FG Launches Free Digital TV Platform, Ends Barrier to Monthly Subscription
By Auwal Abdullah
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday officially launched FreeTV, a national digital broadcasting platform aimed at expanding access to television services and accelerating the country’s transition from analogue to digital transmission.
Launched under Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, the platform seeks to democratise television access by providing households with high-quality digital broadcasts without monthly subscription fees.
The initiative is being managed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with satellite support from Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT).
The rollout marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to deepen digital inclusion and reduce the cost of accessing television content, offering Nigerians free access to news, entertainment, sports, educational programmes and locally produced content.
Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, described the launch as another important step in delivering President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusion, access to opportunities, job creation, local enterprise development and the use of technology to improve the lives of citizens.
“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,” Ebuebu said.
He disclosed that the platform will provide access to more than 100 national, regional and state television channels, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s programming, educational content and dedicated Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo language channels.
According to him, the service will be delivered through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting and the FreeTV mobile application, ensuring access for viewers in major cities, rural communities and locations previously excluded from DSO pilot phases.
Ebuebu added that Nigerians would not need to purchase new television sets to enjoy the service, provided they have compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders. He also noted that households already using compatible free-to-air decoders may not need additional equipment.
The NBC chief said the platform would further stimulate Nigeria’s creative economy through regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin, creating new opportunities for content creators and media professionals nationwide.
