{{Short description|Government-owned broadcasting corporation}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=June 2026}} {{Infobox broadcasting network | name = Edo Broadcasting Service | logo = | logo_alt = <!-- Alt text for logo image --> | type = [[State-owned enterprise|Parastatal]] broadcasting organization | country = [[Nigeria]] | available = [[Edo State]] | owner = [[Edo State|Government of Edo State]] | key_people = Managing Director: Sulaiman Aledeh | former_names = Radio Bendel, Bendel Broadcasting Service | language = [[English language|English]] | headquarters = Aduwawa, [[Edo State]], [[Nigeria]] | website = [https://ebsng.com/ Official Website] | radiostations = EBS Radio | broadcast_area = Edo State | founded = {{Start date|1978}} | tvstations = EBS TV | tvtransmitters = [[UHF]] 45 | radiotransmitters = 95.7 [[Frequency modulation|FM]] | replaced = Bendel Broadcasting Service | regions = [[Benin City]], [[Edo State]] }}

The '''Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS)''' is a state-owned [[Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria|broadcasting organization]] located in Aduwawa, [[Edo State]], [[Nigeria]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simwa |first=Adrianna |date=2017-06-26 |title=Brief History of Broadcasting in Nigeria - Top facts to know |url=https://www.legit.ng/1109799-brief-history-broadcasting-nigeria.html |access-date=2023-08-30 |newspaper=[[Legit.ng]]|language=en}}</ref> It was established as the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (now known as the [[National Broadcasting Commission]]) in 1978, and over time, it evolved into the current Edo Broadcasting Service.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=November 1950 |title=Nigerian Broadcasting Service |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=166 |issue=4229 |pages=850 |doi=10.1038/166850d0 |bibcode=1950Natur.166T.850. |s2cid=4166455 |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=HISTORY OF BROADCAST MEDIA IN NIGERIA |url=https://researchcage.com/2023/01/25/history-of-broadcast-media-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=researchcage.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== History == Broadcasting in Nigeria traces back to the [[Colonial Nigeria|colonial era]] when radio was introduced by the [[British Empire|British colonial government]] to control and mobilize their colonial subjects.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.ebs.com.ng/history/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Edo Broadcasting Service |language=en}}</ref> The Nigerian Broadcasting Service was founded in 1951, relaying programmes from the [[British Broadcasting Company|British Broadcasting Commission]] (BBC).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ume-Nwagbo |first=Ebele N. E. |date=September 1984 |title=Broadcasting in Nigeria: Its Post-Independence Status |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/107769908406100315 |journal=Journalism Quarterly |language=en |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=585–592 |doi=10.1177/107769908406100315 |s2cid=144577454 |issn=0022-5533|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ladele |first1=Olu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4mGAAAAIAAJ |title=History of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation |last2=Adefẹla |first2=V. Olufẹmi |last3=Laṣekan |first3=Olu |date=1979 |publisher=Ibadan University Press |isbn=978-978-121-063-1 |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, the [[Nigerian Broadcasting Commission]] (NBC) was established in 1992 to oversee broadcasting activities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NBC celebrates 22 years promises better service delivery |url=http://www.punchng.com/news/nbc-celebrates-22-years-promises-better-service-delivery |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2023-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130756/http://www.punchng.com/news/nbc-celebrates-22-years-promises-better-service-delivery/ |url-status=dead |newspaper=[[The Punch]]}}</ref><ref name="CommonLII k647">{{cite web |title=National Broadcasting Commission Decree |url=http://www.commonlii.org/ng/legis/num_act/nbcd332/ |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=CommonLII}}</ref>

Television's unique visual impact led to the establishment of the [[National Broadcasting Commission]] (NBC) in August 24, 1992, allowing private participation in broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=http://www.nbc.gov.ng/aboutus.php |website=NBC Government |access-date=2023-08-30 |archive-date=2014-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195708/http://www.nbc.gov.ng/aboutus.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> EBS emerged from the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, initially established to meet the information and enlightenment needs of the [[Mid-Western Region, Nigeria|mid-West Region]].<ref name="Mbuba 2018 a855">{{cite web |last=Mbuba |first=Francis |date=2018 |title=Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the Regulation of Broadcasting Media in Nigeria: A Study of Broadcast Media in Anambra State |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3835075 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Search eLibrary|ssrn=3835075 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Beli |first=Bello |title=CHALLENGING THE CHALLENGES OF BROADCAST REGULAT IONS IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION (NBC |url=https://www.academia.edu/9179619}}</ref>

EBS evolved through various names, adopting ''Radio Bendel'' in 1978 as the [[Military dictatorship in Nigeria|Federal Military Government]] handed over its NBC stations. In 1980, television broadcasting was added to the organization.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Samson |first=Orifah |title=Youths' Attitude Towards Indigenous Language Use In Broadcast Media: A Study of Edo Broadcasting Service, Edo State, Nigeria |url=https://www.academia.edu/11071953}}</ref> The name ''Bendel Broadcasting Service'' was empowered by Edict No 11 in 1986.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joshua |first=Izenose |title=INFLUENCE OF NEWS CENSORSHIP ON THE PERFORMANCE OF JOURNALISTS |url=https://www.academia.edu/36097294}}</ref> Edo Broadcasting Service emerged from the division of ownership after [[Edo State|Edo]] and [[Delta State|Delta]] states were created in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria: Administrative Division (States and Local Government Areas) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Edo state: The heartbeat of the Nation |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2012/03/26/edo-state-the-heartbeat-of-the-nation/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=Channels Television|date=26 March 2012 }}</ref>

Today, EBS operates as a [[State-owned enterprise|parastatal]] under the Ministry of Information of the [[Edo State|Edo State Government]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ue4JfJUpCGIC&q=%2522Edo+Broadcasting+Service%2522 |title=Edo State of Nigeria: A Guide : One Year of Edo State (pictorial) : Special Attractions |date=1992 |publisher=Ministry of Information, Social Development, Youth & Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Television Broadcasting in Nigeria |url=http://www.wefinder24.com/2023/02/history-of-television-broadcasting-in.html |access-date=2023-08-30}}</ref> It owns and operates [[Radio broadcasting|radio]] and [[Television station|television stations]] received across [[Edo State]] and beyond. Booster sub-stations in [[Uromi|Ivue-Uromi]] and Ihievbe enhance its transmission capabilities.<ref name="Ihechu Okugo 2013 o347">{{cite web |last1=Ihechu |first1=Innocent |last2=Okugo |first2=Uzoma C |date=1 January 2013 |title=Broadcasting Regulation and Broadcasting In Nigeria: An Overview Of The Approaches |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338533278 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ijioma |first=Caleb |date=2021-01-01 |title=MEDIA FREEDOM IN NIGERIA BETWEEN 2015-2021 |url=https://www.academia.edu/52566211 |journal=Paper on Media Freedom in Nigeria Between 2015-2021}}</ref>

== Broadcasting operations == EBS operates on two main frequencies, radio broadcasts at 95.7 MHz on [[frequency modulation]] and [[television]] broadcasts on channel 45 in the ultra-high frequency band (UHF).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edo Broadcasting Service |url=https://cultureintelligence.ynaija.com/platforms/edo-broadcasting-service/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Culture Intelligence from RED |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

The organisation is led by a [[Managing Director]], who oversees various departments that manage the station's broadcasting and operational activities. These departments include Shared Services, which encompasses [[Management|Administration]], Training and Manpower Development, and [[Engineering]].<ref name="Vanguard News 2018 a8242">{{cite news |date=28 February 2018 |title=Edo set to reposition EBS Radio/TV for digital switch-over |newspaper=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/edo-set-reposition-ebs-radio-tv-digital-switch/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Etieyibo |first1=Edwin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaszDwAAQBAJ&dq=%2522Edo+Broadcasting+Service%2522&pg=PA120 |title=Disabilities in Nigeria: Attitudes, Reactions, and Remediation |last2=Omiegbe |first2=Odirin |date=2017-09-22 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7618-6906-1 |language=en}}</ref>

== Legacy == EBS has been guided by a succession of General Managers, including notable individuals such as Bankole Balogun, P.O. Chiazor, Engineer N.O. Iluobe, Mr. Martins Ekpe, Tunde Ebozoje, and Friday Okoedion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=midwest |date=2019-12-06 |title=Edo Broadcasting Service: The Quest for Competitive News Channel |url=https://midwestherald.com.ng/edo-broadcasting-service-the-quest-for-competitive-news-channel/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The current Managing Director is Sulaiman Aledeh<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adedipe |first=Adeyinka |date=2024-11-23 |title=Edo gov appoints ARISE TV presenter, Aledeh, MD state broadcasting service |url=https://punchng.com/edo-gov-appoints-arise-tv-presenter-aledeh-md-state-broadcasting-service/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |newspaper=[[The Punch]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Okpebholo appoints Aledeh as MD of State-Owned TV, Radio Stations, EBS |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2024/11/23/okpebholo-appoints-aledeh-as-md-of-state-owned-tv-radio-stations-ebs/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2025-07-07 |language=en-US|newspaper=[[P.M. News]]}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.ebs.com.ng/ Official Website] {{Edo State|state=collapsed}} {{Television in Nigeria|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Television in Nigeria]] [[Category:Broadcasting in Nigeria]] [[Category:Government agencies established in 1978]] [[Category:1978 establishments in Nigeria]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1980]] [[Category:Government agencies and parastatals of Edo State]]