INTRODUCTION:
The advent of radio as means of information dissemination in Nigeria started in 1932, when the colonial government deems it fit to extend their signals through the BBC under the leadership of J.C.W Berth. It was aimed as a medium of making their colonial rule stronger. The Radio Distribution
System (RDS) was a reception base for the British Broadcasting Corporation and a relay station, through wire systems, with loudspeakers at the listening end. In 1935, the Radio Distribution System was changed to Radio Diffusion system. The aim was to spread the efforts of Britain and her allies during the Second World War through the BBC. The Ibadan station was commissioned in 1939, followed by the
Kano station in 1944. Later, a re-appraisal of radio broadcast objectives gave birth to the establishment in 1950 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS). The NBS began
broadcast in Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano and Enugu onshort wave and medium wave transmitters. Through a Bill by the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Broadcasting
Corporation (NBC) was established in 1956. The NBC took up the responsibilities of radio broadcast in Nigeria. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) was established in 1978.
The Voice of Nigeria (VON) which served as the external service was established in 1990. With the creation of more states and each state wanting to propagate its people and culture, the pace for radio broadcast began in Nigeria and has spread fast across the length and breadth of the nation. Each state owns and operates at last one radio station.In respect to television broadcast in Nigeria, it followed a similar pattern as that of radio.
The irony here is that while it was the Federal Government that started the first radio
broadcasting station in the country, it was a regional government that first ventured into television broadcasting. On 11 October, 1959, the then Western Region sent out the firsttelevision signals in the whole of Nigeria and Africa. It started as a result of the issue of the manner that the then Governor-General approach the “motion of self-government”, so the Premier of the western Region sought to defend the stand of the action group but he was denied that right by the national government. After the establishment of WNTV, other regions were inspired to follow suit. With this short introduction, we can therefore conclude that the broadcasting sector has been under the control of the government since inception.
broadcasting station in the country, it was a regional government that first ventured into television broadcasting. On 11 October, 1959, the then Western Region sent out the firsttelevision signals in the whole of Nigeria and Africa. It started as a result of the issue of the manner that the then Governor-General approach the “motion of self-government”, so the Premier of the western Region sought to defend the stand of the action group but he was denied that right by the national government. After the establishment of WNTV, other regions were inspired to follow suit. With this short introduction, we can therefore conclude that the broadcasting sector has been under the control of the government since inception.
THE DEREGULATION OF THE BROADCASTING SECTOR:
Deregulation can be defined as the removal of government control and power from an entity or organization. It is also the reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. In terms of broadcasting
sector, deregulation started during the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda through decree 38 of 1992 and then the National Broadcasting commission was established. This paved the way for private ownership of the electronic media of radio and television stations especially in the southern parts of the country. There was an Government really took a decisive step to part with its long- drawn monopoly of the broadcast sector. That decree established the National Broadcasting Commission and charged it with the responsibility of regulating and deregulating broadcasting in the country. The law empowered the Commission to license stations, regulate content and,generally, set standards for quality broadcasting in the
country. Expectedly, the emergence of the Commission heralded a wave of requests from the Nigerian entrepreneurs for broadcast licenses that would enable them to set up private broadcasting stations in the country. This has changed the broadcast landscape tremendously, as it allowed the ownership of radio and television by private companies and organizations in the country. By the middle of 1992, 27 broadcast licenses, 14 for terrestrial television and 13 for cable television, received presidential approval. Although not
all those whose applications for licenses were initially approved took advantage of the approvals, leading to the lapse of such unutilized approvals, many more licenses were subsequently approved for applicants, including those for radio and DTH transmissions. oday, as a result of that revolution in the Nigerian broadcast industry, the number of broadcasting stations in the country has, at the last count, risen to 394, from less than 30 before deregulation. These include the following number of Private Operators in the
broadcast arena: 55 companies licensed to offer radio broadcasting services, over 90% of these are operational across the country; 25 companies licensed to offer television service;
34 Wireless Cable (MMDS) Companies; 5 Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite Television Platforms operational in the country. Given the fact, that stations are licensed to broadcast in cities, and no broadcasting organization gas license for all the states of the federations, it stands to reason that when radio stations of different hues are allowed to network, the audience stand to benefit from the array of new programmes, news and news-related programmes, breaking news as well as various advertisements. Therefore, the introduction of private radio and television network allows the private stations to collaborate, exchange
content and share adverts revenue. For broadcasting in the country, the advantages are immense.
Deregulation can be defined as the removal of government control and power from an entity or organization. It is also the reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. In terms of broadcasting
sector, deregulation started during the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda through decree 38 of 1992 and then the National Broadcasting commission was established. This paved the way for private ownership of the electronic media of radio and television stations especially in the southern parts of the country. There was an Government really took a decisive step to part with its long- drawn monopoly of the broadcast sector. That decree established the National Broadcasting Commission and charged it with the responsibility of regulating and deregulating broadcasting in the country. The law empowered the Commission to license stations, regulate content and,generally, set standards for quality broadcasting in the
country. Expectedly, the emergence of the Commission heralded a wave of requests from the Nigerian entrepreneurs for broadcast licenses that would enable them to set up private broadcasting stations in the country. This has changed the broadcast landscape tremendously, as it allowed the ownership of radio and television by private companies and organizations in the country. By the middle of 1992, 27 broadcast licenses, 14 for terrestrial television and 13 for cable television, received presidential approval. Although not
all those whose applications for licenses were initially approved took advantage of the approvals, leading to the lapse of such unutilized approvals, many more licenses were subsequently approved for applicants, including those for radio and DTH transmissions. oday, as a result of that revolution in the Nigerian broadcast industry, the number of broadcasting stations in the country has, at the last count, risen to 394, from less than 30 before deregulation. These include the following number of Private Operators in the
broadcast arena: 55 companies licensed to offer radio broadcasting services, over 90% of these are operational across the country; 25 companies licensed to offer television service;
34 Wireless Cable (MMDS) Companies; 5 Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite Television Platforms operational in the country. Given the fact, that stations are licensed to broadcast in cities, and no broadcasting organization gas license for all the states of the federations, it stands to reason that when radio stations of different hues are allowed to network, the audience stand to benefit from the array of new programmes, news and news-related programmes, breaking news as well as various advertisements. Therefore, the introduction of private radio and television network allows the private stations to collaborate, exchange
content and share adverts revenue. For broadcasting in the country, the advantages are immense.
BENEFITS OF PRIVITISATION OF THE BROADCAST SECTOR:
It encourages the production of new programmes like drama, movies, soap and documentaries among others.
It provide jobs for different types of workers in the industry e.g. producers, directors, engineers etc.
It contributes largely to the economy of the country through advertising revenue, taxation and value added tax (VAT).
It eradicates monopoly I n the industry, thus making it competitive.
Finally with digitization era we are into, equipment manufacturers benefit the country through their inventions.
The first outfit that seized the opportunity of the deregulation policy is DAAR communications, the parent company of African Independent Television (AIT). AIT started operation in1994; it was the legislative law (Decree No. 38 of 1992) that ushered in Raypower radio and AIT both of DAAR communications. DAAR communications applied for Radio, Television and Direct broadcasting by satellite license. Their request was subsequently granted. It began full commercial operations on September 1, 1994 on its high profile radio channels with the call sign, Raypower 100.5, the first private independent radio station in the history of Nigeria. The funding was initially from Daar communications limited and the founder of the conglomerate in person of Chief leogho Dokpesi, PhD. As a measure of its confidence in the project, a consortium of leading banks in Nigeria actively supported the company; they are Union Bank of Nigeria Plc., First Bank Plc., NAL Merchant Bank Plc., Afribank Plc., and Lead Merchant Bank Plc. In line with the deregulations of Nigerian Stock Exchnge (NSE) and the Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) which require a minimum of five years of operation before quotation on the first tier of the stock exchange, shares will be noted and
publicly quoted for the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the nearest future. This will provide the opportunity to widen the ownership base as well as raise funds to implement the expansion of the company to all parts of the world.
It encourages the production of new programmes like drama, movies, soap and documentaries among others.
It provide jobs for different types of workers in the industry e.g. producers, directors, engineers etc.
It contributes largely to the economy of the country through advertising revenue, taxation and value added tax (VAT).
It eradicates monopoly I n the industry, thus making it competitive.
Finally with digitization era we are into, equipment manufacturers benefit the country through their inventions.
The first outfit that seized the opportunity of the deregulation policy is DAAR communications, the parent company of African Independent Television (AIT). AIT started operation in1994; it was the legislative law (Decree No. 38 of 1992) that ushered in Raypower radio and AIT both of DAAR communications. DAAR communications applied for Radio, Television and Direct broadcasting by satellite license. Their request was subsequently granted. It began full commercial operations on September 1, 1994 on its high profile radio channels with the call sign, Raypower 100.5, the first private independent radio station in the history of Nigeria. The funding was initially from Daar communications limited and the founder of the conglomerate in person of Chief leogho Dokpesi, PhD. As a measure of its confidence in the project, a consortium of leading banks in Nigeria actively supported the company; they are Union Bank of Nigeria Plc., First Bank Plc., NAL Merchant Bank Plc., Afribank Plc., and Lead Merchant Bank Plc. In line with the deregulations of Nigerian Stock Exchnge (NSE) and the Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) which require a minimum of five years of operation before quotation on the first tier of the stock exchange, shares will be noted and
publicly quoted for the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the nearest future. This will provide the opportunity to widen the ownership base as well as raise funds to implement the expansion of the company to all parts of the world.
AUDIENCE:
AIT’s audience is global with general viewership and it programmes appeals to a broad cross-section of popular tastes. To those seeking authentic and authoritative information about the Africa, Caribbean and Afro-American experience, AIT provides the natural programming choice.
AIT’s audience is global with general viewership and it programmes appeals to a broad cross-section of popular tastes. To those seeking authentic and authoritative information about the Africa, Caribbean and Afro-American experience, AIT provides the natural programming choice.
COVERAGE:
AIT beams quality programs round the clock which are down- linked and distributed in Africa, throughout Americas, Mexico and the Caribbean. It’s in-depth coverage aims to keep global viewers fully in tune with the soul of an African broadcaster offering premium quality service.
AIT beams quality programs round the clock which are down- linked and distributed in Africa, throughout Americas, Mexico and the Caribbean. It’s in-depth coverage aims to keep global viewers fully in tune with the soul of an African broadcaster offering premium quality service.
TRANSMISSION:
The transmissions of programs are done 24 hours daily in its broadcast stations. The internet company also offers a 24 hours service.
The transmissions of programs are done 24 hours daily in its broadcast stations. The internet company also offers a 24 hours service.
SOME OTHER PRIVATE TV STATIONS INCLUDE:
Channels TV
Desmins Independent TV
Galaxy TV
Depue Broadcasting Network
Independent TV
Minaj broadcast international.
Emmanuel TV
Soundcity TV
Silverbird TV among others.
Channels TV
Desmins Independent TV
Galaxy TV
Depue Broadcasting Network
Independent TV
Minaj broadcast international.
Emmanuel TV
Soundcity TV
Silverbird TV among others.
SOME OTHER PRIVATE RADIO STATIONS INCLUDE:
93.5 - ASO Radio, Abuja
94.7 - Rhythm FM, Abuja
95.1 - Nigeria info Abuja
96.9 - Cool FM, Abuja
98.3 - Hot FM, Abuja
87.9 - Best Afro FM, Abuja
99.5 - Wazobia FM, Abuja
103.9 - Love fm, Aguiyi Ironsi layout, Umuahia
102.9 - MAGIC FM Aba
104.1 - Vision Africa, Umuahia
92.9 - BondFM
93.7 - RhythmFM
94.7 - S.M.A FM
95.1 - WazobiaFM
96.1 - Traffic radio
96.9 - CoolFM - urban music
97.3 – Classic FM among others.
CONCULSION:
It is obvious that the advent of private broadcasting has revealed a very competitive industry with in indicators suggesting that private stations are giving their public counterparts a run for their money. This dawn in the broadcast sector has also provided jobs for the unemployed population. Politically, it has make freedom of speech and expression operative and has engendered a new spectacle and provides in-depth political reporting and analysis, this would have not been possible during the era of government’s initial
monopoly.
It could therefore be concluded that the deregulation step in the broadcast sector was a right step in the right direction.
93.5 - ASO Radio, Abuja
94.7 - Rhythm FM, Abuja
95.1 - Nigeria info Abuja
96.9 - Cool FM, Abuja
98.3 - Hot FM, Abuja
87.9 - Best Afro FM, Abuja
99.5 - Wazobia FM, Abuja
103.9 - Love fm, Aguiyi Ironsi layout, Umuahia
102.9 - MAGIC FM Aba
104.1 - Vision Africa, Umuahia
92.9 - BondFM
93.7 - RhythmFM
94.7 - S.M.A FM
95.1 - WazobiaFM
96.1 - Traffic radio
96.9 - CoolFM - urban music
97.3 – Classic FM among others.
CONCULSION:
It is obvious that the advent of private broadcasting has revealed a very competitive industry with in indicators suggesting that private stations are giving their public counterparts a run for their money. This dawn in the broadcast sector has also provided jobs for the unemployed population. Politically, it has make freedom of speech and expression operative and has engendered a new spectacle and provides in-depth political reporting and analysis, this would have not been possible during the era of government’s initial
monopoly.
It could therefore be concluded that the deregulation step in the broadcast sector was a right step in the right direction.
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