The Challenges of Digital Switchover in Nigeria within the Global Trend in Digital Broadcasting
type: CreativeWork
description: The overarching objective of this thesis is to investigate Nigeria’s protracted digital switchover (DSO) process from June 2008 when the DSO began until December 2022, which marks the fifth attempt at analogue switch-off (ASO). The global trend in digital terrestrial broadcasting has profoundly impacted the broadcast media and telecommunication sectors due to its efficient use of the radio spectrum. Thus, digitisation presents an opportunity for countries with weak broadcast policy architecture, such as Nigeria, to overhaul their communication policy towards broader public interest objectives. The study relies on the qualitative research methods of document analysis and in-depth interviews. Documents were collected from various private and public institutions; 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with policy-makers, public and private broadcasters, technical experts, journalists and academics. The research applies stakeholder analysis and advocacy coalition framework (ACF) to examine the interplay between state actors and the main stakeholders to determine how their relationship affects the DSO policy. The significant role of ‘power’ as an element that shapes stakeholders’ preferences, logic and interaction in the policy process is analysed, particularly the notion of ‘indecision’ as a form of power exercised at the early stages of the DSO process in Nigeria. Also, the study explores the impact of institutionalism and its strands (path dependence, critical junction and the so-called new institutionalism) on DSO policy outcomes. The critique of the critical political economy of broadcasting policy in the study illuminates the broader and long-term political-economic context within which the DSO policies in Nigeria should be understood. This study argues that the Nigerian government took a hands-on approach to the DSO process, centralising decision-making, which explains the persistence of the analogue regime in a digital regulatory environment. It observes ho…
abstract: The overarching objective of this thesis is to investigate Nigeria’s protracted digital switchover (DSO) process from June 2008 when the DSO began until December 2022, which marks the fifth attempt at analogue switch-off (ASO). The global trend in digital terrestrial broadcasting has profoundly impacted the broadcast media and telecommunication sectors due to its efficient use of the radio spectrum. Thus, digitisation presents an opportunity for countries with weak broadcast policy architecture, such as Nigeria, to overhaul their communication policy towards broader public interest objectives. The study relies on the qualitative research methods of document analysis and in-depth interviews. Documents were collected from various private and public institutions; 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with policy-makers, public and private broadcasters, technical experts, journalists and academics. The research applies stakeholder analysis and advocacy coalition framework (ACF) to examine the interplay between state actors and the main stakeholders to determine how their relationship affects the DSO policy. The significant role of ‘power’ as an element that shapes stakeholders’ preferences, logic and interaction in the policy process is analysed, particularly the notion of ‘indecision’ as a form of power exercised at the early stages of the DSO process in Nigeria. Also, the study explores the impact of institutionalism and its strands (path dependence, critical junction and the so-called new institutionalism) on DSO policy outcomes. The critique of the critical political economy of broadcasting policy in the study illuminates the broader and long-term political-economic context within which the DSO policies in Nigeria should be understood. This study argues that the Nigerian government took a hands-on approach to the DSO process, centralising decision-making, which explains the persistence of the analogue regime in a digital regulatory environment. It observes ho…
author: Sanusi, Lookman
date published: 2024
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:01:10Z
provider: University of Westminster
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Westminster

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.34737/ww760