FREE TV TO REACH 40M HOUSEHOLDS WITH 100 CHANNELS

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Agency Report

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) 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 (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

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

According to him, the satellite-based platform will 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.

He explained that the satellite platform will offer up to 100 free-to-air television channels nationwide.

Ebuebu noted that the previous DSO model, launched in eight states by the last administration, carried between 24 and 28 channels depending on 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 currently transmits more than 73 channels across the country and is expected to reach 100 channels in the coming months.

He explained that while the NBC remains the regulator of broadcasting in Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) is providing satellite and ground services for the DSO project.

“We are the regulator of broadcast media in Nigeria, whether radio, TV, online and all of that.

“NIGCOMSAT, on the other hand, is providing satellite services and ground services for the DSO.

“They are using their satellite capacity, which covers not just Nigeria but the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, to provide carriage for the DSO,” he said.

Ebuebu added that the new platform allows viewers to access television channels from every region of Nigeria regardless of their location.

He said satellite transmission offers instant nationwide coverage, unlike terrestrial broadcasting, which depends on the availability of transmission towers.

Describing the renewed DSO initiative as “a better proposition,” he said it would deliver more channels, improved picture quality and wider access to Nigerian content.

According to him, the project will also promote national integration by making regional television stations accessible across the country. (NAN).