Ekaaro,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Paramount Africa shuts down after 20 years
- Nigeria’s banks can’t throw jabs anymore
- CBN moves to curb rising push-payment fraud
Paramount Africa shuts down after 20 years
Paramount Africa is officially shutting down at the end of December 2025, drawing the curtain on more than two decades of operations in South Africa and Nigeria. The company, which once reached over 100 million viewers across 52 African territries, confirmed it will close its doors as part of a massive global restructuring at its parent company, Paramount Global.
This is the same Paramount Africa behind channels like BET, MTV, MTV Base, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more. Its digital footprint has also been significant, with millions of monthly page views, social media engagements, and content partnerships across Africa. But despite that scale, rising costs and a global strategic reset have caught up with the business.
Paramount’s retrenchment has been building for months. Earlier this year, plans to launch a standalone Paramount+ app in South Africa were quietly shelved. Then in August, the company said its content would remain available only via DStv and Showmax. And last month, MultiChoice confirmed that BET Africa and MTV Base will disappear from DStv and GOtv on 1 January 2026, as Paramount Africa winds down entirely.
Industry watchers, including TV critic Thinus Ferreira, say the shutdown is tied to aggressive cost-cutting after Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The company is targeting a 15% reduction in global staff and $3 billion in savings. International divisions, including Africa, have taken the hardest hit as the business pivots away from linear TV and doubles down on a more streamlined streaming-first model.
At the same time, the global media landscape is being shaken by Warner Bros. Discovery’s chaotic auction. Netflix, Paramount, and Comcast have all submitted fresh bids for WBD, with some offers reportedly focusing on the studios-and-streaming division, home to HBO, HBO Max, DC, and Warner Bros. Pictures. Analysts say the crown jewel bundle could go for as much as $70 billion, a deal that would reshape Hollywood and accelerate the decline of traditional TV.
While Wall Street seems thrilled at the prospect of consolidation, others warn it could trigger job losses and further concentration of media power. Still, with cable TV revenues collapsing and studio economics shifting, both Paramount’s African exit and WBD’s potential sale look like part of the same story: old media is being rebuilt — fast — and Africa is feeling the ripple effects.
Nigeria’s banks can’t throw jabs anymore
If you were on Nigerian X back in 2018, you probably remember #BankWars, the day banks ditched corporate seriousness and went full meme mode. What started as Sterling Bank’s cheeky “to the moon” rocket ad suddenly spiralled into a viral exchange, with Union Bank, Access Bank, and FirstBank firing back with clever jabs of their own. It was the rare moment Nigerians saw banks show personality and compete publicly with humour.
Well, that era is officially over. On Thursday, 27 November 2025, the Central Bank of Nigeria drew a firm line in the sand. In a new circular, the regulator banned banks and other financial institutions from running ads that “de-market” competitors, directly or indirectly. Anything that compares prices, takes subtle shots, or nudges customers away from rivals has now been declared off-limits.
The directive doesn’t stop there. The CBN also barred ads promoting lotteries, prize draws, or any chance-based incentives, a tactic some fintechs have leaned on to boost sign-ups. The goal, according to the circular, is to enforce stricter compliance with the Consumer Protection Regulations (2019) and long-standing guidelines on advertising conduct.
This move puts fresh pressure on financial service providers whose marketing strategies thrive on witty comparisons or competitive callouts. Think about Cenoa’s 2024 campaign, where the fintech didn’t even bother with metaphors, it straight-up put its rates side-by-side with Grey, Chipper Cash, and Payoneer. While this kind of boldness usually sparks engagement, it’s now walking straight into regulatory fire.
With the new rules in force, banks and fintechs will have to rethink how they communicate value without throwing shade. Want to dig deeper into what this means for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem? Read Sarah’s latest story for Techpoint Africa.
CBN moves to curb rising push-payment fraud
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has rolled out new draft guidelines to tackle the growing wave of push-payment fraud, scams where people are tricked into sending money to fraudsters. With digital payments exploding across the country, these incidents have become more common and more costly for banks and customers alike.
The move fits into the CBN’s wider crackdown on financial fraud, following recent steps like mandatory geotagging of POS terminals and tighter rules for banking agents. The new guidelines aim to force banks to strengthen their fraud-prevention systems and respond faster when customers get scammed.
Under the proposed rules, banks must provide 24/7 channels, including social media, apps, email and in-branch options, for customers to report fraud. Victims are expected to report incidents within 24 hours of discovering the scam, but they get up to 72 hours total if they can provide the key details needed for investigation.
Banks must acknowledge complaints within a day, issue a case number, and wrap up investigations within 14 days. During that time, banks can work with NIBSS and the CBN to freeze the suspect funds. Customers will only be reimbursed if they report on time, and refunds must be paid within 48 hours after investigations conclude. If no bank is directly at fault but the customer still qualifies for a refund, the banks involved must split the cost.
If a case drags on without a clear outcome, customers can escalate it to the CBN’s Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department, which serves as the final decision-maker. Ultimately, bank boards are responsible for enforcing these rules, monitoring fraud trends, and making sure the controls actually work.
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Have a wonderful Wednesday!
