There was a time when the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) stood as one of the most respected broadcasting institutions in Nigeria. Its radio and television stations commanded large audiences across the South-West and beyond. BCOS was not merely a state-owned broadcaster; it was a training ground for generations of broadcasters, journalists, engineers and media professionals who later distinguished themselves across Nigeria. We had Radio OYO. Then, followed by Television Service of Oyo State, TSOS, established by Late Uncle Bola Ige when he was the governor of the Old Oyo State. Later, both Radio OYO and TSOS became one under Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS.

Today, that glorious institution is struggling for relevance. The decline of BCOS did not happen overnight. It is the cumulative effect of years of neglect, inadequate investment, policy inconsistencies and, more recently, controversies surrounding the disposal and conversion of its landed assets.

One recurring concern among former staff, media professionals and many citizens is the gradual reduction of BCOS’s landed properties. Over the years, sizeable portions of land originally acquired for the corporation’s long-term expansion have reportedly been allocated, converted or developed for purposes unrelated to broadcasting.

The fundamental question therefore remains: What has BCOS gained from these disposals? If public assets belonging to a government corporation are transferred, the expectation is that the proceeds should be transparently accounted for and reinvested into strengthening that institution. Yet many observers argue that BCOS has not witnessed corresponding improvements in infrastructure, technology or operational capacity that would justify the loss of those strategic assets.

Broadcasting is a technology-driven industry. Modern radio and television stations require enormous capital investment in digital transmitters, production studios, Outside Broadcast vans, newsroom automation systems, digital editing suites, content management systems and stable power infrastructure. Unfortunately, these are precisely the areas where BCOS appears to have suffered the most.

For years, complaints have persisted about obsolete transmitters, ageing broadcast equipment, weak transmission coverage and inadequate capital funding. While governments have undertaken some renovation projects, the critical investments capable of transforming BCOS into a competitive twenty-first-century broadcaster have largely remained insufficient. A broadcaster without modern transmitters is like an airline without aircraft.

Even more troubling are reports that expanse of lands originally conceived as part of a future “Broadcast Village” or integrated media centre, a  vision reportedly conceived during the administration of former Military Governor David Jemibewon, have gradually disappeared under successive developments.

One of such areas was reportedly recovered by the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi following a successful court judgment over land previously taken during the military era. Instead of being fully preserved for broadcasting expansion, critics allege that sections have since been fenced and converted for other developments. Whether these decisions were legally justified or not, government owes the public a duty to explain the rationale behind them and demonstrate how they advance the long-term interests of BCOS.

Transparency matters. If government assets are sold, citizens deserve to know what was sold, at what valuation, who purchased the properties, how much revenue accrued, and how exactly was the money utilised. Without such transparency and accountability, suspicions naturally flourish.

Another painful dimension is the apparent disconnect between policymakers and the institutional memory of BCOS. Hundreds of retired broadcasters, engineers and administrators who built the corporation between the late 1970s and early 2000s remain alive today. Many dedicated their entire working lives to building BCOS into a respected brand. However, their wealth of experience remains largely untapped. No meaningful reform of BCOS should ignore those who understand its history, strengths and missed opportunities.

Government should constitute a BCOS Advisory Council comprising retired professionals, media scholars, engineers, private broadcasting experts and representatives of current staff to develop a comprehensive revival blueprint.

Equally important is governance reform. BCOS must be allowed greater operational independence while remaining publicly owned. Political interference in appointments, programming and management decisions has often undermined professionalism. A public broadcaster should serve the people, not merely the government of the day.

Commercial sustainability must also become a priority. Modern broadcasting is no longer sustained by government subventions alone. BCOS should aggressively expand digital broadcasting, online streaming, YouTube monetisation, podcast production, educational broadcasting, documentary production, event coverage, advertising partnerships and content syndication. Its vast archives, containing decades of historical recordings, represent an invaluable asset that can be digitised and commercialised.

Investment in human capital is equally critical. Staffers require continuous training in digital journalism, multimedia production, artificial intelligence tools, data journalism, investigative reporting and modern broadcast engineering.

Perhaps most importantly, government should immediately halt further disposal of BCOS assets until an independent audit determines what properties remain, what has been transferred over the years and what strategic value those assets hold for the corporation’s future. Land once sold can rarely be recovered.

BCOS deserves a long-term master plan, not incremental reduction. The objective should not merely be to preserve nostalgia but to build a broadcaster capable of competing with leading public service broadcasters in Africa. Oyo State possesses one of Nigeria’s richest educational, cultural and economic landscapes. It deserves a public broadcaster that reflects that stature.

BCOS once informed, educated and entertained millions. It shaped public opinion, promoted Yoruba culture and nurtured media talents who became national icons. It can do so again. But revival requires political will, strategic investment, transparency in asset management, institutional autonomy and respect for the vision upon which the corporation was established.

The question before Oyo State is therefore simple: Will BCOS be remembered as a broadcasting legend that was gradually stripped of its assets until little remained, or will today’s leaders choose to restore it to its rightful place as the pride of Oyo State broadcasting? The answer lies not in words, but in the decisions government makes today.