Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says the federal government is set to launch a nationwide digital switchover (DSO) platform on June 17, with over 100 free television channels for Nigerians.
The minister spoke on Wednesday during a facility tour of the headquarters of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) in Abuja.
Idris said the long-delayed transition from analogue to digital broadcasting had finally been completed after years of failed attempts and postponements.
“The promise that President Bola Tinubu made that he is going to reform all sectors. We are seeing this reform in action in the broadcast industry,” he said.
“You recall that for many years, Nigerians have been grappling with this idea of the DSO, the digital switchover.
“In other words, removing our transmissions from analogue to digital. Now this has happened, and it is ready to be commissioned by the 17th of June this year.”
The minister said the new platform would transform broadcasting, advertising, and television viewership across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, the platform introduces audience measurement technology capable of tracking viewing patterns in real time to help advertisers make informed decisions.
“Now science is at play. If you are viewing a station, we know who is watching what and how many people are watching,” he said.
“This will help advertisers to take informed decisions about what programme it is that people are watching, what it is that Nigerians want to watch across all the demographics.”
Idris described the initiative as beneficial to broadcasters, viewers, and advertisers.
“We have gone around the facilities. We have already seen that many of the channels have been unbundled here,” he said.
“This is going to bring a lot of advantages to all the broadcasters, the viewers, and everybody that advertises.”
The minister said collaboration between NigComSat, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the ministry of communications, and the ministry of information made the rollout possible.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for providing the resources needed to actualise the project.
“It’s been such a shame in the past that Nigeria has not been able to achieve this. But now, the digital switchover is here,” Idris said.
The minister said the new system would provide free and clearer television services while encouraging competition among broadcasters and content producers.
“Competition is going to set in. Everybody is going to compete. Content is going to grow. Viewership, hopefully, will also grow,” he said.
Idris said the platform would initially launch in standard definition before transitioning fully to high-definition broadcasting.
“The most important thing is that we are now moving to HD. After the launch, we will be fully in HD,” he said.
The minister said, unlike previous DSO efforts, the new platform would not rely on costly encrypted set-top boxes.
“In the past, the set-top boxes provided under earlier digital switchover efforts were encrypted, meaning you had limited flexibility in choosing or switching services,” he said.
“As a result, the cost also became higher. Now, this service is free, and the government has already absorbed some of these costs.”
Charles Ebuebu, the director-general of the NBC, said the new platform was designed to align with emerging technologies and changing audience behaviour, especially among young Nigerians.
“So, what we have done is basically taking into consideration emerging technologies, which is why we are going by way of the application,” he said.
Ebuebu said the platform would launch with about 100 television channels, while more content producers had already indicated interest in joining.
“We are going to have 100 channels by the day of launch,” he said.
The NBC director-general said the commission had established six regional studios nationwide to support content creators and reduce dependence on Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
“You don’t have to travel to Lagos or Abuja or Kano to go and develop your content. You just go to the nearest regional studio and develop,” he added.