History of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC)

History of OSBC

INTRODUCTION: The journey of what is today called Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) with four stations (two radio stations and two television stations), began from the snippets. It began on Monday, August 27 1991 when the then Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retired) announced the creation of Osun State. To indigenes of the new State who were serving at the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), the 27th of August 1991 was the outcome of what everyone had expected.

However, it became inexcusable that they had to move to Osun State to establish the State’s owned media outfits. The officers who came to Osun were made of experienced journalists, professional broadcasters, seasoned administrators and tested engineers who could make much out of nothing. The movement was not too comfortable. Some of the workers attributed the nerve-racking evacuation to the sour relationship which suddenly developed between the governments of Osun and Oyo States at that time. Some blamed the upsetting mass departure on the variance which developed between the departing workers and the new management of BCOS.

The movement of OSBC officers from Oyo State to Osun State was done in batches. The Management team took the first leap. The aim was to find a conducive working atmosphere for the rest to settle and display their inventiveness. That decision was not realistic. Hence, key officers were subjected to travelling from Ibadan (about eighty-two kilometres) to Osogbo on daily basis. It was a phenomenal task.

The birth of Living Spring FM/ Fusion of Management

During his chairmanship, Governor Adebisi Akande procured and installed new 30-kilowatt capacity radio transmitters at the Corporation’s head office. This step culminated in the birth of 104.5 FM christened Living Spring FM.

On the 5^th of January 2000, the management of OSBC Radio and Television were merged into one entity by Governor Akande. By April of 2000, the headquarters and permanent site of OSBC including 104.5 FM studios were completed. The birth of a second television station/Radio studio commissioned.

The unification of OSBC Radio and Television resulted in the acquisition of a new Television Transmitter and the birth of a second television station, Channel 32UHF, transmitting from Oke Baale, Osogbo in August 2001. As a result, Ibokun television, Channel 22UHF, became an appendage of the new one. In 2003, OSBC 104.5 FM studio was commissioned for use. It was christened Living Spring Radio.

Refurbishment of Ibokun Station/New Dawn Television

In 2004, the third Executive Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola made provision for the refurbishment of Ibokun Station to become an autonomous Station. The Station was commissioned on the 31^st of December 2004 by the Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada. It began transmission under a new nomenclature as New Dawn Television (Channel 22Ultra High Frequency) Ibokun. It had solid-state digital ready (six-channel) transmitters on 27 July 2010.

Change in nomenclature/Director-General

In July 2007, the status of the Corporation’s Chief Executive was improved upon. Impressed by the positive expansion taking place in the establishment, Osun State Government elevated its nomenclature (General Manager) to Director-General.

First Radio Station Re-christened

In 2005, OSBC station at Ile-Ife, which was re-christened ORISUN 89.5FM in 2003, came on the air. Orisun FM is so named because of its location, Ile-Ife, which is the cradle (the source) of the Yoruba race. It is a specialised 100% Yoruba transmitting station. The entire programme line-up is set out to promote the isms, norms and cultural antecedents of the Yoruba people.

Staff transit camp/Television studios

On Wednesday, 17^th October 2007, OSBC laid the foundation of a transit camp and commissioned same for use on the 6^th of September 2008. Its aspiration was to improve the welfare, security, skills and knowledge of its employees; and also to meet the challenges of contemporary broadcasting. On Wednesday, 20^th of May 2010, OSBC moved its channel 32 UHF studios from an archaic analogue system to a modern digital-ready system.

DNSG O.B Van

In October 2012, the Fourth Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola procured for the Corporation, a DNSG Outside Broadcasting Van. The van is a 2012 model O.B Vehicle for sending live signals from event centres to the Corporation’s television viewers.

The devotion of Ogbeni Aregbesola to electronic media cut across the eleven departments into which OSBC is divided.

The Governor’s soft spot for the Corporation is aiding it to smarten up its services. It also allows it to contribute positively and meaningfully to issues of finance, fiscal planning, monetary value, trade, industry, community development, societal growth, educational expansion, religious tolerance, cultural renaissance, sports and democracy among others.

OSBC Today

Today, the terrestrial reach of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), with an arsenal of four stations, consisting of two radio channels and two television stations, covers effectively about 14 to 15 States in Nigeria. This is between 38.9 and 41.7 per cent of Nigeria’s geographical spread. Osun State Broadcasting Corporation is reputable for reporting current information of local, national and international standards. The Corporation’s programmes have placed it in an unparalleled position among its equals in South West, Nigeria.

OSBC has eleven departments. The Director-General of the Corporation leads the Management Team which consists of heads of the various departments. The Director-General is the accounting officer for the Corporation.

The Management thinks strategically about:

1. maintaining programme quality and distinctiveness,
2. the highest editorial standards and judgments,
3. a broad range of programme genres
4. maximum utilization of human and technical resources, and
5. ways to maximize sources of income and control costs.
6. the entire process of programme production, packaging and distribution

Management is charged with the responsibility of the planning, organizing staffing, directing, controlling, motivation and communication.