DIGITAL SWITCH-OVER IN CAMEROON

Résumé

                                                  Abstract

              Digital technology can be described as the “new paradigm” in the science of broadcasting. Yet, it can also be described as a “greedy” technology because, unlike what is common with most situations of paradigm shifts, digital technology has come not only to better facilitate broadcasting but, owing to its pervasiveness, it is also pushing its predecessor, analogue technology, into oblivion – thereby killing it softly. Thus, a digital switch-over is an analogue switch-off, indeed. Broadcast media personnel have been virtually coerced into embracing the digital switch-over and, in the course of this, are completely detached from analogue technology as they grapple with the new dynamics – the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful procedures – that have come with digital technology. The global campaign for the promotion of digital technology (digital switch-over) has led to a disaffection for analogue technology (analogue switch-off). This transition is so intense in broadcast production such that those who begin the media professions with digital technology – even just for the knowledge of it. To them, analogue technology never existed – or better still, it is relic fit only for the science museum.