Nigerians To Access Over 100 Channels As FG Launches FreeTV

By RhemDy News

The Federal Government was set to  launch a FreeTV, a national digital television platform that will provide Nigerians with free access to more than 100 television channels without monthly subscription.

According to the federal government, the platform, which would be launched on Wednesday, June 17, is part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme aimed at expanding access to digital broadcasting across the country.

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Charles Ebuebu, said the platform would improve access to digital content while creating opportunities for local creatives and media professionals.

He explained that the FreeTV would offer a wide range of programming, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s content, educational programmes, and dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels.

The federal government also stressed that the service would be available through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as the FreeTV mobile application, enabling users in both urban and rural communities to access digital television services.

It further noted that Nigerians would not need to purchase new television sets to access the platform, provided they already have compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders. 

Similarly, households that are already using compatible free-to-air decoders may not require additional equipment to access the services.

 Ebuebu said, “FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope towards expanding access, creating opportunity and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can benefit from the digital economy.

“With FreeTV, families across Nigeria can enjoy quality digital television without a monthly subscription, while our local content producers, technicians and young creatives gain new platforms and new jobs,” he said.

The DG further stated that the platform would support Nigeria’s creative economy through regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.

He noted that the studios are expected to create employment opportunities for content creators, editors, camera operators, sound engineers, technicians and other professionals in the broadcast value chain.

The Commission reaffirmed that Nigeria’s final analogue switch-off remains December 31, 2028, and urged Nigerians to confirm their decoder compatibility and download the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the rollout.