Nigerian Entertainment Today

Nigerian Entertainment Today, commonly known as NET or The Netng, is a Nigerian entertainment media organization headquartered in Lagos. The brand publishes news and features about music, film, celebrities, fashion, popular culture, and lifestyle, with a primary focus on Nigeria and wider African audiences. It was established on November 23, 2009, by Ayeni Adekunle and initially operated through both digital and print channels under NET Newspaper Limited. The organization developed a reputation for entertainment reporting, including exclusive interviews, breaking news, celebrity coverage, and stories about the Nigerian music and film industries. Its early print edition circulated in approximately 37 major Nigerian cities and reportedly sold about 10,000 copies weekly. As audience behavior shifted toward online news consumption, the organization gradually reduced its print activity. By 2016, it had largely phased out the print version and concentrated on its website and other digital publishing activities. NET's digital expansion was accompanied by growing visibility in Nigeria's online media market. In April 2013, Alexa ranked the NET website among Nigeria's most visited websites. Shortly afterward, the original website was disrupted by a sustained hacking incident. The publisher declined to pay the ransom demanded by the attackers and instead launched a new web domain, thenet.ng. By 2014, the new site was reported to be among Nigeria's 100 most visited websites according to Alexa. The publication has been associated with several notable entertainment exclusives. Its reporting included early coverage of the births of children of Nigerian musicians Wizkid and Ice Prince, as well as a 2012 interview with D'Banj in London addressing the circumstances surrounding the split between D'Banj and Don Jazzy, the co-founders of Mo' Hits Records. The debut print edition also reported the death of rapper Da Grin and published a tribute, with copies selling out after the story appeared. Beyond daily or periodic journalism, The Netng has served as an event and recognition platform in Nigeria's creative industries. It organizes the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, also known as NECLive, and the NET Honours, which recognize participants and achievements in entertainment and popular culture. These activities extend the brand beyond news publishing into industry convening, public discussion, and awards. NET Newspaper Limited and its subsidiaries, including Netng, were acquired by ID Africa in 2019. The transaction transferred full ownership rights to ID Africa. Under the ID Africa ownership structure, The Netng remains positioned as a digital-first entertainment media brand serving Nigerian and African entertainment audiences.

Nigerian Entertainment Today was founded on November 23, 2009, by Ayeni Adekunle. The publication began as an entertainment news operation serving Nigeria's rapidly developing popular-culture industries. Although it became best known for its online presence, the organization also produced a print newspaper. Its printed copies circulated in roughly 37 major Nigerian cities and reportedly reached weekly sales of about 10,000 copies. The publication built its identity around entertainment reporting, particularly news about Nigerian music, film, celebrities, and the broader creative economy. Its coverage included breaking stories, interviews, exclusive reports, tributes, and lifestyle material. The brand's early print output helped establish a physical presence in Nigerian newsstands, while its website provided a faster channel for celebrity and industry news. In April 2013, Alexa ranked the NET website as the 33rd most visited website in Nigeria. Soon after that ranking became public, the original website was subjected to a sustained hacking attack. The attackers reportedly took control of the site, made it inaccessible to visitors, and demanded a ransom initially stated as $1,200. The demand was later reduced, but the publisher refused to pay. Instead, it launched a new website domain, thenet.ng. By 2014, the replacement website was reported to be among Nigeria's 100 most visited websites according to Alexa. NET's reporting profile was strengthened by a number of exclusive stories. It was credited with being the first to report the births of children of Nigerian musicians Wizkid and Ice Prince. In 2012, the organization published an exclusive interview with D'Banj in London concerning the breakdown of his professional relationship with Don Jazzy. Because both artists had co-founded Mo' Hits Records, the interview attracted attention within the Nigerian music industry and addressed speculation about their split. The publication's first print edition also reported the death of rapper Da Grin and included a special tribute; copies reportedly sold out within weeks across the cities where the paper was distributed. As Nigerian audiences increasingly consumed media through websites and other digital channels, NET changed its operating model. It gradually phased out its print edition and had largely moved away from print by 2016. This transition made The Netng primarily a digital entertainment publisher while preserving its emphasis on Nigerian and African popular culture. The brand also developed activities beyond editorial publishing. It became associated with the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, known as NECLive, an event intended to bring together participants in Nigeria's entertainment industries. The Netng also organizes the NET Honours, extending its role into recognition and celebration of entertainment figures and accomplishments. These platforms give the organization an industry-facing function in addition to its consumer-news role. In 2019, NET Newspaper Limited and all of its subsidiaries, including Netng, were acquired by ID Africa. The acquisition transferred total ownership rights to ID Africa. The transaction marked a change in corporate ownership while retaining The Netng as an entertainment media brand operating from Nigeria and addressing audiences interested in African entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle.

• 2019

  Acquisition by ID Africa

  [1]The Netngen.wikipedia.org

  ID Africa acquires NET Newspaper Limited and its subsidiaries, including Netng.

• 2016

  Print edition is phased out

  [1]The Netngen.wikipedia.org

  NET reduces and ultimately phases out its print product as audience consumption shifts toward online entertainment news.

• 2013

  Website attack and domain replacement

  [1]The Netngen.wikipedia.org

  After the original website is compromised and held for ransom, the publisher launches a replacement domain rather than paying the attackers.

• 2012

  Exclusive D'Banj interview

  [1]The Netngen.wikipedia.org

  NET publishes an exclusive interview with D'Banj discussing the split between D'Banj and Don Jazzy at Mo' Hits Records.

• 2009

  Nigerian Entertainment Today is founded

  [1]The Netngen.wikipedia.org

  Ayeni Adekunle establishes Nigerian Entertainment Today on November 23 as a Nigerian entertainment news organization.

A digital-first Nigerian entertainment publication combining breaking celebrity and popular-culture reporting with industry events, interviews, lifestyle coverage, and recognition programs.

• Digital entertainment news · 2009

  The Netng online publication

  The brand's principal digital product is an online publication covering Nigerian and African entertainment. Its editorial scope includes celebrity news, music, film, fashion, lifestyle, interviews, and developments in the creative industries. The site became the organization's central channel after the decline and eventual phase-out of its print edition.

• Print entertainment news · 2009

  NET print newspaper

  NET originally operated a print entertainment newspaper whose copies circulated in approximately 37 major Nigerian cities. The print edition helped establish the brand in physical newsstands and reportedly sold about 10,000 copies weekly. It was gradually discontinued as readers increasingly moved online.

• Industry conference

  Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive)

  NECLive is an entertainment-industry conference organized by The Netng. It extends the brand's role from reporting into convening participants and discussing issues relevant to Nigeria's creative and entertainment sectors.

• Entertainment recognition program

  NET Honours

  NET Honours is the brand's entertainment recognition platform. It complements the publication's editorial coverage by celebrating figures and achievements associated with Nigerian entertainment and popular culture.

• Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive)

  Nigeria

  The Netng organizes NECLive as an industry-facing conference focused on Nigeria's entertainment ecosystem and related creative-industry issues.

  Outcome. The event expanded the brand's role from news publisher to industry convener.

  Source
• NET Honours

  Nigeria

  NET Honours recognizes people and achievements in Nigerian entertainment and popular culture.

  Outcome. The program strengthened the brand's association with entertainment recognition and cultural influence.

  Source

• 2019

  Acquisition by ID AfricaM&A

  Background

  NET Newspaper Limited operated Netng and related subsidiaries before the ownership transaction.

  Action taken

  ID Africa acquired NET Newspaper Limited and its subsidiaries, including Netng.

  Aftermath

  Full ownership rights in Netng moved to ID Africa.

  Source

• 2016

  Phase out the print editionStrategy

  Background

  Readers increasingly sought entertainment news online, reducing the strategic importance of the print newspaper.

  Action taken

  NET gradually discontinued its print product and concentrated on digital publishing.

  Aftermath

  The Netng became primarily an online entertainment news organization.

  Source

• 2013

  Replace the compromised website instead of paying ransomStrategy

  Background

  The original NET website became inaccessible after a hacking attack and the attackers reportedly demanded a ransom.

  Action taken

  The publisher declined to pay and launched a new domain, thenet.ng.

  Aftermath

  The replacement website was later reported to rank among Nigeria's 100 most visited websites.

  Source

1. 1The Netngen.wikipedia.org