Media houses across Nigeria are upping their ante to ensure they meet the digitalization standard set by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the industry’s regulatory body, requiring new and old media houses to digitalize their services with special emphasis on the signals they transmit.
In Bauchi state, efforts are being made by the management of the two state-owned media firms to ensure they transform their analogue signals into acceptable top quality digital signals, Mohammed Damina, commissioner in charge of the state’s information ministry, has revealed.
Speaking at an interactive media event organized by the state chapter of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the commissioner revealed that the state government has concluded plans to spend N300 million (about US$1.9 million) to digitalize the two media houses it is operating.
According to him, the state recently hosted a visiting team from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC). After going round Bauchi State Television (BATV) and Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), he said the delegation gave professional recommendations on the digitalization of the two media organizations.
“Submissions were made to Governor Isa Yuguda on the two stations – Bauchi State Television (BATV) and Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC). And right now, we are waiting for his approval. As soon as funds are made available to the ministry, we will embark on the project,” he said.
When asked about the specific recommendations the NBC officials made, the commissioner said that the NBC delegate recommended that the ministry should install an additional transmitter at BRC radio station, but they believe facilities at the state-owned television station are satisfactory.
On completion of the digitalization project, he said workers of the two media organizations, especially the journalists, would be trained so that they can improve their current capacity.
