International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue XII, December 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Bobmanuel, Karibi Benson PhD1, Umunnah, Blessing Onyinyechukwu PhD2 , Ochia, Stevenson Enemuwa (Doctorial Student)3
1Department of Mass Communication, Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori , Rivers State, Nigeria
2Department of English Language and Communication Studies Federal University, Otuoke Bayelsa State, Nigeria
3Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
I. INTRODUCTION
The mass media as a consciousness industry satisfies diver’s needs to its heterogeneous and varied audiences. Each of the media (Television or Radio) is presumed to affect perceptions and behaviour in a distinctive way due to its reach, frequency and penetration. They can affect the society and society can also affect the media. Deriving from the foregoing, Ayedee & Manocha, (2020) argues “television is an electronic device that brings informational and entertainment programme: it grasps all the ages and almost all the interests of the living. Right from the international programmes, it carters for the needs of all viewers: hence, television holds the highest mode of entertainment and information.
Obono & Madu (2018) agrees with this position saying: television is an important medium of communication in the 21st century. It is used for several reasons including information, education, entertainment and persuasion. Unlike other media structures, television has the advantage of utilizing vision for mass communication,( p.4) Lindholm (2019), adds, the relationship between sports and television has for the most part been mutually beneficial and has, for the most part, only grown deeper over time. Television, allows sports to reach audience that are too far away to attend sporting competitions live.
Every weekend during football season and some week days, viewing centers in marine base water front in Port Harcourt are full, stuffy and rowdy as football fans flock in their numbers to go and watch their favorite clubs slug it out on the pitch. These have given room for relaxation, fun and in some cases elude the vicissitude of life. The English premier league fans are obsessed with the game of football but the brand of football which the foreign leagues offers distinguished itself and, presently occupy a special place in their hearts. While contributing to this discourse, Adebayo, Akintude & Falase (2017) note that in African cities and villages, fans connect and identify with football clubs in Europe through digital spectatorship, symbols and imagination. Through the activities of large privately owned media companies, live soccer games from all over the world, especially Europe, are reaching millions of people via video theatres or trans-local stadiums