A Comparative Study of Media Operations in Selected Public and Private Broadcast Stations in Nigeria (1992-2007)

This study, sets out to compare and contrast the operations of selected public and private broadcasting organizations in Nigeria, 1992-2007. Seven research questions were addressed and five null hypotheses tested research methods were used. Three instruments (that is, questionnaire, interview, and non- participant observation) were used to collect data from three categories of respondents randomly selected from 39 stations. This includes 39 general managers, 272 line managers, and 195 bottom employees, giving a total of 506 respondents sampled for the study. The chi-square (X2), t-test, product moment correlation coefficient (r) statistics were used in testing the hypotheses, while descriptive statistics, percentages and graphical illustrations were used to answer the research questions. The study established that majority of professionals (54%), were on the NBC stipulatione (Section 1.5.6), in Public Stations compared with 46% in private stations. These staff possessed qualifications considered professionally relevant to the industry. There was significant difference between professionals in public and private stations with respect to the production of quality programmes and non- professionals. Similarly, the study established that the basic and essential resource materials and facilities as recommended by NBC (Section 9.0.0-9.3.3) for total quality management were more adequate in private stations (68%), than in public stations (32%). On the origin of stations' programmes, the study revealed that private stations get programme materials from their own staff productions (63.6%), and 36.4% from external sources, while public stations get their programme materials from the staff productions (44%) and 55.3% from external sources. There were significant differences between external factors and the public and private stations' programming. One major finding was that both pubnc and private stations have not been keeping strictly to the broadcasting regulations. The implication of the finding is that there was significant evidence to snow tnat tnere was cinerence bet eefi public and private statione' management enforcement and stiff compliance WIth the broadcasting regulation. Further, the study established that public stations audience shares rating (81%) in the broadcast media market is higher than private stations' 61% rating. In essence, public stations seem to dominate the market. The study concluded that NBC has been an appropriate intervention supervIsory body and should continue to regulate the management activities and operations of both public and private stations in Nigeria. Consequently, it was recommended that broadcast media management in Nigeria should intensity their efforts in recruiting qualified professionals, as well as train and retrain them, procure adequate hi-tech equipment and increase usage of local programme materials based on NBC Code in order to meet the challenges of digitalization required in global information society