A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF DIGITAL
BROADCASTING ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA. (A STUDY OF AIT)
ABSTRACT
The research appraises the concept of digitalization, its
significance, features and challenges for the broadcast media in Nigeria. Since
we are today living in the information age when the individuals, organizations
and nations depend solely on the degree or amount of information at their
disposal and how adequately they are managing it, the need, however, arises to
also examines and analyzed digitization and the extent to which it has impacted
on the operations of broadcast media. The research evaluates a case study of AIT
INTRODUCTION
Generally,
Digitization is a broad term spanning the media industry including the prints
and the electronic media. It is the representation of an object ,image, sound,
document, or a signal usually an analog signal by a discreet set of its points
or sample the result of these processes are digital representation, digital
image for an object and digital form for a signal.
To a
Mass Communicator author and expert, McQuail (2000:28), the process of
digitization having immense significance to the computing ideals as it “allows information of all kinds in all
formats to be carried with the same efficiency and also intermingled”. By
inference therefore,
Arabian
Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN Chapter) Vol. 3, No.5; Dec.
2013 90 digitization for the broadcasting media will enhance
audio and visual quality.
In
another breath, Digitalization also means an enhanced viewers experience
through for instance: Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), sub-titling, additional
language options, and interactive services such as weather and news reports
(Wikipedia 2013). Nancy Hicks Maynard (2010) described digitalization as “a
mega media”, whereby the much about the ways we define, gather and produce news
will have to change.
CHAPTER
1
1.1
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
On
June 16, 2006, a resolution on digitalization for broadcasters in Europe,
Africa and Middle East as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran was reached in
Geneva, Switzerland at an international conference organized by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). A deadline of 17th June,2015 was
agreed upon for the effective take off of digitalization of the broadcast
media.
As
part of the resolution, the ITU deadline refers to the digitalization of TV Broadcasting
only, while that of Radio was not determined yet. Furthermore, the ITU
agreement allows for an additional five years to 2020 for many African
countries including Nigeria. Accordingly, representatives of 120 countries
including Nigeria adopted and signed the digitalization treaty.
The
document states, in part: “Digitalization of broadcasting by 2015represents a
major landmark towards establishing a more equitable, just and people-centered
information society.
The digital switchovers will leap-frog existing technologies
to connect the unconnected in underserved and remote communities and close the
digital divide.”(Akin Akingbuluet al 2010&KabirGarba 2012) The
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ,agreement further stated the
transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is based on the following
premise ,improving coverage of digital TV transmission, ensuring that bandwidth
are available for wireless broadband services, enhancing sound and picture
quality, in particular HDTV, enabling more channels (additional content) and
giving unfettered access to digital radio transmission.
Global
Update In full demonstration of the ITU mandate, the global report of the
implementation drive is quite encouraging, as stated in the just concluded
Digital Dialogue Dubai Conference, 2013. The United Kingdom broadcast media has
accomplished its switch over from analogue to digital between 2005 and 2012.
Mike Hughes Broadcast Director, Digital UK said the implementation team
comprised of BBC, ITV4,5,SA/C. Teletext, SDNARQIVA, and two representatives of
manufacturers and retailers. The project cost about $700 million.
In Africa, Kenya has raised the bar for others. Daniel Obam
, National Communications Secretariat report; “Kenya had adopted a phased
migration, which would see 10 cities switching over between January this year
and June 2014. As part of the plan, Nairobi and its environs would migrate on
December 13, 2013”.the best thing to happen in the broadcast media market,
since the Nigerian consumer has been taken for a ride for too long.
“We
had been subjected to poor quality services by operators. But this development
wouldenable us move ahead at a speed the world is moving in broadcasting
(Arabian Journal of
Business and Management Review (OMAN Chapter) Vol. 3, No.5; Dec. 2013 91)
The research therefore intends to
provide a critical evaluation of impact of digital broadcasting on electronic
media with a case study of AIT.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The challenge confronted with the analogue transmission of broadcast
media in terms of limitation of area coverage, poor quality images and sound
among others led to the resolution to the transmission from analogue to digital
transmission. However the attainment of this objective is yet to be determined
in Nigeria. This therefore constitute the problem confronting this research, to
critically evaluate the impact of digital broadcasting on electronic media,
with a case study of AIT.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION
1 What is the nature of digital
broadcasting on electronic media
2What is the impact of digital
broadcasting on electronic media
3What
are the challenges of digital broadcasting
4What is the impact of
digital broadcasting in AIT.
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF
THE STUDY
1 To appraise the nature of digital broadcasting in
electronic media
2 To determine the impact of digital broadcasting in
electronic media
3 To evaluate the challenges in digital broadcasting
in electronic media
4 To determine the impact of digital broadcasting in
AIT.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
1 The study shall provide a conceptual and
theoretical framework of the nature of digital broadcasting in electronic
media.
2 The study shall be of immense value to professionals
in the broadcast media
3 The study shall serve a reference point of
information on digital broadcasting
1.6 STATEMENT OF
THE HYPOTHESIS
1 H0 There is no
digital broadcasting AIT
H1
There is digital broadcasting in AIT
2
H0 The challenge of digital broadcasting in AIT
is low
H1 The challenge of digital broadcasting in
AIT is high
3
H0
The impact of digital broadcasting in AIT is
low
H1 The impact of
digital broadcasting in AIT is high
1.7
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study centers on the critical evaluation of the
impact of digital broadcasting on electronic media .it evaluates the nature ,
challenges and the impact of digital broadcasting, with a case analysis of
digital broadcasting in AIT.
1.8
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Generally,
Digitization is a broad term spanning the media industry including the prints
and the electronic media. It is the representation of an object ,image, sound,
document, or a signal usually an analog signal by a discreet set of its points
or sample the result of these processes are digital representation, digital
image for an object and digital form for a signal.