Free TV Nigeria: 40m Households to Get 100 Channels

The National Broadcasting Commission says the renewed Digital Switch Over project is targeting at least 40 million television households with up to 100 free-to-air channels nationwide.

The Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ebuebu said the renewed DSO strategy had replaced the previous terrestrial transmission model, which achieved limited nationwide coverage.

He said the satellite-based platform would provide wider coverage and significantly increase access to free television services across the country.

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

According to him, the satellite platform will provide up to 100 free-to-air television channels across the country.

Ebuebu said the previous terrestrial model was launched in eight states by the last administration, and the platform carried between 24 and 28 channels, depending on the location.

“The previous DSO plan combined terrestrial broadcasting for 75 per cent to 80 per cent nationwide coverage with satellite services for areas where terrain, such as mountains, blocked terrestrial signals.

“After launching in eight states, it became clear that terrestrial broadcasting had covered less than a quarter of Nigeria, revealing major infrastructure and coverage limitations.

“Achieving nationwide terrestrial coverage would require about 160 transmission towers, costly imported equipment, and more than three years to complete, prompting a change in the DSO implementation strategy.

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

Ebuebu said the renewed project already transmits more than 73…