This study is an assessment of the challenges militating against effective performance of TV stations in Nigeria, with insights from select TV stations in Abuja and viewers in North Central States. It aims to find out the possible challenges and their effects on the performance of the stations, with a view to proffering antidotes for proper enabling environment for TV stations in Nigeria. It is anchored on the Systems Theory and several literatures were reviewed to provide insight into the research objectives. The research design was survey and the population was 1,627,999. The sample size was determined using Gleen (1992) sample size determination table, reviewed in 2012, which states that when the population of a study is above 100,000; the sample size under the confidence level of 95% and the precision level of +5; should be 400. The select stations are TVC, NTA and Arise News television while the states under review are Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue. Both the stations and states were determined through simple random sampling while systematic sampling technique was used to distribute the questionnaire, on residents of the state capitals. A total of 391 copies of the questionnaire were proportionally distributed to residents while three management staff of each of the three stations participated in the focus group discussion. The recovery rate of the research instrument is 100% because a buffer margin of 10% was added to the scientifically determined sample size, to address issues of exigencies on loss of, or incomplete filling of instrument. Findings show myriads of challenges militating efficient and effective performances of the TV stations across the states. They include poor power supply (22.5%); overzealous security agents (16.9%); political pressures (16.1%); ownership influence (9.5%) and influence of new/social media contents (5.9%); among others. Several negative implications of the challenges on the performances of the stations were also highlighted; with suggestions on a critical balance between, and among the key stakeholders on the management of the TV stations; integration and synchronization of online and mainstream media contents; regular local and foreign training as well as institution of good insurances policies for journalists and improved power supply, salary and welfare packages; among others.
Vol. 3, No 2, pp. 47-58.