Television
After the privatization of the airwaves, the government gave approval to the allocation of frequencies to private television stations. Two private channels went on the air in 1997, with the first being Metro TV and followed by TV3. TV stations soon mushroomed and as of 2017, the total number of TV operators authorized by the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana is 93, out of which only 51 are currently active.
There is almost a maximum penetration for TV , with over half of the population watching TV on a daily basis. Yet, it is only the second most popular news source after radio: 25% of Ghanaians turn towards TV in order to get information. 45.8% of the consumers find the information presented credible, 37.8% neutral, and 14.2% partisan .
High audience concentration geared towards big media groups
Despite the high number of TV stations, the TV market remains highly concentrated in terms of audience concentration. The major 4 companies - Multimedia Group, U2 Company/Despite Group of Companies, TV3 Network/ Media General Ghana Limited and the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation – unite 77.39% of all TV consumers with an assumed potential to influence public opinion.
The Multimedia Group operates Multi TV, a satellite television station with several channels. It is owned by the media entrepreneur George Kwesi Tsum – with the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation holding 7.5% minority shares. Despite Group of Companies operates a chain of media outlets and U2 Company Limited, which runs UTV, is also a subsidiary. Businessman . Osei Kwame owns the Despite Group as sole shareholder and also 50% shares in U2 Company Limited with the other 50% belonging to his business partner Dr. Ernest Sarpong.
Sources
Glenda Nevil (2016). Ghana: Rapidly expanding with changing mindsets. Accessed 17 July 2017.