The Federal Government is set to launch FreeTV, a new national digital television platform designed to expand access to broadcast services across Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the platform will provide viewers with free access to more than 100 national, regional and state television channels without monthly subscription charges.
The initiative forms part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme and supports the administration’s efforts to promote digital inclusion, job creation and wider access to information and entertainment.
FreeTV will feature a mix of programming, including news, sports, movies, music, educational content, children’s programmes and dedicated channels in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages.
The service will be available through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as a mobile application, allowing users in both urban and rural areas to access digital television content.
The government said existing television sets will remain compatible, provided users have DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders. Households already using compatible free-to-air decoders may not require additional equipment.
Speaking ahead of the rollout, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, said the platform would broaden access to digital content while creating opportunities for Nigeria’s creative and media industries.
He said FreeTV aligns with the government’s goal of expanding access to digital services and creating new economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The NBC also said the platform would support the growth of the creative economy through regional production studios located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.
The studios are expected to create employment opportunities for content creators, editors, camera operators, sound engineers, technicians and other professionals across the broadcasting value chain.
Nigeria’s final analogue television switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028. The commission advised Nigerians to confirm the compatibility of their decoders and download the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the launch.
