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THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING PRIVATELY OWNED MEDIA STATIONS IN A DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the Study

The media are an indispensable agent of development in any nation given their invaluable contribution to governance as a watchdog and partner in progress with other arms of government. In a developing country like Nigeria, the mass media have been instrumental to the delivery and consolidation of the current democratic experience (Izuora, 2003). Democracy allows people to participate equally either directly or through elected representatives in the proposal, development and formulation of laws. It is a system that emphasizes a broader participation of the constituents in the direction and operation of the political system. The term “participatory democracy” is often used to describe this system, implying that more members of the democratic society as a matter of right and obligation to it become active participants in the direction of its political destiny as against the traditional representative democracy (Nwanze, 2003).

While the citizens of many third world countries such as ours may not be aware of this civic responsibility to the nation, the media becomes an invaluable tool in mobilising and educating them of these duties before, during and after the electioneering period. Participatory democracy seeks to create opportunities for all the members of the society in making meaningful contribution to the overall decision making process of the polity and also strive to broaden the range of people who have access to such opportunities. Given that so much information must be gathered and disseminated for the overall decision making process to succeed, the advances so far recorded in media technology provides an important force in creating the type of empowerment required for an all-inclusive participation by all (Mohammed, 2002). Broadcasting and the electronic media are the vehicle through which diverse audiences get abreast with the happenings in the society, especially in this era of globalization. Akpan, (2002) made this fact more explicit when he described broadcasting as the systematic dissemination of entertainment, information, educational and other features for simultaneous reception by a scattered audience individually or in group. Electronic media are known for their immediacy of impact, their potentially wider reach, and their ability to transcend the banners of literacy and education to a particularly diverse audience. Thus, Abubakar (2003) succinctly notes that, “the electronic media refer only to radio and televisions. These forms of mass media reach millions of people simultaneously and with immediacy” Moreover, the electronic media have also emerged as the most powerful tools for influencing the direction of public opinion in any modern society (Izuora 2003).

Ezeokoli, (2000) reaffirms that television (broadcasting) is by far the most potent medium, because of the immediacy and intimacy of it transmission. It is also, therefore, why Odetoyinbo (2001) posits that broadcasting has been found to be a force to be reckoned with in the development of nations all over the world. It presupposes that broadcasting is a bridge building tool for development.

It suffices to say that to realize these tasks, there must be ownership of media. Media ownership was hitherto left in the hands of governments, state and federal. In 1977, the Federal Military Government took over all television broadcasting stations in Nigeria and placed them under the authority of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). Powerful short wave radio stations were also taken over and placed under the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). This gave strong influence on government as the sole transmitter of signals to diverse audiences in the country. During this period, the government dictated what went on air and how.

There was however a turn of events in 1992 as broadcasting was deregulated via promulgation of Decree 38 by the then military government headed by General Ibrahim Babaginda. It was called Decree 38, 24 August, 1992 of the Federal Military Government, Gazette extraordinary No.33:1992. This gave birth to the broadcasting commission which was empowered to act as a guide to broadcast outfits. Nwanze (2003) said they were to, among other things, advise the Federal Military Government generally on the implementation of the National Mass Communication Policy, with particular reference to broadcasting; regulating and controlling the broadcast industry.

This scenario gave rise to the recognition of private broadcast media establishments in the country, a situation which liberalized and deregulated the process of broadcasting in Nigeria. It happened people to have more access to information and information dissemination process in Nigeria. The process of information dissemination was no longer seen as exclusive for the government media and their owners, rather required the contributions of the private broadcast outfits to move the sector forward, hence Daar Communications Limited applied for licence for television in Nigeria, and Daar Communications Limited received licence for direct Satellite television in June, 1995. It then started operating the Satellite television with call sign — AIT (Africa Independent Television) to local and global audience (Nwanze 2003).

It is also in line with the foregoing that Silverbird Group got the leverage which empowered her to seek for broadcast license. In January, 2004, Silverbird Group commenced commercial transmission of Silverbird Television, a family entertainment channel. The station has very high quality programmes and clear reception which is the reason for very wide viewership in Nigeria. This becomes the foundation on which the establishment of the Rhythm 93.7fm was based. Above all, the contributions of the private broadcast media to the enlightenment, information and education of the general populace cannot be overstressed. However, these contributions are not devoid of challenges. It is, therefore, the main thrust of this expository study, which is geared towards digging out the prospects inherent in this sector and proffering solutions to the detected challenges.

1.2      Statement of the Problem

The public media exist in Nigeria, like their private counterparts with problems starring them on their faces. Even though, the government media outfits exist under the cover and protection of the government, they still are not free from problems which impede their growth and development. No doubt, the government owned media outfits are bedeviled with such problems as the continuous use of out-dated equipment, thereby failing to catch up with the changes of globalization which are known for modernity: the non-availability of training and retraining opportunities, which is the bedrock for enhanced productivity; poor remuneration for staff, thereby having low motivation to perform optimally and above all, the tele-guidance of management and staff by their employers-Government, hence only projecting the activities of government with little or no regard for their responsibility to the public.

This situation is not different with the private broadcast media. Obviously, the private media are incessantly and continuously bedeviled with myriad of challenges, such that they are almost always forced to leave the business of discharging their social responsibility to the disadvantage of the citizenry. First, there seems to be the problem of interference from government and its agencies. Similarly, the government through management seems to employ the use of censorship to gag and cage the press. In the process, government is believed to attempts to not only control but subjugate the press through obnoxious laws have remained an enduring problem.

Moreover, the private outfits are also believed to be confronted with the problem of lack or paucity of fund, especially to acquire the needed equipment which are quite expensive. Though training is somewhat pursued by the private broadcast media, the best is yet to be seen from them. There are no welfare opportunities for the staff of the private broadcast outfits, as their salaries for some are still considered as nothing to write home about. In fact, some are reported to owe backlogs of salaries. The regulatory bodies also are accused of using of the process of issuance of licence to ventilate anger on private broadcast outfits, especially when owners do not belong to the same political outfits especially cartels with those in power.

These seeming problems, invariably, are likely to truncate information dissemination, thereby leading to starving the populace of the information they require and putting question marks on the media social responsibility functions. Thus, the need arises for proper evaluation and assessment of these problems and exploration of the prospects of the private media amidst perceived challenges. It is, therefore, against this backdrop that this study is focused or derives its aim with emphasis on Africa Independent Television (AlT)

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are stated as follows:

      i.         To examine the challenges facing private owned media stations in Nigeria

     ii.         To determine the challenges peculiar to AIT as private broadcast stations;

   iii.         To ascertain the prospects of private broadcast media in Nigeria.

1.4       Research Questions

Based on the above mentioned objectives, this study will be guided by the following research questions:

      i.         What are the challenges faced by private broadcast media in Nigeria?

     ii.         Are there challenges peculiar to AIT as private broadcast stations?

   iii.         What are the prospects of private broadcast media in Nigeria?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The hypothesis mentioned below will help the researcher carry out her research more efficiently and will give her more focus and an agenda.

Ho:  Ownership or leadership does not have any influence on news dissemination.

H1:  Ownership or leadership of a media house has influences on news dissemination.

Ho:  The news dissemination of AIT is not owner’s interest oriented instead of people’s interest oriented.

H2:  The news dissemination of AIT is owner’s interest oriented instead of people’s interest oriented.

1.6       Significance of Study

This study would serve as guide to private media houses as the see the solution of some challenges confronting media houses. It would also be a reference material for research scholars who might want to research further on the concept under study. The study would also serve as reference point for policy makers who would be interested in knowing how editorials can assist in the process of policy making in government. 

1.7      Scope of the Study

           This study would attempt to explain the challenges confronting privately owned media stations in a democratic dispensation in Nigeria with reference to African Independent Television (AIT).

1.8      Limitations of the Study

           One of the major problems encountered by the researcher is the monetary problem. There was no sufficient money to make the purchasing of all necessary materials for the research work. There was also the problem of meeting some personalities to get information from them. Because of that, the researcher found it difficult to collect all the necessary information. Time on the other hand was a big limitation as the researcher has other lectures to attend alongside the project report.

1.9       Definition of Terms

Media: the media are tools of communication FRCN as a mass medium tries see how functions, whether it performs all the functions of a medium without intrusion of bias because of its owners or leaders.

Ownership: ownership means the legal right to possess something.

It is the ownership of a media house especially the ownership of the FRCN station Enugu that manipulates the performance, news coverage and other programs of FRCN.

BROADCAST MEDIA: – This consist of all radio and television stations owned and controlled by their government or individual and it can also be sending out programmed on radio or television to a large number of people in order to receive information and entertainment.

BROADCASTING: – This could be define as an act of sending information, news, message, ideas through air by means of what we know as radio communication to a large and heterogeneous audience who are located in different point of a wide area for reception through an appropriate sets of equipment designed for this purpose i.e. Radio or television set and such messages could be received without orally, visually or in both ways.

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