Digital TV shift to open new revenue streams worth N605 billion – NBC

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says its planned Digital Switch-Over (DSO) project will create access to Nigeria’s N605.2 billion advertising market for broadcasters and content creators.

Speaking at a press conference, NBC Director-General, Charles Ebuebu said the project is expected to officially launch nationwide on June 17, 2026, while analogue television broadcasting will completely end by December 31, 2028.

According to him, the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting will help government agencies deliver better television services across Nigeria in a way that is sustainable, reliable, and easier to regulate.

Ebuebu explained that digital broadcasting will allow broadcasters and content creators to earn more revenue because audience data can be measured more accurately.

He also said the project could benefit the economy through the release of valuable 700/800 MHz spectrum, which may generate more than $1 billion from future auctions. The funds are expected to support digital infrastructure and expand broadband access in rural communities.

NBC added that Nigeria’s creative industry, which contributes about N5 trillion to GDP and supports more than 4.2 million jobs, could benefit from improved content distribution and export opportunities across West Africa using NigComSat-1R.

For consumers, NBC said the FreeTV service will not require monthly subscription payments. Households will only need a small satellite dish and an open-standard DVB-S2 decoder, estimated to cost between N15,000 and N25,000.

Broadcasters were encouraged to join the FreeTV platform and take advantage of an 18-month free carriage period.

However, the Commission noted that there is still an ongoing legal dispute involving local manufacturers over set-top boxes, although officials said this will not stop the national rollout.

On satellite expansion plans, the Managing Director and CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, said NIGCOMSAT 2A is expected in 2028, while NIGCOMSAT 2B is planned for 2029.

She added that backup arrangements have already been made to ensure uninterrupted service and that migration to the new system will happen gradually across different regions to avoid nationwide disruptions.

Background

Digital Switch-Over (DSO) is Nigeria’s move from analogue television broadcasting to digital broadcasting.

The Federal Government previously stated that the project aims to improve local content production, create jobs, reduce content monopolies, and expand access to modern television services across the country.