Challenges and Prospect in Digital Broadcasting in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To find out the challenges of digital broadcasting in Nigeria
- To find out the prospect of digital broadcasting in Nigeria
- To understand the socio-economic advantages of digitizing in the broadcasting industry.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The Concept of Digitization
The keynote of this study which focuses on digitization goes forward to define it as a process through which information, whether relayed or through sound, text, voice or image is converted into digital, binary language for computer use (Okorie: 2008, P. 38). This makes possible the conversion of information from different, though one channel, and to reduce the risks of distortion. Thus, the use of digital language facilitates the coverages of computer, telecommunication, office technologies and assorted audio visual consumer electronics. Their integration, in turn, allows information to be handled at higher speed, with more flexibility, improved reliability and lower cost. Through digitization, the capacity of communication channels are greatly expanded, there is more scope for consumer choice, and more possibilities for interactive system (Kambol: 2008, P. 6). Furthermore, digitization considerably improves the quality of voice and video transmission and, economic efficiency is enhanced because conversion to digital forms of storage, retrieval and editing save time and labour. For high quality video, for example, images can be digitally compressed and then transmitted over satellites at 56,000 bits per second as a 10 computer file. This digital data can be stored on disc system. Until it is played back at the original speed. Since digital compression and storage system are light weight, the news technology can be especially useful in news gathering. Digital compression techniques in television offer important role in economic advantages for satellite broadcasting. (Ekeh: 2009, P. 113). More television channels can be put on fewer transponders, which implies considerable savings. Digital compression techniques will also increase opportunities for projects like video conferencing and pay television. In sum, the principle characteristic of digital technologies is its pervasiveness. They are everywhere, at home from kitchen to living room, in the office from electronic badge to computers among other places.
Understanding Analogue TV
To understand digital TV, it’s helpful to understand analogue TV so as to point out the differences to actually help us understand and appreciate the necessity of digital television. Analogue television did not really begin as an industry until the development of the cathode-ray tube (CRT), which uses a steered electron beam to “write” lines of electrons across a phosphor coated surface. (Wikipedia, 2010). The electron beam could be swept across the screen much faster than any mechanical disc system, allowing for more closely spaced scan lines and much higher image resolution, while slow fade phosphors removed image flicker effects. Also for less maintenance was required of an all electronic system compared to a spinning disc system. To review quickly here are the basics of analogue television transmission (a) A video camera takes a picture of a scene at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. 11 (b) The camera rasterizes the scene. That is the camera turns the picture into rows of individual dots called pixels. Each pixel is assigned a colour and intensity. (c) The rows of pixels are combined with synchronization signals, called horizontal sync and vertical sync signals, so that the electronics inside a TV set, will know how to display the rows of pixels (Wikipedia, 2010).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine challenges and prospect in digital broadcasting in Nigeria. NTA Enugu, Enugu state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
H1: there are no challenges of digital broadcasting in Nigeria
H2: there are no prospects of digital broadcasting in Nigeria
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain challenges and prospect in digital broadcasting in Nigeria. 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 challenges and prospect in digital broadcasting in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on challenges and prospect in digital broadcasting in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the challenges of digital broadcasting in Nigeria, to find out the prospect of digital broadcasting in Nigeria and to understand the socio-economic advantages of digitizing in the broadcasting industry. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from NTA Enugu. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
With the conduction of the research and having analyzed all the data collected, it was discovered that the global drive for digitization is crucial, because digital format of broadcasting is of higher quality than analogue, it enhances sound and picture quality and makes much channel viewing easily accessible. The introductions of digital television represent the most significant innovation since the advent of television itself. Digital broadcast delivery, in addition to multiplying the number of available channels, will also transform the very nature of the television medium by making it interactive. This research has revealed that NTA Enugu broadcasting station is not fully digitized, this is because of some constraints which militate against the media house such as lack of adequate funds to run the broadcast station properly
Recommendation
Government should minimize its interference in the station in order to enable the station run smoothly and generate funds to operate maximally. Although it is the case of “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. It is no secrete that the greater percentage of the problems faced by the government owned broadcast outfits is government constant unfair interference, accounting for the reasons private owned 35 broadcast firms in the country thrive to the detriment of the government owned broadcasting organizations
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.
- Ekeh, D. (2009). Nigeria television at 50: Challenge of digitization. Retrieved on 27/7/10, from http://www.tvnews.com/articles_comment/ekehdesmond.html
