JIST IN: FG TARGETS 40 MILLION HOMES WITH 100 FREE TV CHANNELS UNDER DIGITAL SWITCH-OVER

FG TARGETS 40 MILLION HOMES WITH 100 FREE TV CHANNELS UNDER DIGITAL SWITCH-OVER

The Federal Government has announced plans to expand access to free television services across Nigeria through the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project, targeting at least 40 million television households with up to 100 free-to-air channels nationwide.

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, disclosed the plan in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, saying the renewed DSO strategy replaces the previous terrestrial transmission model, which delivered limited nationwide coverage.

According to Ebuebu, the new satellite-based platform will provide immediate nationwide coverage, enabling millions of Nigerians to access free television services regardless of their location.

"We are gunning for 40 million TV households. Count 40 million homes at a minimum. That's what we're targeting," he said.

He explained that the former DSO model, introduced under the previous administration, was launched in eight states and carried between 24 and 28 channels depending on location.

Ebuebu noted that the earlier strategy relied mainly on terrestrial broadcasting to achieve between 75 and 80 per cent nationwide coverage, while satellite services were intended to complement areas with difficult terrain.

However, after implementation in eight states, the government found that terrestrial broadcasting covered less than a quarter of the country, exposing major infrastructure limitations.

He said nationwide terrestrial coverage would require about 160 transmission towers, expensive imported equipment and more than three years to complete, prompting the shift to satellite transmission.

"We therefore decided to go by satellite, which covers Nigeria completely from day one," he said.

The NBC boss disclosed that the renewed DSO platform already broadcasts more than 73 television channels nationwide and is expected to expand to 100 channels in the coming months.

He explained that while the NBC remains the country's broadcasting regulator, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) is responsible for providing satellite capacity and ground services for the project.

According to him, the satellite platform enables viewers to access television stations from every part of Nigeria irrespective of where they live, while also delivering clearer picture quality and wider access to local content.

Ebuebu added that the renewed Digital Switch Over initiative would promote national integration by making regional television channels accessible across the country.