A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA. (A STUDY OF AIT)

A  CRITICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA. (A STUDY OF AIT)

 CHAPTER 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 The research therefore intends to provide a critical evaluation of impact of digital broadcasting on electronic media with a case study of AIT.

A  CRITICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA. (A STUDY OF AIT)