THE MASS MEDIA AND COVERAGE OF SPORTS PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU STATE)

The major aim of the study was to investigate the status the mass media sports coverage in the area of information dissemination, active and spectatorship participation and contribution to improvement of football facilities. It was also aimed at implicating the status of sports coverage to the development of football in Enugu State, Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey comprised 300 adults. The research instrument was a 16-item Likert type questionnaire the findings showed that the mass media gave adequate coverage of football events, effective influenced active and spectatorship participation. It was further revealed that mass media contributed to improvement of football facilities. Finally, the implications of these findings to football development in Enugu ware articulated.