CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Science and Technology have played a tremendous role in the electronic media and in the formation and transmission of the customs, beliefs, arts, and ways of life in Nigeria in particular. The science of electronics which started more than a century ago has gone a long way in changing people’s pattern of life in many ways. The Radio, Television, Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) and Compact Disc (CD) players have for instance contributed to the revolution in the communications industry having a corresponding effect on culture formation and transmission.

As noted by James Wood (1994:21) there have been four epochs in communication and broadcasting. These he says have been defined as:

a.           The wire age, 1840 – 1900

b.           The wireless telegraphy age that is the time of long wave telegraphy transmitters.

c.           The age of sound broadcasting for entertainment purposes, 1920.

d.           The age of television broadcasting, 1939 – 1946 to the present day, to the aforementioned, can now be added to the satellite age which began

in 1965, and the age of fibre-optic communications, which has already begun. Each of these ages has earned its place in history.

The satellite is the communication technology which operates by receiving electronic messages from the ground “up-links” on earth stations and re-transmitting them through “down-link” to other earth stations. It should however be noted that satellite does not only pass signals from under ground stations but also to other satellites. Stephen Alies quoted by Hollens (1991:1) describe the satellite as the single most important piece of new hardware in the telecommunication revolution.

Undoubtedly, new media and new forms of media delivery have continually appeared throughout history. Today we have witnessed the arrival of a global community brought about by advances in communication technologies. We have a system of direct broadcasting by satellites which make it possible for equipping with small, rooftop dishes to receive original programmes from powerful satellites orbiting above (Dominick 1990:558).

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1.2         STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Since satellite television’s inception in Nigeria, it has always been raising expectations about harnessing the medium to promote Nigerian culture, but the question of how satellite television has fared so far in the promotion of Nigerian remains unanswered. This has long been a subject of concern and discussion. It is obvious that the Nigerian culture is facing submersion from the mass-produced outpourings of commercial broadcasting by the Westerns. Most importantly this study sets out to know how Nigerians with substantially different social and cultural values cope with the broadcast content of satellite television.

1.3         RESEARCH QUESTIONS / HYPOTHESIS

1.           To what extent has satellite broadcasting important in the formation and transmission of Nigerian culture?

2.           To what extent has Nigerian culture been affected by satellite television transmission?

3.           To what extent has satellite television being advantageous to Nigerian culture?

4.           To what extent has satellite television enhances the World Global Village propounded by Marshall Mcluhan?

5.           To what extent has the exposure of satellite television has negative effects on Nigerians?

1.4         PURPOSE OF STUDY

This study, the impact of satellite television on Nigerian culture sets out to know how Nigerians with substantially different and diverse social and cultural values cope with the broadcast content of satellite television.

The importance of culture to any given set of people can not be over-emphasized, but over the years propagation and transmission of the Nigerian culture is gradually going into oblivion.

Nigerians now fashion their way of life to that of the Westerns which ought not to be so, this study is bound to unravel the mystery behind this act, specifically the effects satellite television has on the Nigerian culture.

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1.5         SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY