Onitsha Listeners’ Perception of Radio Influence on Sports Development in Anambra State

Abstract

Radio sports programmes provide opportunity to disseminate information on how sports sector is developing. This study investigated influence of radio sports programmes on sports development in Anambra state from the perception of radio listeners in Anambra State, especially in Onitsha. The objectives that guided the study are: to ascertain the level of exposure to sports programmes on radio by listeners in Onitsha; to find out whether listeners in Onitsha perceive radio sports programmes on radio as sports development tools in Anambra State; to identify whether exposure to radio sports programmes influences respondents’ attitude towards sports development in Anambra State; and to ascertain whether exposure to sports development programmes on radio influences listeners’ attendance to sports events in Anambra State. Survey research method was used for the study. The multi-stage sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used in studying 384 respondents in Onitsha. Findings of the study revealed that: sports listeners in Onitsha were exposed to sports programmes on radio; sports listeners in Onitsha see sports programmes on radio as viable tools for sports development; exposure to sports programmes on radio influenced attitude of sports listeners in Onitsha towards sports positively; and that exposure to sports programmes on radio influenced attendance to sports events by residents of Onitsha. The researcher recommended, among others, that presenters of radio sports programmes should improve on their skills regularly through self-development courses and seminars to constantly update their presentation skills; this is based on the finding that presentation skills are essential in the use of radio sports programmes as sports development tools.