Brief History of the NTA
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Nigerian Television Authority was inaugurated in May 1977 although Decree 24 of 1977 was promulgated in March 1977 having effect from April 1976. By that Decree the Nigerian Television Authority became the only body empowered to undertake television broadcasting in Nigeria.

All existing state Television stations were thereby taken over and incorporated in NTA. The Authority was organised on the six zones structure such that each zone consist of 3 stations except for one which is made of four stations. The production Centres exist in each state to contribute programmes to the zonal output. When all the installations, have been completed, it should be possible for anyone in Nigeria to receive any of the six zonal programmes by choice. In 1977, when the NTA was inaugurated, there were 7 stations with 3 in their final stages of commissioning whilst the other states had none at all.

By December 1979, there were scheduled Television broadcasts from every state capital in the country.

ORGANISATION

The Decree establishing the NTA provides for one National Board and six Zonal Boards. The National Board has overall responsibility for policy and standards and remains the corporate legal entity. With the Director-General as Chief Executive he is assisted at HQ by departmental Directors of Engineering, News, Finance, Programmes, Legal and Manpower Resources.

The Chairman of each Zonal Board is a member of the Central Board and the chief executive to the Zonal Board is the Zonal Managing Director. The zonal management consists essentially of specialist advisers to the Zonal Managing Director namely the Secretary to the Board, Programmes coordinator, Chief Engineer and Chief Accountant. In addition, the Zonal Auditor ensures that proper books are kept in the various production Centres.

It is the duty of the zone to ensure that the programmes broadcast conform with the national policies and standards of NTA. The production Centre which is the third tier within NTA does the actual making of programmes. It is headed by a General Manager and staff strength in the oldest stations numbers up to 500.

In March, 1980 the Board of the Authority was dissolved and its functions were taken over by Chief Olu Adebanjo, Special Adviser to the President on information. In September, 1980 the position was revised and an interim Committee was set up by the President-in-Council, with powers to carry out the functions of the Board. The members of the Committee are the permanent Secretary, Federal Department of Information, the Chief Press Secretary to the President, the Federal Director of Information, and the Director-General, NTA, with the Special Adviser now as Chairman of the Committee.


NTA - THE LARGEST TV NETWORK IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, is the largest TV Network in Africa as well as one of the oldest and most accomplished indigenous broadcast outfits in Nigeria.

The Authority was established in 1977, with the fusion of the first generation television stations across the country into one autonomous organisation.

The NTA has over the years, distinguished itself as a force in the field of television broadcasting globally.
Its quality programmes have received numerous awards at International competitions and festivals, which includes the following:

1. 1st Prize for drama category at the URTNA competition in Algiers, Senegal, etc. With'Cock Crow At Dawn','Moment Of Truth', etc.
2. 1st Prize for drama at the U.S. prized pieces festival, with'Things Fall Apart'.
3. 1st Prize in Documentary category with'A Labour's Honour Lost'at the 1988 TAM-TAM International Video Competition in Italy, among other laurels.

The Authority is equipped with new state of the art digital facilities, which has additionally enhanced its competitive advantage as a major player in the broadcast industry, worldwide.


DO YOU KNOW THAT -

- The history of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) can be traced back to that modest beginning on 31st October 1959 when the Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) beamed out the first Television signals in Nigeria. Barely a year after, in 1960, the Eastern Nigerian Television (ENTV) came alive. This was followed, in 1962, by the Radio Television Kaduna (RTK).

- Still in 1962, the development was given an added boost by the Federal Government with the establishment of the Nigerian Television Services (NTS), Lagos. Midwest Television (MTS) came on stream in 1973 while Benue/Plateau Television (BPTV) Jos, made history by commencing transmission in colour from inception in 1974.

- The entire television landscape was transformed with the promulgation of Decree 24 by the then Federal Military Government in May 1977, giving birth to the NTA as we now have it, so, the vision that became a reality in Ibadan in 1959 has metamorphosed into a giant Network of NTA Stations.
At the last count, there were twenty eight NTA Stations in all, utilizing a huge transmitter Network.