Prince Thomas Abi Jr|19 February 2016|7:15pm
Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) is Cross River State's government radio and television station funded with tax payers money.
CRBC has a television station and two radio stations. One in Calabar and the other at Ikom.
It is very unfortunate that the only medium through which information is disseminated to the good people of Cross River State is still practicing very old method of journalism with very crude equipments. The media house is passing through hard times. It is very embarrassing to know that the station can barely provide good quality sound. The content and production is very poor. The station lacks modern day facilities for the effective dissemination of Information.
The station is also known for her poor frequency. Driving out of Calabar and approaching Akamkpa you can barely listen to CRBC radio or watch the television station. It is so bad that those living outside Calabar are completely caught out of information.
Another very disturbing problem is the issue of the station not going global. The station is still archaic and is not meeting the needs of the Cross River people. One will expect that the station, especially the radio station would reach our local communities mostly in the area of awareness as it concerns the citizens of Cross River State.
It is a known fact that people living outside Calabar rely on radio stations from neighboring Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Abia and Benue States for news. By so doing, it limits the income that CRBC is supposed to be generating as most people in other parts of the State go to neighboring states to air out their advertisement, obituaries, weddings and other ceremonies as a result the station's inability to reach the nooks and crannies of the State.
Today, the Cross River State government has constantly talked about eradicating poverty and unemployment. The truth is, no nation can win the war against poverty without an effective means of proliferating of information.
The media is an integral part in winning the war against poverty and all forms of social vices. It is a medium for reaching out to the public. It is a means of selling government's policies and programs, and so the government of Cross River State must do everything possible to revive CRBC.
The government of Cross River State must understand that it is when government and the governed communicate together, true governance is experienced.
The media helps to promote good governance and the government of Cross River State must not keep a deft ear in repackaging the only state owned radio and television station.
In repackaging the station, it is expected that the frequency of CRBC spreads across every nooks and cranny of the State. The government must also work out a plan by initiating good programs aimed at improving the lives of the good people of Cross River State.
In moving CRBC forward, the government must first provide the staff with good communication gadgets; such as laptops, tablets, Internet facilities and many more.
The government also has to increase the frequency by keying into latest technology. By installing towers that can withstand attenuation from bad weather and enhance speed and good frequency.
There is also the need to provide a good working environment for the workers and also create a good welfare package for the workers as a means of motivation. The workers also need to have buses that convey them for external jobs outside the studio.
In repackaging the station, it is advisable that CRBC TV gets a space on DSTV. This will afford people the opportunity to key into the State. The channel would showcase the State's rich cultural heritage rather than buying bandwidth on the special event channel on DSTV during the Calabar Carnival.
The radio station also can be revived by having an Internet radio where the application of the radio station can be downloaded with smart phones. The application has the capacity to generate so much revenue for government as most persons outside the State and out of the country would have access to the radio station.
The government of Cross River State, through the Ministry of Information must act very fast towards reviving the only state owned radio and television station.
Information is power and we must not afford to keep our people in the dark if we must move forward as a people.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst /Social Commentator
