Democratization and economic viability of community television in Africa

It is always stated as a truism that the one mass medium that suits Africa (and the Third World) is radio because it is relatively cheap and already established. Not so television which is seen to require huge financial outlays, sophisticated technologies and electrical energy to install. This paper argues otherwise. It proposes a consideration of the cost-benefit factors of television and videotape in development and argues that TV and rural video centres are not only economically viable but are socially desirable for Nigeria and, by extension, other African states which strive for fast socio-economic development. It accordingly makes the case for the establishment of rural television and community video production and viewing centres, using cheap technologies which are already available in the market as a way of democratizing the medium and empowering the grassroots communities through their gaining greater acess to and control of it.