Preservation and Accessibility of Audio-visual Records in Tanzania’s Television Broadcasting Companies

Abstract

This study investigated the preservation and accessibility of audio-visual records in

television broadcasting companies in Tanzania. Specifically, it set out to determine how

audio-visual records are preserved in television broadcasting companies; to establish

how audio-visual records in television broadcasting companies in Tanzania are

accessed and to examine challenges to effective preservation and accessing of audiovisual

records in television broadcasting companies in Tanzania. The literature

reviewed and the findings from pilot study indicate that many AV records are produced

by individuals, television companies and other entities in both rural and urban

Tanzania. They also indicate that there are intervening factors such as resource

constraints, technological incompatibility, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate skills,

environmental factors, and unclear policies the hinder access to and use of audio-visual

records. Since the preservation and accessibility to audio-visual records is challenging

due to intervening factors, it is recommended that approaches used (passive

preservation and active preservation) to preserve audio-visual records be constantly

reviewed to identify strategies that could be used to address challenges as they arise in

order to improve preservation and accessibility of the relevant records.