Big Shift Coming to TV in Nigeria as FG Reveals Fresh Timeline

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The Federal Government has announced December 2028 as the target date for the complete migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting across Nigeria.

The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja.

Ebuebu explained that December 2028 has been designated as the final deadline for the nationwide analogue switch-off.

“We put a timeline for analogue switch-off. Before that time, a lot of things will be put in place. This is just phase one,” he said.

He stated that the next phases of the digital transition would include pay television services, studio infrastructure and the establishment of designated production hubs for content creators.

The NBC Director-General also revealed that work on audience measurement is advancing, noting that a proof-of-concept exercise has already been completed in about 7,000 households in Lagos, while implementation has begun in Abuja.

According to him, the commission will unveil the remaining phases after engaging key stakeholders, including the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, to obtain their support.

He noted that the analogue switch-off would release valuable spectrum for other strategic purposes, describing the spectrum as an important national resource.

Ebuebu added that the spectrum would undergo professional valuation before being allocated to potential users such as telecommunications firms, application developers and financial services providers.

“I won’t put a sum to it, but it is valued upwards of about 50 billion dollars. Consultants will determine its actual value before allocation,” he said.

Speaking on outdated broadcasting equipment, Ebuebu said the commission is formulating a policy guided by expert recommendations and global best practices.

He explained that the Digital Switch Over white paper requires broadcasters to separate content creation from signal transmission, with signal distribution to be handled by providers such as NIGCOMSAT.

According to him, obsolete analogue equipment may be converted for other useful purposes where feasible, while the government will be encouraged to take over assets that cannot be reused to prevent environmental pollution from industrial waste.

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