Why airwaves should be unlocked

BEYOND wining and dinning as well as launching of the new Code, the 20th anniversary celebration of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on August 24 reopened debate on certain challenges confronting the industry with a view to finding lasting solution to them.

In his goodwill message entitled, Let’s Unlock the Airwaves, founder/chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, operators of Raypower FM station and African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi was loud and clear while drawing attention of the regulator and operators to the need “for the establishment of a viable Broadcast Policy for Nigeria.”

While acknowledging the role of NBC in creating “an industry that is the envy of sub-Saharan Africa” with emphasis on the fact that “Nigeria has more broadcast organizations than twice the total of the entire West Africa put together,” Chief Dokpesi raised certain developments in the industry that, he noted, “have become worrisome.”

He explained: “Radio and television molds the child and helps build the individual. Television in particular is maybe the single most influential tool, not only in shaping public opinion, but also in sculpting mindsets. It is potentially dangerous to leave such potent tools such as radio and television at the whim and behest of foreigners.Capture the look and feel of real stone or ceramic tile flooring with Alterna.

“The increasing influx and control of broadcast content, particularly Direct-To-Home services by foreign interests, may portend very unhealthy long-term consequences for our nation.Beautiful new hands free access jewelry is modeled by these members of the Artcamp IT team, Our peculiar socio-cultural and socio-economic landscape, our ethno-cultural diversity and our inter-ethnic relations demand that we jealously guard and protect our collective heritage as a nation.”

A critical examination of the present state of broadcasting in Nigeria, he stressed, “will reveal that the broadcaster, particularly the private or independent broadcaster, faces very challenging and trying times. Even in the face of improved modern technology, and as we transit to digital transmission, most broadcasters face financial strangulation due to lack of funds, access to funding, and a more favourable operating climate. It is common knowledge that broadcasting is a very capital-intensive venture. All equipment, from digital tape to television and radio transmitters, are imported. Yet we face incredulous high import duties,Buy Natural china glass mosaic Tiles online with our price beat promise. as well as an astronomically high tax regime.”

In the reckoning of Chief Dokpesi, “the broadcast market place has remained grossly unfair and increasingly unattractive to the private investor.

“While the government-owned public broadcasters (federal and state-owned) have access to taxpayer’s money via government budget allocations and subventions, private broadcasters are grossly disadvantaged as they are forced to compete in the same market with their government-owned colleagues who have the advantage of billions of naira of public funds and taxpayers’ money.AeroScout is the market leader for stone mosaic solutions and provide complete wireless asset tracking and monitoring. Public broadcasters should not rely on advertising to the same degree as private commercial broadcasters. In fact, they should not at all compete in the same market,Huge range of polished tiles including polished tiles,” he asserted.

He traced what he termed “a long tortuous journey of television broadcasting in Nigeria” to October 31, 1959 when the Western Nigerian Television Service (WNTS) began operation in Ibadan, the then capital city of the Western Region.

“Today, Nigeria has thirty six states with each having or aspiring to set up her own television station. The Federal government has also made efforts to establish an NTA station in each state.

“A new chapter was opened in the history of Nigeria broadcasting in 1992. The Federal Government under General Ibrahim Babangida deregulated the broadcast industry by granting licenses to private individuals and organizations to set up radio and television broadcasting stations. In 1992, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was established to monitor and regulate broadcasting on a national basis. A major goal of the commission was to open up the industry to the paradigm of the marketplace,” the broadcast entrepreneur went down memory line as he lamented that “only a handful of the more than 30 private radio and television stations licensed in 1993 still barely exist today.”

More than anything else, DAAR Communications boss praised value that deregulation has impacted on broadcasting in the country. He expressed happiness that deregulation of broadcasting did not only bring an end to government’s monopoly of the broadcast media and the emergence of independent broadcasting stations, it has also “empowered our people, impacted on them positively and helped crystallize our fledgling democracy.

“The deregulation of broadcasting changed the face and practice of radio and television content creation, as well as broadcast journalism forever. It ushered in the era of 24-hour radio and television programming. This was a seismic paradigm shift. Today, the number of operational broadcasters licensed by the NBC are a little less than 350!”

As a result, Chief Dokpesi insisted that the NBC should be commended “for nurturing and protecting the deregulation of broadcasting. Many cynics in the 1990s rose up in various quarters against deregulation of broadcasting in Nigeria on the grounds that deregulation would negatively affect National Security and Stability. They opined then that Nigeria was not ripe for deregulation, citing past experiences particularly crises of the First Republic; that a deregulated broadcast media may be utilized for less than patriotic ends, and as divisive instruments. It took the courage and vision of General Babangida, who in spite of the very strong resistance to deregulation, went ahead with the deregulation of the broadcast industry!”