BBNaija No Loose Guard: A decline in viewership- what could have gone wrong?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

On Sunday, October 6, BBNaija No Loose Guard, the ninth edition of the most Big Brother Naija reality show will be coming to a conclusion. The 2024 edition of the renowned reality show failed to hit the popularity it used.

Though the reality show is one of the most watched reality show in Nigeria, it failed to hit that number it used and suffered a decline amongst youths in the country.

As a matter of fact, netizens have taken to social media to either deride the organizers of the BBNaija No Loose Guard competition for failing to recognize the tumultuous situation that is ongoing in the nation, Nigeria (where the competition is taking place).

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In this article, we would be reviewing some of the possible reasons Nigeria and other prospective viewers across the world failed to tune in to the much coveted reality show.

Read the following below:

“Familiarity Breeds Contempt”

We must have heard the proverbial statement, “familiarity breeds contempt”, that is the case with the most watched Nigerian reality show. Simply put, after eight previous seasons, viewers already understand how the competition unravels weekly. One contestant gets eliminated after the other, or so it goes…

Without being disrespectful, viewers are genuinely desiring something fresh and enlightening. Hence, they are beginning to distance themselves from the content because they have become too familiar with it.

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Lack Of Star Power

This season didn’t have any star power. None of the housemates have been able to fascinate viewers enough to entrap them to watch the program for long hours.

Compared to the previous seasons, the contestants in this season (even though the numbers are more) are charismatic enough to entertain the viewers. In the past seasons, housemates such as Tacha, Mercy Eke, Mike Edward (from the BBNaija Pepper Dem), Laycon, Nengi, Ozo (BBNaija Lockdown), etc. have been able to make a name for themselves through their charm, charisma and personality.

This season simply has no star power.

No ‘Baddie’ In The House

In pop culture, ‘baddie’ is a term used to refer to a sexually appealing woman. In mainstream culture, superstars such as Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage identify as Baddies. They enthral audiences with their physique and entangle viewers with their sultry aura.

In 2023, Ilebaye who identified as a “Gen Z Baddie” emerged winner of the show. Mercy Eke, the winner of the 2019 BBNaija Pepper Dem edition and runner up of the 2023 BBNaija Allstars edition emerged as a sex symbol and she garnered her own fan base through her charm, beauty and personality. This season didn’t failed to produce a fascinating baddie, someone who would make the viewers care- indeed, everyone felt like they were missing nothing and they are not objectively wrong.

Although the show had other beautiful women such as Victoria, Nelly, to name a few, no female contestant stunned viewers enough to care.

A low point in the history of the reality show.

Economic Situation

As at the time of this report, Nigerians are experiencing one of the harshest periods in modern history of the country. Citizens of the country are unable to afford some of their basic needs due to how expensive things have become, hence, forcing them to see the reality show as secondary. It isn’t the fault of the contestants nor the show organizers that the competition didn’t attain the popularity it once enjoyed, the struggle ongoing across the streets is a testament to why people would prefer to afford their basic needs than sit down in front of a television set.

The psychological needs of the average Nigerian comes prior to the need to be entertained or swayed by the shenanigans of contestants on television.

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Conclusion…

It is important to note that the organizers of the Big Brother Naija program are not in the business of solving hunger, instead they are here to entertain the viewers and enrich the contestants of the show. There are netizens who troll the organizers of the competition for promoting the show despite the heinous situation the country is currently going through, that’s simply a nonsensical thing to do as the show organizers are not in charge of the affairs of Nigeria’s economy.

They are in the business of entertainment and must continue to enthrall those who care to watch on television or via social media.

In conclusion, viewers would be admonished to tune in on Sunday, October 6 to watch the conclusion of the ninth edition of Big Brother Naija.