Things are changing at Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and that is simply because of the quality and content of it prime NTA Network News programme.
Ironically, the same programme made station lose almost all its viewers at the height of Abacha’s regime in ’97/98 when he turned NTA into a propaganda tool for his then silent ambition to become Nigeria’s Life president.
The last regime of Obasanjo also used NTA as a propaganda tool and while it was bad news for NTA, other authentic news sources like Minaj, Channels and Silverbird TV emerged.
CommunicationsWeek
investigations show that the station is beginning to reinvent itself with the now incisive, deep and courageous reports.
In fact, NTA now compete for breaking stories with the likes of AIT, Channels and other independent TV stations.
NTA’s reach is unrivaled with presence in Aba, Abeokuta, Abuja, Ado-Ekiti , Akure, Asaba, Awka, Bauchi , Benin, Calabar, Damaturu, Dutse, Enugu, Gombe, Gusau, and Ibadan
Others are Ijebu Ode, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Lafia, Lokoja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Minna, Ondo, Osogbo, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Uyo , Yenagoa, Yola and SAPELE.
Network programmes on the NTA are reputed to have the widest reach.
Apart from the regular NTA Network new at 9, there is also the Saturday edition called Weekend file in which guests are invited to speak on topical issues in the country while News Line is the Sunday edition which focuses on human angle stories.
It covers developments across the country in the areas of politics, current affairs, commerce, industry and infrastructure, sports, lifestyle and entertainment.
The programme has been anchored by seasoned and highly experienced professionals as Cyril Stober, Frank Olize, Eugenia Abu, Ruth Benemesia Opia, Elizabeth Nze-Uzoukwu, among others.
The network news is delivered with such great insight into events across the country and its wide coverage is quite overwhelming.
In the past, it had sure enjoyed the reputation of the most viewed programme on national television regardless of viewers’ class, occupation, location, tribal or religious allegiance.
Although it has been accused of being pro-government and its objectivity often questioned by some viewers.
The programme unarguably has also observed technological advancement trends in the industry. Today, improved and sophisticated equipment are employed in news delivery such that different NTA stations across the country can be connected and brought to our screens in a matter of seconds.
A programme which has enjoyed wide view for decades on end, it has become a major trademark of the NTA and viewers would only be grateful to have it grace their screens at the designated time daily.