Broadcasters’ Assessment of Problem and Prospect in Migration From Analogue to Digital Broadcasting Platform
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of Study
- To examine if the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have an impact on broadcast industry in Nigeria.
- To know the challenges that transition from analog to digital poses for the broadcast station in Nigeria.
- To examine whether digital broadcasting service in the country has enhanced broadcast production.
- To study the importance that digitalization will bring to broadcast audience.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Description of broadcasting
The penetration of new technologies and the dynamic effects of convergence are changing the way that consumers access and view audio-visual content. As broadcasting services are continuously evolving, it is no longer possible to provide a uniform, all-encompassing definition of ‘broadcasting’ that is adequate to capture all the particular features of the market for broadcasting services. There is a plethora of audio and video services provided via different media that escape the traditional boundaries of broadcasting. YouTube, which initially started operating as a peer video upload website, today offers viewers access to content posted by some of mainstream broadcasters, such as the UK’s BBC. However, at a general level, the term broadcasting has been defined as “the business of producing interactive information content and distributing it via telecommunications services.”9 This topic is specifically focused on television and broadcasting and the matters that competition authorities should be concerned with to ensure that consumers are able to derive maximum benefit from television broadcasting services. However, the implications of technological convergence make drawing a bright line around what does, and does not, constitute television broadcasting increasingly complicated and challenging. In 1998, when the Competition Committee of the OECD last considered the issues of Competition in Broadcasting, it was alert to the potential disruptive effect new technologies could have on the sector. Even then the primary focus was on how changes in technology and consumer demand were altering the operation of broadcasting and removing the traditional rationales for broadcasting regulation. The trend towards the convergence of networks, services, firms, and devices within the information and communications industries was identified, and the Committee foresaw that this would facilitate a dramatic change in the broadcasting industry. The transformation was characterised as a change from the old analogue to the new digital model. In the former, a limited amount of information was transmitted one way across a limited bandwidth to a mass audience. In the latter, a potentially unlimited amount of information can be transmitted interactively to a fragmented audience over a wide range of broadband telecommunications paths.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to broadcasters assessment of problem and prospect in migration from analogue to digital broadcasting platform.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in gathering information relevant to broadcasters assessment of problem and prospect in migration from analogue to digital broadcasting platform. Two hundred (200) staffs of EBS and NTA Benin City was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
One hundred and sixty (160) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and forty (133) were returned. This figure was the sample size. Out of the one hundred and thirty-three, only one hundred and twenty (120) were properly responded to. As a result, the researcher used one hundred and twenty for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain broadcaster’s assessment of problem and prospect in migration from analogue to digital broadcasting platform. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of broadcaster’s assessment of problem and prospect in migration from analogue to digital broadcasting platform
Summary
This study was on broadcaster’s assessment of problem and prospect in migration from analogue to digital broadcasting platform. Four objectives were raised which included: To examine if the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have an impact on broadcast industry in Nigeria, to know the challenges that transition from analog to digital poses for the broadcast station in Nigeria, to examine whether digital broadcasting service in the country has enhanced broadcast production and to study the importance that digitalization will bring to broadcast audience. In line with these objectives, four research questions were formulated and answered. The total population for the study is 200 staff of EBS and NTA Benin City. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made production managers, broadcaster, editors and administrative staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The International Telecommunication Union, set 2015 as date broadcasting will become entirely digitized. Following that deadline, Nigeria, through its broadcast regulators, NBC, set June 2012 as the nation’s switchover date. This development caused the raising of several issues, both locally and internationally. Many benefits have been identified with digital technology. It has been ascertained that digital TV offers clearer picture and sound. It also enables multiple channel reception. More so, the signals are less prone to distortion. The gains are countless. However, the digitization process is faced with some challenges. The masses are not all aware of what the process is about. The financial burden is too involving both for the broadcasters and the audience. Further, the political climate in Nigeria poses fear on whether the deadline could actually be met. Nevertheless, Nigeria cannot be said to be lagging behind when its deadline is compared to those of even more advanced countries like Australia and the countries of Europe. Therefore, if the policies are religiously followed; if governments come to the aid of the parties involved by way of funding and subsidy, then the road to the digitization shall be smooth. In addition, awareness creation would go step further to enhance the process. Moreover, government should find a lasting solution to the power problem. Digitization and power outage are not compatible. Nigeria as the giant of Africa should emulate the policy implementation approaches of other “dwarfs” of Africa like Ghana. There is a need to move forward, especially digitally
Recommendation
- A massive awareness campaign should be launched in Nigeria to properly inform the people about the digital switchover. The Nigerian Broadcast Commission should champion the campaign.
- Television stations in Nigeria should start the process of acquiring relevant and current digital equipment to enable them fully migrate to digital broadcasting.
- All television stations in Nigeria should as a matter of urgency commence the training and retraining of their staff to herald enhanced skills in the operations of digital equipment.
- The Nigerian government must as a function of necessity address and restore normalcy in power supply. The government must ensure there is regular power supply in the country. This will enable the broadcast stations to maximally utilize the digital equipment to transmit digital contents to the audience
References
- Aihe, O. (2008, June 11). HDTV: Nigeria begins digital broadcast journey. Vanguard. Retrieved on 28/07/10 from http.//www.odilinet.com/news/source/june/11/315.html.
- Baran, S.J. (2010). Introduction to mass communication, media literacy and culture (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
- BBC (2008). Nigeria satellite fails in space. Retrieved on 04/08/2010 from http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/Africa
- Bunshak, T.(2006, April – June). Digital broadcasting is now. NBC News: 8(2).
- Dokpesi, R. (2009). “We are changing broadcasting in Nigeria. Retrieved on 27/07/10 from http://www.modernghana.com/movie/2594/1/we-are-changing.html
- Dominick, J.R. (2009). The dynamics of mass communication: Media in the digital age (10th ed.). New York: McGrawHill.
