The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme is expected to unlock a N605.2 billion advertising market as the country transitions fully from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, said the nationwide rollout of the DSO is scheduled to begin on June 17, 2026, while the final shutdown of analogue broadcasting is planned for December 31, 2028.
According to him, the transition will transform Nigeria’s broadcasting industry by improving infrastructure access, content distribution, and revenue generation for media organisations and content creators.
Ebuebu stated that the digital migration would allow government institutions to deliver broadcasting services more efficiently across the country through a commercially sustainable and technologically reliable framework.
He added that the programme would open new revenue streams by enabling accurate audience measurement and strengthening the advertising market.
The NBC boss also highlighted the economic benefits of reallocating the digital dividend spectrum in the 700/800 MHz band, which he said could generate more than $1 billion through spectrum auctions. The proceeds, he noted, would support digital infrastructure and rural broadband expansion.
On affordability, he explained that the FreeTV platform would not require monthly subscription fees, while compatible DVB-S2 decoders are available on the market for between N15,000 and N25,000.
He encouraged members of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and independent broadcasters to migrate to the FreeTV platform and take advantage of the 18-month free carriage incentive.
Although the set-top box framework is currently facing litigation involving local manufacturers, Ebuebu clarified that the legal dispute does not stop the nationwide implementation of the DSO project.
Speaking on the satellite infrastructure supporting the initiative, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jane Egerton-Idehen, disclosed that replacement satellites, NIGCOMSAT 2A and 2B, are expected to launch in 2028 and 2029 respectively.
She added that an interim commercial backup satellite has already been secured at the 42.5°E orbital slot to guarantee uninterrupted broadcasting services during the transition.
Egerton-Idehen also assured Nigerians that the migration process would avoid the costly and disruptive repointing of satellite dishes nationwide. According to her, the transition will be implemented gradually across different zones to prevent service blackouts.
The DSO programme, which has faced repeated delays over the years, was reaffirmed in 2022 by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari after the government cleared outstanding debts owed to service providers.
The Federal Government has consistently maintained that the digital migration will boost local content production, create jobs, reduce content monopolies, and improve television services for millions of Nigerians.
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