested auditions that featured the brightest across the media and entertainment sectors, new hosts have also been announced and they are rave-of-the-moment singer Tiwa Savage, and VeeJay Ill Rhymz.

“I am very excited to be a part of the successful Nigerian version of this global franchise,” Savage said. “I am lucky to have worked in the music industry in America, writing for acts like Jennifer Hudson and to have seen close up what the flagship American Idol has done for amazing talents like her. I am incredibly thrilled to be part of that magical experience in Nigeria and to be a witness to the creating of a new Nigerian superstar.”

There are only winners on Nigerian Idol this season as lead sponsor Etisalat will give premium prizers not just to the winner, but also to the runners-up and others from the Top Ten.

The winner of the show takes home whopping new prizes valued at $100, 000 which includes a management contract, the prize money and a recording contract. The first runner up gets N1.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, Blackberry and iPod; and the 2nd runner up will receive N1million, a Galaxy Tab, a Blackberry and an iPod. Finalists from 4th to 10th place also receive each, N100, 000, a Galaxy Tab, a Blackberry and an iPod.

The show begins airing 4th December, until the winner is announced at a grand gala on April 1st 2012. Nigerian Idol is brought to you by Etisalat, in association with Pepsi and Sony. It is also supported by partners, Air Nigeria and Beat FM.

ABOUT NIGERIA IDOL

Following the premise of the original show Pop Idol, Nigerian Idol is a television reality show with a nation-wide search for Nigeria’s next solo superstar, which will offer one young talent the opportunity that raw talented singers have until now, only dreamed of. Nigerian Idol aims to find the best singer in the country who can be defined as the “National”singer, and an International Artiste.
Nigerian Idol Season I was won by Yeka Onka, a former beauty queen and contestant from Abia State, Just as it happened on the previous season following the Idol format, a panel of three judges, made up of some of the music industry’s most influential experts, will be faced with the daunting prospect of choosing 50 talented singers to face the viewing public who will decide, in a series of live shows, who most deserves the chance of stardom. These 50
hopefuls will be set tasks to prove that they have got the musical talent to make it in one of the world’s fastest-growing and most competitive
music industries. The Winner will be chosen after a live show in which the final two contestants sing to the nation in the hope of clinching the
prize that will change their lives forever.

ABOUT OMG

Optima Media Group is Africa’s leading Sports, Media and Entertainment company specializing in the provision of media content and marketing
solutions. We provide unique entertainment experiences throughout Africa, through our media and sports platforms.

Conceived in 1999 and Officially launched in 2000, OMG has been at the heart of the Media industry offering the inside-track on development sand
views that are shaping the sector, thus becoming one of the most reputable and respected media firms in Africa with presence in several African
countries and rapidly growing. We have grown to provide acomprehensive range of premium media content and services throughout Africa, and are
able to effectively re-broadcast program blocks to our large affiliate network of broadcasters, thus reaching out regularlyto more than 300
Million of Africa’s core demographic every month.

As a pioneer, and leading visionary of the Africa Media and Entertainment Industry, OMG has a proven track record for the best sports and media
properties as rights distribution for the European Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League, and FIFA World Cup.
The latest offering from the stable of OMG is the popular Nigerian Idol in partnership with Rapid Blue Format.