MEDIA CONVERGENCE

 

MEDIA CONVERGENCE IN NIGERIA

The process of convergence starts when previously separate technologies coming closer together as a direct consequence of the advances made in ICT. Convergence has been  made possible by digitalization which allows different types of content (audio, video, text) to be stored in same format and delivered through a wide variety of technologies (computers, mobile phones, television, etc)

Convergence can be viewed from many points. First, is the technological convergence. This refers to the trend for some set of technologies initially having distinct functionalities to evolve to having those that overlap. Like mobile phones making voice calls, sms, internet and Television.

While media convergence means removal of entry barriers across IT, Telecommunications, media and consumer electronics ,creating one and single, converged industry.  Technical convergence is the merging of the delivery technologies through which content reaches the consumer: radio, conventional broadcasting, satellite, cable, fibre optics, wireless, internet.

Content convergence from a broadcasting perspective as the formatting and use of content, aided by the flexibility afforded by digitalisation, to present the same information,  on different platforms and in different ways. The same information can be used for different purposes – audiences can use the platform most relevant to them

Convergence therefore can be defined from a number of perspectives: technological, content, economic,  regulatory and institutional.     Convergence is important because of the role it can  play in national economic and social development  and growth. It has the potential to impact on all segments of society – it can shape the delivery of  government services (education and health included),  redefine the way businesses operate and  provide individuals with as yet unimagined information  and communication services.

There are many hurdles to cross before we can achieve true convergence in Nigeria . The following are some of the hurdles:

Human and institutional capacity 

It is just about eight years that Nigeria   began the reform of the telecommunications sectors leading to the establishment of  the independent regulator, The National communications commission. The opening up of markets and the need to provide universal service required new sets of regulatory skills which are often still in scarce supply. Addressing the needs of convergence will stretch scarce human resources and institutional capacities even further.

The merging of delivery platforms and content creates new opportunities for the development and delivery of services and products that can expand access to communications services in all parts of the  Nigeria  and better meet the needs of users.   

Consumer-driven convergence: In the field of e-commerce and information technology, convergence typically refers to media convergence, and especially to the combination of television, telecommunications, and the personal computer into a single box that would deliver high-speed Internet access, traditional television programming, and interactive services. However, as of mid-2001, interactive television (iTV) was more vision than reality. Major providers included WebTV, owned by Microsoft since 1997 and re-branded in April 2001 as MSNTV; and AOLTV, which launched in October 2000 following tests in select markets. WebTV quickly gained some 1.1 million subscribers, and then found it difficult to acquire more customers. AOLTV had to convince AOL subscribers it was worth an additional $14.95 a month, while non-subscribers had to pay $24.95 a month for access to AOLTV. Short of iTV, some TV shows—including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?—offered some measure of interactivity by directing viewers to their Web sites.

Convergence at a technological level will enable voice, video, and data to be transmitted to consumers through a single pipeline. The pipeline may be wired, such as cable or DSL, or it may be wireless. Instead of accessing the Internet from a single box, however, consumers will be able to access high-speed networks from a variety of access points, including PCs, TVs, mobile phones, mobile devices, public kiosks, and home appliances. Technological convergence also is expected to result in further convergence at the business level. The merger of AOL and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner was expected to help accelerate the convergence of traditional and Internet media. Other telecommunications, cable, Internet, and traditional media companies also would join forces, either through mergers or strategic alliances, to form fewer and larger organizations.