Broadcast Funding and Programming Consequences in Nigeria Deregulated Broadcast Industry

Abstract

This paper undertook a discourse on broadcast funding and programming consequences in Nigeria deregulated broadcast industry. The purpose of the study is to examine the issues in broadcast deregulation; to explore the sources of broadcast funding in a deregulated era and the implications for broadcast programming. This study is theoretically anchored on the political economy of the media. The theory states that the political and the economic structure of a nation always have a multiplier effect on the media. The paper is based on the secondary method of research. This paper argues that the need to source for adequate fund and profit maximization have propelled the broadcast industry to venture into commercialisation, and this development has affected broadcast media programming. The resultant effect is the creation of programmes that attract advertisers to the detriment of public service broadcasting. This study recommends that the media should source for fund in other areas such as production expert services to reduce over dependence on commercialization, and advertisers as funding sources and the broadcast industry should remember their social and ethical responsibility and accountability to the people.

Key words: Media Funding, Deregulation, Commercialization, Commodification and Programming.