ABSTRACT.
This study is carried out to ascertain the level of participation among viewers of Nigerian television programs with Nigeria Television Authority's Tuesday Live and African Independent Television Focus Nigeria as case studies. A sample of 20 staff (Production crew) of these stations was used for this research as · well as questionnaires administered as an instrument of data / ./ collection. Efforts were directed at the two governance related programs Tuesday Live and Focus Nigeria produced by the two respective stations with a view to determining the level of audience participation and at what stage of the program production, the audience got involved or are invited to participate in the program. Findings reveal that the audience got involved at the time they are being aired or broadcast. In other words the audience have little influence on the topics chosen, content of the program, time of broadcast and guests invited to add value to the programs. The research also reveals that audience participation was limited to the use of basic traditional communication modes like text messages, phone calls, emails and letters. In conclusion, limiting the level of audience participation in the production and - post - prod. uction of these programsdenies the audience on the one hand the XlV opportunity of being part owners of the programs as well as discussing issues they feel are more pressing and relevant to them. On the other hand the producers could choose to assume that they know what is best for their audience and end up alienating them.
