Nigerian government to launch free digital television for residents

The federal government has announced that it will launch FreeTV, a national digital television platform, on Wednesday.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on the Presidency Nigeria X page on Tuesday night.

The FG said the platform will give households across the country access to free digital television, more channels, clearer pictures, and Nigerian content without monthly subscription fees.

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, said the launch marked another important step in delivering President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the agenda prioritised inclusion, access to opportunity, job creation, local enterprise, and the use of technology to improve everyday life for Nigerians.

He said: “FreeTV is part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over programme and is designed to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind as the country moves fully from analogue to digital broadcasting.

“Through the platform, Nigerians will have access to over 100 national, regional and state channels, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s programmes, educational content, and dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels.”

Service

Additionally, Mr Ebuebu said FreeTVservice will reach viewers via satellite, terrestrial transmission and the FreeTV mobile app.

He said citizens in major cities, towns, rural communities and areas left out of earlier DSO pilot phases would all have access to it.

“Nigerians do not need to buy a new television to watch FreeTV. Existing televisions can work with compatible OVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, and those who already have compatible free-to-air decoders may not need to buy a new one.

“Free TV 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 Free TV, 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.


Creative economy

Furthermore, Mr Ebuebu said the platform will also support Nigeria’s creative and broadcast economy.

He said this will happen through regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.

According to him, it will create new opportunities for content producers, technicians, editors, camera operators, sound engineers and young creatives.

“The final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for 31 December 2028, and Nigerians are encouraged to begin preparing by checking their decoder compatibility and downloading the FreeTV app.”

By Friday Omosola, Premium Times

3,000 Jobs Wiped Out: The Quiet Extinction of Nigeria’s Local Cable Operators

In the high-stakes battle for Nigeria’s living rooms, the local players didn’t just lose—they were erased. A recent report reveals a grim milestone in the country’s media landscape: the near-total collapse of indigenous cable operators, a disaster that has claimed over 3,000 jobs and left a once-promising sector in ruins.

What was supposed to be a thriving ecosystem of local broadcasters has become a graveyard of SMEs, leaving behind a monopoly that critics say is strangling the industry.


The Survival of One, the Fall of Twenty

While the giants like DStv and StarTimes continue to broadcast, the local "retailer" class has been decimated. Out of the dozens of indigenous operators that once dotted the map, only Metro Digital Limited, based in Port Harcourt, remains standing.

According to Dr. Ifeanyi Osuji of Metro Digital, the fallout is staggering. Behind the "no signal" screens are 20 collapsed companies and more than 3,000 families who have lost their primary source of income. This isn't just about television; it’s about a specialized workforce—technicians, installers, and agents—who have been forced into unemployment.

The Weaponization of Exclusivity

The core of the crisis lies in content exclusivity. Local operators act as retailers, redistributing high-demand content (particularly European football) to make their services viable.

Nigeria actually has laws designed to prevent this. The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code was amended specifically to:

. Outlaw exclusive rights that shut out smaller players.

. Mandate "must-share" content policies at regulated prices.

However, the reality on the ground has been a masterclass in regulatory toothlessness. Despite an Appeal Court ruling ordering a "roundtable" to fix the pricing and access issues, negotiations reached a dead end. Local operators claim they even offered to pay the legal fees to access content, but were met with a closed door.


Regulatory Paralysis

The tragedy of this "industrial wipeout" is that it happened in plain sight of the law. Operators express a deep sense of betrayal, noting that while the NBC Code exists to protect local interests, enforcement has been non-existent.

More frustrating for these businesses is the role of law enforcement. Instead of protecting indigenous companies trying to exercise their rights under the NBC Code, local operators claim that security agencies have often been used to enforce the dominance of foreign-owned giants.


The Canal+ Wildcard

As the dust settles, the industry is looking toward a new horizon: the acquisition of MultiChoice by the French media powerhouse Canal+.

For the survivors, this is a moment of desperate hope. The plea from the local sector is simple: don’t double down on the monopolistic tactics of the past. There is a slim window for the new owners to foster a "live and let live" ecosystem where local retailers can coexist with international platforms.

The Verdict: The loss of 3,000 jobs is more than a statistic; it is a symptom of a broken regulatory system. Until "Must-Share" laws are backed by genuine enforcement, the indigenous cable operator may soon become a relic of history.

Business Day