The State of Public Service Broadcaster in West Africa
Introduction
This paper is written to provide a general overview of the state of public service broadcasting in the West African subregion. It is also intended to stimulate debate on the issues raised in the document and possibly indicate actions that may be necessary to ensure a more established PSB in the region.
Specific country focus has been taken into consideration as they are often representative of the diverse cultural, linguistic and multi racial nature of the subregion yet offering a basis for which further work can commence. However, this is tactfully done as the countries in the region are in themselves unique and thus provide realities that can only be found within themselves alone.
This document has two sections. Section one focused on a rather generalized view of the issues that faces the public service broadcaster in the West African subregion while section two looks individually at a select few countries. Nigeria and Ghana are discussed with some background information while Senegal, representative of Francophone West Africa having one of the 'freest press regimes' in the subregion is also discussed.
Section I
The state of PSB in West Africa
In an attempt to define PSB, we tend to oscillate between fully state- and/or party- owned monopoly, controlled institutions and/or those that combine public and commercial services. PSB as a universal obligation ensures the provision of services with a global focus without streamlining the contents to a perceived target market. Because of the broad nature of PSB several West African broadcasting institutions have taken on the mandate over the years as the sole provider of information to the audience using this in a way detrimental to the values of public broadcasting. PSB is still being conceived in Africa as government owned media and are used as state information agencies, propaganda machines and disseminators of 'government news' against the conventional concept of the public service legacy such as is seen to promote freedom of expression, access to information, media pluralism and cultural diversity - clearly missing elements in most West African public service broadcasters gambit. Universality; broadcasting to the masses (as opposed to a segmented audience, such as paying individuals or particular sectors of society) and such as covers the entire country (more on this later – linkages between community media); broadcasting 'good' content (not necessarily in accordance to consumer preferences) for cultural excellence (also known as broadcasting as a merit good); and broadcasting of local content that suits local needs are characteristics that may exists to an extent with most West African public service broadcasters. However, the level of inclusion of these values in West African PSBs, (the presence or absence of ) laws and the degree of autonomy they have from the government provide another interesting dimension and possible challenges to the entire existence of PSB.
The lack of autonomy of public broadcasters from the state has largely prevented the emergence of PS broadcasting organisations. The close relationship between the state and the public service broadcaster has been ingrained and perceived as the norm especially within Africa - who may have inherited this model from the BBC but have since failed to evolve.
The presence of laws (legal and regulatory framework), and institutional structures are required to create public service broadcasting, democracy, rule of law, accountability, relevance of public opinion, an empowered and informed civil society and journalistic professionalism are important factors which may exist in certain African countries, but are at the same time missing thereby questioning the actual existence of PSB in most West African countries. Is the public broadcaster in its current state a true representation of the tenets and values of PSB?
Civil society has a role to play in making the state pay a price for the violation of the independence of the PSB, bringing them to account for such mal-practices. But the concept of civil society within the West African context has assumed a skewed image of political opposition to the ruling class. Hence the state continues to find legal and extralegal ways by which to continually bring pressure on the media.
Issues of Funding and Ownership models
The state largely funds public sector broadcasters in West Africa. Some combine license fees and generate revenue from advertising but these are insufficient to fully meet the operating needs of the private broadcaster. The state own the entity or collaborate to own regional initiatives perhaps intending that revenue sharing may carry the overhead payload. Africable – a satellite TV initiative based in Mali but believed to be supported by several French speaking West African countries broadcasts mainly music and retransmits news on a 24 hour basis. Existing governments owned broadcasters collaborate to provide programming to support Africable's broadcast – an extension (with all its interesting baggages) of their broadcast style and existence. One key thing to note is the importance governments place on public regional broadcasting. However, the sustainability issues of such models stand in question and may sway from government to government, further dictated by the tone of the political stability (if any) in the region at any given time1. The question then becomes 'what sort of funding mechanism is suitable for public sector broadcasting in West Africa?' What ownership model should be adopted? Are the checks and balances developed enough to sustain such regional initiatives?
Though Anglophone West African countries originally inherited the BBC model – especially Ghana and Nigeria, Africa is another continent where political realities have historically prevented the emergence of broadcasting organizations autonomous from the State. It is also true that in addition to a political mission, broadcasting has also been used to serve developmental, educational and cultural goals but most of these later objectives have in recent times given way to political, partisan agenda.
The presence of laws, institutional structures and regulations may go a long way in establishing the tenets by which public service broadcasting must exist, but yet they may be insufficient by themselves. External influences such as a matured civil society with strong public and credible opinions may be some other factors necessary for the establishment of sustainable PSB in the West African region.
Regulatory Issues in the face of Convergence
At the 'Dialogue between Telecoms and Media Regulation Stakeholders Meeting' focused on 'Convergence: Challenges and Prospects for Africa' held February 2006 in Cotonou, Benin. Partners discussed issues such as the legal and regulatory framework of telecoms and media; the questioning of existing legislative texts and how appropriate they may remain in the light of convergence; the independence of regulatory authorities; social and economic implications for the media, and the level of legal reforms that may have taken taken place in West Africa as they relate to the combined regulation of media and telecoms. The meeting came up with recommendations on the role of the PSB in the lights of convergence (PANOS/CIPACO, 2006) thereby placing importance on the need to commence the setup of regulatory structures on converged media.
Regulation of individual sectors (telecoms, media – broadcast) have faced various challenges ranging from a lack of a legal framework and organs of regulation in certain West African countries to some that may be overbearing and seen to suppress freedom of expression and other values of broadcasting. These institutions are usually tied to the state and the autonomy between then are not clearly defined.
Convergence of content and infrastructure should be met with the equivalent convergence of regulatory frameworks. However, the West African subregion provides a bleak picture of this shift as countries are still grappling with instituting separate regulatory frameworks and structures to support the different sectors. These issues apply all the same to the public service broadcaster where in one case they seem to be totally unregulated and in some other cases may be completely singled out of the regulatory space largely due to their affiliation to the state. This issue becomes more glaring when channels of addressing grievances especially against the public service broadcaster are undefined and in some cases inexistent.
The Question of URTNA
Union of Radio and National Television in Africa (URTNA) will be having its extraordinary session on October 31, 2006 after several years of dormancy. It is expected to be revamping the body which has an objective of encouraging program exchange amongst its members (made up of member states of the African Union). URTNA has a number of issues that have impacted on its influence amongst its members and the continent as a whole. It seems to be this 'white elephant' with the potential of encouraging the development of PSB. However funding issues, amongst others has crippled its activities. The role of a continent wide institution such as URTNA does not only provide a platform for which negative press images on the continent from the international media can be addressed but also provides an avenue for which cross border issues may be channeled. Issues of training and capacity building, program exchanges - URTNA's original objective - will position the association as one that encourages the development of a regional/continental model for PSB. Of course, not without considering that it is an association of national broadcasters with a potential of sustained baggages. It may also be a rather 'large scale' organisation without the ability of addressing micro issues that may affect the national broadcasters. These perceived difficulties should be weight in the light of positives (including potentials) that this organisation may offer.
URTNA is still being backed by foreign media organizations such as CFI to cover certain international events. They have to compete against private broadcasters who are seen to be more sustainable and market oriented. The funding model therefore poses a sustainability challenge and defeats the autonomy characteristic of a PSB with a region wide focus.
Digital Migration
Very little in the form of a migration strategy has been embarked on by the national broadcaster/governments in West Africa. South Africa seems to be the only country in the continent seeking to meet the 2015 deadline set out by the ITU as it intends to run parallel analog and digital signals by 2008 and hopefully fully digital during the 2010 FIFA world cup. Most West African countries seem unaffected by the need to shift and the impact this might have on future broadcast.
Area of Coverage and the role of community media
Community media especially community radios have played a key crucial and important role around governance issues in the West African subregion. Governments may 'pretend' not to listen to local government level issues emanating through community media but they are eventually seen to be influenced through this form of media. Sierra Leone and Liberia are example countries where community media has greatly encouraged citizen participation in governance issues. These media has also been greatly used by all including politicians to further their political ambitions; and civil society has used community media in say, Sierra Leone to incite debate around critical national issues.
In very rare cases community media has relayed (rebroadcast) national content from the public service broadcaster. The recent spate of violence, in the last decade, in the region has greatly impacted on the area of coverage of the national broadcaster in most West African countries in that broadcast equipment and their coverage have been greatly impacted. The Liberian broadcaster has since the war been unable to broadcast beyond Monrovia. Citizens living in the interior of the country have been cut off from national issues which are often centered within and around the capital of the country. A few community media exists in some of these areas where foreign news from the BBC and VOA are rebroadcast. The impact of such content to the largely illiterate community is unknown but locally generated content especially those by the national broadcasters would certainly positively link these remote communities back to the national system. They, in this way, extend the coverage of the national broadcaster. However, this one way relationship is one that may have existed for quite some time providing a single path of content flow to the community in a potentially two-way type relationship - the other path, largely unexplored. Coverage as a characteristic of the national broadcaster is thereby achieved but this type of relationship may need formalization for it to become more effective.
Section II
Individual Country Perspectives
Ghana
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation was founded by the National Liberation Council Decree 226 (NLCD 226) of 1968 to provide radio and television broadcasting services for general reception in Ghana. GBC has the mandate to inform, educate and entertain as well as engage in commercial broadcasting through the sale of paid adverts and exploitation of other sources of revenue related to the broadcast business. It is funded by broadcasting commercials and the levying of TV licenses and thus limits its operations to Ghana.
Broadcasting in Ghana began on July 31st, 1935 from a wired relay station in Accra through the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Arnold Hodson assisted by a British radio engineer,Mr. F.A.W. Byron. The new broadcasting Service code-named radio"ZOY" was manned by eight technicans and housed in a small Bungalow close to a Police Station in Accra. Broadcasting first begun in four Ghanaian languages namely Fanti,Twi,Ga,Ewe and later Hausa. The main aim was to give war news in these languages. Part-time staff were engaged to translate and announce translated news until 1943 when full-time staff were appointed. Between 1946 and 1953, the organisation was administered by the Public Relation Department, now the Information Services Department. On the recommendation of a commission set up in 1953, the Gold Coast Broadcasting System(GCBS) was established and from there it became a department in its own right. On attainment of independence in 1957, Ghana attained its new name and consequently the Ghana Broadcasting Service(GBS). In 1958, a modern Broadcasting House equipped with better facilities was built with funds provided by the Government.
13.5 million radios are currently shared amongst the over 14million radio listeners in Ghana – approximately 1 viewer per radio. (Ghana has a population of 20million). There are approximately 2.7 million TV sets in the country with a TV viewing audience of almost 12 million (approximately 5 viewers per TV).
Ghana's foray into the international broadcasting scene began when in 1958 the government set up another commission to advise it on launching an external service of Radio Ghana. This was inaugurated in June 1961. The external service came about primarily because Kwame Nkrumah, the then prime minister saw broadcasting as an opportunity to propagate his pan African message to his fellow Africans. At the same time, television was being considered and GBC Television Service was launched on 31 July 1965. In 1997, GBC entered into an agreement with WorldSpace to provide GBC with a channel on its Afristar satellite. This capability enabled GBC to provide a 24-hour, Direct Digital Broadcasting (DDB) service over a coverage area of 14m sq km, encompassing millions of radio listeners.
The vision of the GBC is to be authentic and trustworthy Voice of Ghana. Its mission statement is to lead the broadcasting and communications industry through quality programming which promotes the developmental and cultural aspirations of Ghana and to undertake viable commercial [authors emphasis] activities that promote the aspirations of the Corporation. To achieve its missions, the GBC:
is committed to a distinctive hallmark and to provide credible, reliable and quality broadcasting and communication services.
will promote national consciousness, loyalty, integrity, self-reliance and provide a strong sense of national identity.
will be guided by a high standard of professionalism, objectivity, accuracy, balance and excellence.
Pursue sound policies and best business practices in dealing with our stakeholders
The objects of the GBC are:
To undertake public and commercial radio and television broadcasts and communication services.
To web cast or carry out broadcasting and communication services outside Ghana using any medium now known or hereafter invented.
To prepare in the field of culture, education, information and entertainment, programmes reflecting the national identity and aspirations.
To broadcast Programmes prepared in third bullet point above in the Ghanaian Languages and in English and other foreign languages as the Corporation may determine.
To enter into agreement for utilization of Programmes prepared in other countries and
To carry on such activities as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the foregoing.
The Corporation has the power to carry out all or any of the following activities:
To acquire, install, operate and maintain transmitting and receiving stations.
To install and operate wired broadcasting and communication services for both public and commercial purposes.
To enter into arrangements for the purpose of obtaining rights, privileges and concessions.
To produce, manufacture, purchase or otherwise acquire audio cassettes, compact discs, [CDs], audio-visual or interactive material [video tapes VCDs, DVDs] and other mechanical or electronic records and apparatus associated therewith, and use them in connection with the broadcasts and communication services on any media now known or hereafter invented.
To provide and to receive from other sources material to be broadcast.
To organize and provide public entertainment for the purpose of broadcasting communications.
To collect news and information in any manner the Corporation deems fit in any part of the world and to subscribe to news agencies and services.
To acquire copyrights.
To establish a broadcasting and communications facility for training and education for the purposes of advancing the skills of persons employed by the Corporation and other individuals and organizations.
To publish printed matter that may be conducive to the discharge of any of the functions of the Corporation.
To carry out research to improve the efficiency of the Corporation and
To do such other things conducive to attaining the objects of the Corporation.
The GBC is being governed by a board of directors. The responsibility of corporate governance resides in a nine member Board and the Director General. The Board is responsible for determining the overall policy direction of the Corporation towards attaining corporate vision and mission. It seems the scope of the board's responsibility is limited to corporate governance and hence does not in any way touch on the other more succinct but important aspects of the administration of the GBC and its complete separation from the state.
Ghana’s 1992 constitution paved the way for the deregulation of broadcasting. The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation used to monopolise the airwaves. Today, there are three tiers of broadcasting - Public, Commercial and Community Radio. Community Radio is a small but dynamic sector of this space.
Broadcasting regulation dates from the inception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Ghana Broadcasting Decree of 1968 converted the sole national broadcaster into a public corporation. Regulation at the time was tailor-made for the national broadcaster and was mostly in the form of work ethics and corporation code of conduct. The sector was technically unregulated. As a result, there were no overseer bodies and these meant stations with powerful equipment could take over the frequencies to the detriment of less technologically advanced ones. It became imperative therefore to develop a policy to regulate this new broadcasting industry. Parliament in 1996 passed the National Communications Authority Act to fill this void.
The National Media Commission was provided for by the national constitution to provide some form of an overseeing role to the Ghanaian broadcast space. Its functions are:
To promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication or information;
To take all appropriate measures to ensure the establishment and maintenance of the highest journalistic standards in the mass media, including the investigation, mediation and settlement of complaints made against or by the press or other mass media.
To insulate the state-owned media from governmental control;
To make regulations by constitutional instrument for the registration of newspapers and other publications, except that the regulations shall not provide for the exercise of any direction or control over the professional functions of a person engaged in the production of newspapers or other means of mass communication; and
To perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law not inconsistent with this Constitution.
The NMC is a reputable institution and seems to handle its office well, successfully lobbying for the repeal of the criminal libel law in 2001. The NMC is however funded by the government operated consolidated fund, which indirectly makes it a government organisation although the constitution guarantees its independence. Even they bemoan the lack of funds hence its inability to attract and retain staff. It does look out for journalists as a result of which victimization and intimidation of journalists no longer seems to be a problem in Ghana.
The Ghanaian media policy was formed by an act of parliament in 1996 when it passed the National Communications Authority Act to fill the absence of regulation. The policy provides for majority Ghanaian shareholding, ownership and representation of broadcast media. It forbids the rebroadcast of foreign programmes on fm stations and asks that at least 50% of radio and 30% of TV content be local and at least one local language be used. The policy also acknowledges the import of news as newsmaker and agenda setter. It forbids government intervention of any sort and encourages balance in all stations.
The policy also provides for the levying of television license. A current license of three thousand cedis (approximately 30US$ cents) is levied per television annually. Payment is not enforced and collection is difficult; the collected amount being ineffective in comparison to the associated high cost of broadcasting.
Presently, Ghana has 178 radio stations and 34 TV stations. 17 of these radio stations and 2 TV stations have taken on the 'public' mandate. The GBC itself operates one TV station (GTV) which it broadcasts via satellites to the whole of Ghana and operates 13 radio stations throughout the country2.
Nigeria
Broadcasting in Nigeria started as far back as 1924. By 1944 broadcasting stations were established in Kano and six years after stations were opened at some towns in northern Nigeria, which are Katsina, Zaria, Sokoto, Jos, and Ilorin. Ladele (1979). By 1957 Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation was established. It replaced its predecessor Nigerian Broadcasting Services (NBS) that lasted for six years.
After independence (1960) and its aftermath, several radio and television stations were established by the then State Governments. By 1977 all the Television stations in the states (both north and South) were taken over by the Federal Military Government under General Obasanjo to form the National Television Authority (NTA). For the northern region, the establishment of Northern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation with its headquarters in Kaduna in 1962 gave birth to a more serious and sustainable broadcasting service. Thus Radio Television Kaduna was born later to renamed Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Kaduna (one of the four spread across the country - Lagos, Ibadan and Enugu).
The birth of Radio Nigeria Kaduna pioneered a permanent and influential radio broadcast in northern Nigeria. The station has millions of listeners and it is effectively used by the State and other vested interest. It is the major Hausa radio broadcast station in the world.Its broadcast is mainly in Hausa with some insert of programmes in Fulfulde, Kanuri, and English. It has a very big and rich audio library and has greatly influenced and still influencing happenings in northern Nigeria and other Hausa speaking areas of West Africa.
In 1959, the regional government of Western Nigeria established the first television station in Nigeria and in Africa. Even though it promoted the station as a means to educate the people about development and the world, it initially served as a means for an opposition leader to address the people of Western Nigeria. The regional governments of Eastern and Northern Nigeria and the federal government in Lagos followed and started their own TV stations in the early 1960s. All four of these stations basically existed to serve partisan political objectives for the various governments. Any stations established after these four continued this same political and regionalistic heritage. In 1973, a new surge of regional consciousness occurred after the now military government allowed the division of the country into 19 states. This change, the concurrent oil boom, and the effectiveness and importance of existing TV broadcasting led to a new surge of state owned TV stations. 3 years later, the military government established the National Television Authority (NTA) to coordinate nationwide coverage. The NTA then acquired existing TV stations. This event slowed the growth of TV broadcasting until 1979 when military government rule ended. The 5 political parties vying for election in the states revoked the NTA charter and a proliferation of TV stations occurred. This also happened because the civilian administration was disorganized. As regionalization played a role in the broadcasting of political propaganda, so did it play a role in educational programming, Despite TV broadcasting's political ties, it has been successful in producing quality educational programs for schools and colleges nationwide via the NTA network with the assistance of UNESCO. This trend has however died down.
Decree 38 of August 24, 1992 established the National Broadcasting Commission (Now Act 38 of 1992). NBC derives its powers from Decree (Act) 38 of 1992 and Decree (Act) 55 of 1999 as amended.
Before NBC was established, its functions were partly performed by the Federal Ministry of Information and partly by the Federal Ministry of Communications. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), on the other hand regulates the telecommunications industry. The function of regulating the broadcast industry rests with the NBC. This poses very obvious challenges in the light of digitalisation and convergence of technologies where the line between broadcast and communication is becoming very fine and completely thinning out.
The NBC performs the following functions:
Advising the Federal Government generally on the implementation of the National Mass Communication Policy with particular reference to broadcasting.
Receiving, Processing and considering applications for the ownership of radio and television stations including cable television services, direct satellite broadcast and any other medium of broadcasting.
Recommending applications through the Minister to the President, Commander – in – chief of the Armed Forces for the grant of radio and television licenses.
Regulating and controlling the broadcast industry;
Undertaking research and development in the broadcast industry;
Receiving, considering and investigating complaints from individuals and bodies corporate regarding the content of a broadcast and the conduct of a broadcasting station;
Upholding the principles of equity and fairness in broadcasting.
Establishing and disseminating a national broadcasting code and setting standards with regard to the contents and quality of materials for broadcast;
Promoting Nigerian indigenous cultures, moral and community life
through broadcasting;Promoting authenticated radio and television audience measurements and penetration.
Initiating and harmonizing government policies on transborder direct transmission and reception in Nigeria.
Regulating ethical standards and technical excellence in public, private and commercial broadcast stations in Nigeria.
Monitoring broadcasting for harmful emission, interference and illegal broadcasting;
Determining and applying sanctions including revocation of licence of defaulting stations which do not operate in accordance with the broadcast code and in the public interest.
Approving the transmitter power, location of stations, areas of coverage as well as regulate types of broadcast equipment to be used; and,
Carrying out such other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under, or pursuant to this Decree (Act)
The application and approval of broadcast licenses (TV and radio) rests entirely at the discretion of the President of Nigeria. The duration of application - the time an application is made to when it is finally approved also lies at the discretion of the President. The NBC has no specific role in the decision making process outside its function as the receiver and the courier of the application between the applicant and the presidency. The implications of this process not only ensures the content of the intending media entity gravitates towards the political ruling class but also that the application process is tedious, bureaucratic and unnecessarily lengthy such as would frustrate the establishment of a seemingly 'opposing' broadcast entity.
The absence of a proper complaints commission impacts negatively on the quality of the content produced, the relevance of the programming and the independence of the content from any form of state, party politic, religious, external influence. The current complaints procedure informs the complainant to write to the executive director of the broadcaster copying the director general of the NBC. Although the complainant is entitled to a response within 24 hours, none is guaranteed not even with the NBC.
Broadcasting in Nigeria has been used to great lengths to propagate religious fundamentalism. There is no doubt that the growth of televangelism has impacted immensely on the Nigerian media landscape. It has become a veritable goldmine for most of the television and radio houses. It is estimated that about 40% of revenue accruing to both state and private owned television and radio stations derive from paid religious broadcast. Most of these establishments would have gone bankrupt if not for revenue from paid religious programmes.
Before the advent of Pentecostal media, religious broadcasting has been provided as a form of public services by the various media houses. Today, because of the money accruing from the televangelists, none of the stations allocates space for public service religious programmes. The Programme Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority, Channel 5 Lagos, unapologetically notes: ‘TV evangelism is for those who pay. There is no space for public service.’ She then asked rhetorically, ‘how can you invite people to come and preach when there are others in line waiting to pay for the time?’ Mr Babs Fashina, the Manager of Programmes for Lagos State Television made the same point: ‘We used to produce some Christian programmes before discovering that more money could be made from paid programmes’.
This means that any religious group that does not have the financial resources to buy air-time is cut off completely from the nation’s air-waves. This is in clear violation of Section 3,4 articles 1 & 3 of The National Broadcasting Code which stipulated the provision of equitable air-time and appropriate opportunity for all religious groups. Thus, because of the huge profit it brings to the media industry, the religious groups have become a major actor in the implementation of media policies in the country. It is easy for them to bend some of the rules and get away with it. The only major rule they have not bent yet is the one prohibiting religious bodies from ownership of electronic media. In denying licenses to religious organizations to run their own electronic media, the government expressed the fear that these media could be used to dominate religious broadcast in violation of the equal opportunity provisions of the Broadcasting Code.
This restriction also applies to community based media. There is currently one community radio license in operation in Nigeria. The University of Lagos, mass communication department received a license such as would be used to augment the media learning curriculum of the students. This radio station has been touted as being more commercial than community based following its developed and implemented sustainability model. However, this radio must be seen as providing a key avenue and an open door into which community radio legislature can be established in the country.
The increase of religious influence on media in Nigeria may have consequent impacts on other groupings who may have fallen back to consolidate their grounds and safeguard their values. The introduction of sharia laws in northern Nigeria may be an attempt by the Muslims to bolster their identity.
There are 100 radio, 147 television, 35cable, 4 direct to home and 4 direct broadcast satellite stations on air in the country. 51 of the radio stations are public and over 70 public TV stations.
Senegal
Early 1940, Dakar saw the initial appearance of radio operations. A transmitter, installed at the port of Dakar by the Army was eventually bequeathed to the telecommunications ministry thus Senegal the first french speaking colony in Africa to own its own radio along side Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. with services intended only for the Europeans.
In 1968, the government of Senegal concerned about the the living conditions of the rural masses introduced programming that would improve the living conditions of the rural folks. The radio became a tool used by the state to link the rural world and happenings at the level of the authorities.
TV was introduced in Senegal in 1963 with the assistance of UNESCO with a pilot scheme implementation intended to produce learning materials for literacy. It began transmission in 1965 broadcasting programs on hygiene, and with the Munich Olympics, 1972, saw the birth a year later of the creation of the Office of Broadcasting Television of Senegal (ORTS) supported by the law 73-51 of December 4, 1973 which also defined its conditions for development.
Senegal enjoys a healthy and diverse press climate with a large proportion of private and community radios. However the state owns and controls the only national television which broadcasts and propagates only positive images of the government. Private televisions are only allowed to air entertainment only – perhaps justifying the access to the Senegalese airwaves and the current bulk of programming from Africable – a French only entertainment channel.
Issues of press freedom are still very much present in the Senegal penal code (article 80) providing for 3-5 year prison sentences for acts compromising public security. Journalists are still jailed and harassed for their reporting; stations are still being closed down – 3 in Touba, September 2005 and the recent closure of SUD FM radio station throughout the country arresting its employees.
Clauses contained in the law sets ORTS as an autonomous entity and a public utility – 'publicly owned establishment', managed by a separate body of administrators and technical personnel which is clearly separated from the state. The high turnover of ministers in the cabinet of the Senegalese president is yet to buttress this autonomy.
Senegal boasts 86 radio stations, 6 national radios, 6 allowed TV broadcasters including internationally aired satellite channels and a religious TV station based in Touba, two of them have a 'public' status.
Conclusion
The list below does not provide a complete bullet point of what to look out for in the AFRIMAP study but certainly provides a starting point and a basis on which some of the factors raised may be monitored.
The review of certain legislature and broadcast laws on PSB
regulation of PSB especially in the light of new challenges such as convergence
The autonomy of the state from the PSB and their relationship to defined universal clauses of the PSB
Possible linkages between community media and public service media
References
The advent and growth of television broadcasting in Nigeria: its political and educational overtones., Umeh CC, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12342789&dopt=Abstract, Last assessed, October 28, 2006
Print and broadcast media in northern nigeria, Yusuf M. Adamu, Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano, September 2001
Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, http://www.nbc-nig.org, Last assessed, October 28, 2006, Media and fundamentalism in Nigeria, Walter Ihejirika
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, http://www.gbcghana.com, Last assessed, October 28, 2006
broadcasting in ghana: an overview of changing times, Ama Serwah Adu-Gyimah, http://www.geocities.com/amaserwah/index.html, Last assesed October 28, 2006
Dialogue between telecoms and media regulation stakeholders in times of convergence: challenges and prospects for africa, Cotonou Appeal on the Regulation of Convergence, February 2-4, 2006 meeting held in Benin, organised by PANOS/CIPACO.
International Press Institute, 2005 World Press Freedom Review - Senegal, http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=/KW0001/KW0006/KW0173/, Last assessed Oct 30, 2006
1Examples are URTNA discussed below and the defunct regional West African airline
2 Radio 1, Radio 2, Uniiq FM, Volta Star, TwinCity Radio, Radio Central, Radio Savannah, Garden City Radio, URA Radio, Radio Upper West, Sunrise FM, Obonu FM, Radio BAR
posted by Ben Akoh at 1:07 AM
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