Abstract

Radio broadcasting plays several important roles in peoples’ lives all over the world and is used as major source of information and news on what is happening within the local community, at the national level or at the international level. In Cameroon, the first radio station started in what was the French sector of the country in the early 1940s. This was located in the main seaport in Douala with just 150watts.

After a break, it was revived in 1946 and continued its low-power operations until upgraded in 1955. From 1955, broadcasting in Cameroon was centred on the capital Yaoundé and several provincial towns around the country. Listeners use radio for various reasons one of which is for emotional support, to keep their spirits up through programmes, and the result will determine to a large extent the attitude listeners would have toward programmes.

This study seeks to examine the Listenership of Chariot FM Buea Cameroon. This study makes use of the ‘Uses and Gratifications theory’. Also this research makes use of a quantitative approach because the researcher sought an understanding of the subject matter.

The target population is the entire population of Buea (households), quantitative data was collected using questionnaires which were administered randomly to 370 households in Buea. This was to get their perceptions about the listenership of Chariot FM Buea Results from these findings to reveal that the entire respondents were in support of the fact that Chariot programs are good and very interesting and listeners were satisfied listening to Chariot FM.

This study hereby concludes that Chariot Radio is known and listened to by so many people in Buea with the majority of them being taxi drivers. Also, this radio is listened to by people of different demographics most especial young adults. However, Chariot radio has very interesting and educative programs but more educative programs need to be introduced to attract more listeners.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This chapter highlights the background of the study, the problem statement, the research objectives and the research questions. It also highlights the justification of the study as well as the significance of the study. It also sheds light on the scope of the study, the definition of terms and finally the organisation of the study.

1.1 Background to the Study

Radio broadcasting plays several important roles in peoples’ lives all over world and is used as major sources of information and news on what is happening within the local community, at the national level or at the international level (Anquandah, 2012). Radio communication has continued to gain momentum globally.

According to the World fact book (2010), more than 44000 radio stations exist and operate worldwide. This assertion is supported by UNESCO Institute of Statistics (2011) who indicated that radio accounts for 86% of the total listenership time globally. The institute further found that the radio listenership is 8 times that of TV in the global arena (UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS 2011). 25 out of 51 countries (49%) have radio channels available on a combined platform, while 13% are available on cable only and 8% on satellite only (UIS 2011).

In the rural Philippines, radio has been indicated to be the most dependable medium in the distribution of news or surveillance, informing and entertaining people. This has been attributed to the mountainous nature of the country which creates a challenge as mountains often blocked TV Signals. However, radio is listened by 85% compared to less than 60% households that Listen to TV (Info said 2012). In 2009, radio was used in Brazil by 88% of households, 80% of cars and 36% of mobile phones (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE, 2010). This is the same case in Russia where the use of radio has been on an upward trend with the average daily audience rising by 4% (37.7 million to 39.2 million) since 2008 (Delloitte, 2016).

Radio listenership has also increased due to the invention of many gadgets that has features installed in them for receiving radio and this has been made possible with the new technologies. According to (Bittner J. R., 1977) radio listeners are not restricted to listening to radio through the sets but some use their mobile phones some cars also have radio installations, iPads, iPods, mp3 players and radio internet among the others, the availability of radio in different platform has made it more accessible.

Advancement in technology has resulted in the invention of several devices equipped with radio receiving features. No longer do people listen to radio through rediffusion boxes or immobile radio sets. The invention of miniature devices equipped with radio components has given radio vast mobility making it the predominant news source for on-the-go population (Bittner & Bittner, 1977) .

In developing countries like those in Africa more than 75% of households have access to a radio (UNESCO 2012). According to Costa (2012), the use of local radio in the rural areas from 2000 to 2006 grew by 360% on average. In rural Zambia, the access to radio stands at 68% compared to 83% in Tanzania with the radio providing news and any other information to the rural population (UNESCO 2012)

According to Anquandah (2012), radio was introduced to Ghana (hitherto Gold Coast) by Governor Sir Arnold Hodson in 1935 in his maiden broadcast on the new broadcast service; Station ZOY was received by some 300 subscribers in Accra who used diffusion boxes. The station was established as a public service tool that brought news, entertainment, and music into the homes of its initial subscribers in Accra (Annor-Antwi, 2009). However, the station was used for different purposes from 1939 to include the spread of British propaganda during World War II. The station was established as a department on its own in 1953 and was renamed the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to serve as the mouthpiece of the government (Ofori-Boateng, 1997).

In Cameroon, the first radio station started in what was the French sector of the country in the early 1940s. This was located in the main seaport in Douala with just 150watts. After a break it was revived in 1946 and continued its low power operations until upgraded in 1955. From 1955, broadcasting in Cameroon was centered on the capital Yaoundé and several provincial towns around the country (Tony Rogers 2012).

Despite the world wide enchantment with the internet and web-based learning, radio still retains the advantage of being able to serve dispersed, isolated, and disadvantaged communities aspiring to overcome the barriers of illiteracy and physical distance in many countries. Listeners use and relate to radio in very different ways compared to other media.

Listeners use radio for various reasons one of which is for emotional support, to keep their spirits up through programmes, and the result will determine to a large extent the attitude listeners would have to programmes. People listen to radio to be informed, entertained, educated, follow their favourite football team, and follow fashion trends or popular music, among others.

1.2 Statement of the Problem Statement

Rebroadcasting has grown greatly in Cameroon. Currently there is no region in Cameroon that does not have a radio station. The significance of radio is in informing, educating and entertaining people, and it is one way by which people keep in touch with the contemporary world.

It can be assumed that before the advent of radio, information on what is happening in Buea and social world was (would be) difficult to discern by people. Even after the advent of radio and going a step further to establish radio stations in Buea, there is still doubt as to how many people are aware of what is happening in Buea, and in the global world.

As humans, “information they say, is power”, it is therefore imperative that people keep abreast of what is going on around them, in the town, the country and the world at large. This study, therefore, seeks to examine the listenership of the Chariot FM radio stations among the population of Buea.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 Main Research objective

The main objective of this study is to investigate the listenership of Chariot FM radio among the Buea population

1.3.2 Specific Research Objectives

The following are the specific objectives of this study:

1. To determine the demographics of listeners of Chariot radio in Buea.
2. To identify the most listened to programs on Chariot radio in Buea
3. To determine the satisfaction people derive from listening to Chariot radio

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