THE EFFECT OF CONSTANT POWER OUTAGE OR FAILURE ON MEDIA PERFORMANCE (A CASE STUDY OF ORIENT FM, OWERRI)
ABSTRACT
Power outage has been identified as the key constraint to media industry development in Nigeria. Hence, this study analyzed the cost of power outage to the broadcasting sector of the Nigerian economy using simple percentage. One strong outcome of the study is that the poor state of electricity supply in Nigeria has imposed significant costs on the broadcasting industry. The bulk of these costs relates to the media firm’s acquisition of very expensive backup capacity to cushion them against the even larger losses arising from frequent and long power fluctuations. Small scale media operators are more heavily affected by the power outage as they are unable to finance the cost of backup power necessary to mitigate the impact of frequent outage. The small scale media operators that could afford to backup their operations have to spend a significant proportion of their investment outlay on this. The study suggests for institutional reforms of the power supply sector in Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Electricity plays a vital role in modern society. It is about the greatest invention of man. A country becomes a 24 hours society because of the level of power (Electricity available). Nigeria needs to get to that level so that we can begin to move into the league of developed nations. There is no excuse for power failure because it is possible to have uninterrupted power several countries in the world (both developed and developing). The Nigeria power sector operates well below its estimated capacity with power outage being a frequent occurrence. According to power holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), ten years ago was 7,600 mega watts (MV) but the actual generation capacity was 3,600 megawatt (MW). The disciplinary between electricity demand and actual generation is mostly due to low water levels, unavailability of gas to power the turbines and the inadequate plant maintenance that pervades every PHCN installations all over the country. Presently electricity generation capacity fluctuates between 2,600MW and 3,600 MW. That many companies have divested in Nigerian economy is no longer news. The disturbing issues are, will Nigeria economy ever absurd the shock of this companies exodus? Are there any deliberate efforts towards making the companies come back? for the most part of the last 10 years of Nigerians democracy, there has been so bad that most businesses groan under intense pain due to overhead cost incurred in providing alternative infrastructure like power. Infact, power has become an albatross to the nations’ broadcasting industry. For instances in 1999, broadcasting industry. Accounting for not less than five percent of the gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The shrunk to 4.9 percent in 2000. As a result of high cost of production that results from inadequate infrastructure, the manufacturing capacity utilization remains on the down side. The broadcasting industry is further bogged down by massive decline in capacity utilization resulting from high exchange rate of the naira and congestion at the ports. prior to the financial meltdown, the broadcasting industry had not fared better largely due to lack of infrastructure and high production cost. Power outages have assumed a very high embarrassing dimension in Nigeria. There are several areas of national life that power outage for several days is common and could happen just anywhere become so frequent that ever since, the state house is powered 24 hours with generators. The last junior world cup played in Nigeria really brought out some darkness. The murtala Mohammed Airport is not spared despite being the main gateway in the south into and out of this country. In the midst of this however, Nigerian’s demand for energy and electricity and Nigeria has a 202020 vision (i.e to become one of the twenty industrialized countries by year 2020). It is a project designed to highlight some steps that can help achieve constant power supply in media industry. The aim of this project is to address this level of poor power optimal level that will help media industries and other domestic facilities to operate efficiently and effectively.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Broadcasting industries in both developed and undeveloped nations plays an important role in the process of economic development and industries. Inspite of the relevance of the small and medium scale industries to Nigeria economy and industrial development, on that sector faces a lot of problems. Although there are various factors affecting the ranging from in adequate capital to unfavorable tariff, policy, however, the poor state of power supply in Nigeria is one of the significant factors, militating against the performance of broadcasting initiative industries. Since the performances of SMiS in any state are greatly influenced by the electricity supply determines its ability to create competitive industries. Since the performance of SMIS in any state is greatly influenced by the electricity supply. Given the pathetic state of power supply in Nigeria it is no wonder that the contribution of the development the state, broadcasting sector and unsupported by the government. An overview of the performance of the media limited impact on the sector. Power supply has remained unreliable and power outage load shedding and rationing have become very frequent power supply and been erective and unreliable that many media houses have resorted to purchasing private generators at prohibits. The substantial investment in private generating plants is estimated to be of capacity of over 250MM, which is almost half of power holding company to examine the effect of these incessant power outage son media performance.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this research study are to provide a clear picture on the activities of effects of power on the performance of media organizations. The specific objectives of the study are: To examine the impact of power supply on the performance of media organization in Nigeria. Solutions policies options and recommendation. To identify the problems of that might be against the effectiveness of media organization in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study would therefore provide answers to the following fundamental questions. How does power supply affect the performance of broadcasting industries in Nigeria? Are there linkage between power supply and the performance of broadcasting in Nigeria? What contributes to failure of power supply and media organization?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The research work is concerned basically with the effect of constant power outage or failure on media performance with a restriction to orient FM Owerri.
1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The researcher encountered a number of constraints in the course of this study and the include:
FINANACE: The research was carried on the limited resources of the researcher. The funds required were not forth coming, thus the research had to manage the meager income, available and this hampered the extensive the extensive coverage of the study.
TIME: The researcher did not have sufficient time needed for the research of his nature , thus he had to share his time with other academic chores.
RESPONDENTS: On the part of the respondents, some of them were reluctant to divulge information, while some did not pay attention to the researcher.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is significant of selected growth. It will add to the available literature on the study area. Power supply is a problem to the state government and its citizens from experiences our various industries, there is no doubt that the media organization over the year have been at the receiving end of the economic environment in the state. Infact, the contribution of the sector has been declining over the years. Hence, this study will create awareness to the government to see the extent to which neglect of infrastructural facilities such as electricity is hampering the performance of media organizations in meeting their potentials of the providing employment of indigenous entrepreneurship, enhancing local resources utilization and value added expanding non-oil exports at competitive prices, improving balance of payment position and bring about disagreed overall growth and development of the state economy serves as external dis-economics for media industry adversely affecting their performance, productivity and profitability.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
There are wider definitions of terms and concepts as different scholars have different view about them but those associated with work are seen as follows.
EFFECT: It is the lightening, sound, or scenery used in a play, film, or broadcast. It is also result or change OF something.
POWER OUTAGE: A power outage ( also called a power cut, a power blackout, or a power failure) is a short or long term loss of the electric power to an era.
FAILURE: This the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success.
PERFORMANCE: This is an event in which a performers behave in a particular way or another group of people, the audience.
MEDIA: Media may refer to contents, communications, computing, fine art, life sciences, locations and music.
THE EFFECT OF CONSTANT POWER OUTAGE OR FAILURE ON MEDIA PERFORMANCE (A CASE STUDY OF ORIENT FM, OWERRI)