Private-enterprise broadcasting and accelerating dependency: Case studies from Nigeria and Uganda

Abstract

This paper shows how political economy transformations in sub-Saharan Africa have led to the proliferation of privately-owned, commercial broadcasting stations. Despite assumptions that political economy constraints and weak market factors would inhibit private-enterprise broadcasting, the paper shows that none of these constraints have prevented indigenous (African) entrepreneurs from establishing viable broadcast stations. Using cases from Nigeria and Uganda, the paper argues that notwithstanding the potential for reverse export earnings, the existing private-enterprise stations are heavily dependent on foreign vendors for equipment and programming, with the region spending an estimated $300 million between 1995 and 1996 on broadcast-related services.