RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF POD-CASTING OF

AUDIO LIVE STREMS OF NIGERIA RADIO STATIONS AMONG MASS

COMMUNICATION STUDENTS

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Advancement in computer technology has led to many innovations especially with the advent of
the Internet. The proliferation of the Internet is changing different sectors in the world, the media
industry inclusive. One of the innovative applications of the Internet to the media industry is live
streaming- the practice by which broadcast stations provide media contents online. Technological
convergence as defined by Okoro (2006) is the “the continuous development in media technology
aimed at bringing about a blend in technologies in the process of message delivery” p. 4.

The introduction of the internet has not only brought improvement, but also quality and speed in
the way people communicate around the globe. The application of the internet can be seen in
almost every aspect of human endeavour. The internet is a new media technology that uses
interconnected computers and software protocol to share information, news and entertainment and
to communicate with people around the world. It is faster and is accessible 24/7.

However, as the technology gained momentum in the early 2000s, the uses of podcasting branched
from simply the delivery of content to also creative and responsive purposes (Riddle, Johanna
2010). Podcasts are audio and video files that can be downloaded to a desktop computer, iPod, or
other portable media player for playback later (Harris & Park, 2008 Harris, H. and Park, S. 2008).
Podcasts enable users to time-shift and place-shift content, meaning a user can tune in to the
podcasts they choose, whenever, and wherever she wants. Hence this study seeks to ascertain the
awareness and adoption of podcasting of audio live stream of radio programmes.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Radio over the years has experienced innovation and incursion of various technologies that
has enhanced a better user experience to audience within and outside the country.
It is pertinent to examine how widely this feature is adopted since it is relatively new. The
awareness level of this innovation among mass communication students as potential broadcasters
is also a major thrust to this research work.

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OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
1. Determine the awareness level of the various Podcasting channels among audience of the
various Nigeria Radio stations.
2. Find out if Mass Communication students as potential broadcasters adopt the Podcast
platforms of these Radio station.
3. Examine the preference of podcast of live steams to the traditional means of broadcasting
through tuning in by the stations’ various frequency.
4. To know if the adoption of Pod-Casting among Nigeria Radio stations has increased the
number of audience attracted by these radio stations or otherwise.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the level of adoption of different Radio Pod-Cast live streams by Mass
Communication students as broadcasters under training?
2. What is the awareness level of the various Pod-Casting channels among audience of the
various Nigeria Radio stations?
3. How has the introduction of Pod-Casts in Radio stations increased or reduced targeted
audience?
4. Is Pod-Casting a more acceptable medium for accessing Radio content than the traditional
medium of using radio set?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
H0: Mass Communication students are aware of the various Pod-Cast channels of audio live
streams of radio stations in Nigeria
H1: Mass Communication students are not aware of the various Pod-Cast channels of audio live
streams of radio stations in Nigeria
H0: Mass Communication students are indifferent to various Pod-Cast channels of audio live
streams of radio stations in Nigeria
H1: Mass Communication students are not aware not indifferent to various Pod-Cast channels of
audio live streams of radio stations in Nigeria.
SCOPE OF STUDY
The study is limited in scope within Mass Communication students in tertiary institution. The
study is expected to last from June – August, 2019.

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SIGNIFICANCE
This study is timely and will make meaningful contribution to the administration of Radio
programmes and their various medium of dissemination as there have not been many studies
carried out on the subject matter.
METHODOLOGY
The research method that will be employed in this study is survey research. Survey research is a
type of research designed to focus on people or population suitable for a specific study. The data
will be collection through questionnaire. The population for this study will be mass
communication students of Lagos State polytechnic Ikorodu. The sample size will be 250 National
Diploma and Higher National Diploma of mass communication students in Lagos State
Polytechnic, Ikorodu selected through simple random sampling method. The data will be analyzed
using frequency and simple percentage.

REFERENCES

Asemah, E. Gujbawu, M., Ekhareafo, D.& Okpnachi, R. (2012).Research Method and

Procedures In Mass Communication. Jos: Great Printers Press
Berry, R. (2006), ‘Will the iPod kill the radio star? Profiling podcasting as radio’, Convergence,
12:2, pp. 143–62.
Chisholm, K. (2015), ‘Does the future of radio really lie in podcasts?’, The Spectator, 28 March,
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/03/does-the-future-of-radio-really-lie-in-podcasts/.
Accessed 30March 2019.
Riddle & Johanna (2010). Radio in the digital age. Cambridge: Polity Press.