President Bola Tinubu has approved N10 billion to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to fast-track the process of achieving Digital Switch-Over (DSO).
The process of switching over from Analogue to the Digital Terrestrial Television platform began in 2016 with the Digital switch On of Jos, Plateau State. However, the process has stalled due to enormous challenges.
Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Mr Charles Ebuebu disclosed this at a joint Press conference with the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida in Abuja.
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He noted that this intervention is a testament to the visionary leadership of the President and commitment to achieving a future where every Nigerian, regardless of their location, has access to superior broadband services and is included in the digital economy.
“This grant is not just a financial allocation; it is a testament to Mr. President’s collective commitment to driving technological advancement, economic growth, and cultural enrichment through the DSO project.”
Ebuebu observed that adopting the digital broadcasting standards will align Nigeria with global norms, enhancing our competitiveness and attracting foreign investments stressing that digital broadcasting will bridge the digital divide, ensuring access to vital information, education, and entertainment for remote and underserved communities.
He stated that the DSO project is a catalyst for Nigeria’s media and socio-economic transformation and will stimulate significant job creation, drive economic growth, and expand the industry.
Ebuebu said that to accelerate the process, the Commission is in collaboration with the NCC adding that this collaboration signifies a strategic alliance and a unified effort to bring about a seamless transition to digital broadcasting and underscores NCC’s determination to support this monumental project and ensure its success.
He explained that the key areas of utilization of the grant include developing and managing channels that cater to diverse interests, including educational, children’s programming, comedy, shopping, sports, gaming, betting, and local language channels. This ensures a rich and diverse content ecosystem that resonates with our viewers.
In addition, the grant will be used for acquisition acquisition and distributing of hybrid Android/DTH set-top boxes with data connectivity functionalities, positioning them as gateways to a rich and diverse content ecosystem.
According to him, the grant would also be used in leasing transponders and establishing a robust satellite backbone to ensure 100 percent signal coverage across Nigeria in order to expedite the Analog Switch Off and enhance accessibility to FreeTV services nationwide.
He observed that this will help in the implementation of advanced audience measurement tools to provide broadcasters and the industry with detailed insights into viewership patterns, preferences, and demographics, ensure the establishment of world-class studios across geopolitical zones in partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), providing local content producers with an inclusive environment to thrive.
Ebuebu stated that the commission will also use the grant to develop a user-friendly mobile application that allows viewers to watch FreeTV channels on handheld devices and access video-on-demand services, create awareness, and ensure a seamless transition through nationwide campaigns that educate the public about the benefits and implications of the Digital Switch Over.
