**8. Theoretical framework**

Elihu Katz introduced the Uses and gratifications theory in the late 1940s, and his colleagues, Jay Blumber & Michael Gurevitch continue to expand the idea. The theory explains how individuals use the media among other resources in their environment to satisfy their needs and achieve their goals. The theory helps to understand that there are certain reasons why individuals choose a particular media over others. The uses and gratifications theory also asserts that media content does not have the same effect on people. That is, media content has different effects on people and the reaction of one person to media content is different from that of another person based on their ideas and what they want to do with the media. Also, the consumers' background, personality, race, values, and gender determine the type of medium they will choose or select. These and more serve as the reason why people turn to one medium or the other.

The significance of the uses and gratification theory in this study is because of its assumptions which are explained in this study. First, it helps one to know that undergraduates in select universities in Edo State, Nigeria make use of either television or Over-the-top platforms for watching movies. Second, it helps one to know between traditional television and OTT platforms, which one undergraduate in Edo State, Nigeria prefers for watching movies. Lastly, there is its potential of being able to help one understand why undergraduates in Edo State, Nigeria prefer either traditional television or OTT platforms for watching movies.
