By Ayo Kehinde
The Federal Government on Wednesday officially launched FreeTV, a new national digital television platform designed to provide millions of Nigerians with free access to digital broadcasting services, offering over 100 television channels without monthly subscription charges.
Announcing the development in a statement posted on its official X handle, the Presidency said the platform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusion, expanded access to economic opportunities, job creation, support for local enterprises and the deployment of technology to improve the daily lives of citizens.
According to the Presidency, FreeTV was introduced to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind as the country moves toward full digital broadcasting, while also improving access to quality television services regardless of location or income level.
The platform will provide households with access to more than 100 national, regional and state-owned television channels, covering diverse programming including news, sports, movies, music, children’s entertainment, educational programmes, as well as dedicated indigenous language channels in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
According to the Presidency, the initiative is to expand access to quality broadcasting across the country while accelerating Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital television transmission under the nation’s ongoing Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme.
The government said the service will be accessible through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting and a dedicated FreeTV mobile application, allowing users in urban centres, rural communities and underserved locations to access digital content seamlessly.
Clarifying concerns over accessibility, the Presidency noted that Nigerians would not be required to purchase new television sets to enjoy the service, explaining that existing television sets can function with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while households with already compatible free-to-air devices may not need additional equipment.
Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, described the initiative as a major component of the administration’s broader digital inclusion strategy.
“FreeTV 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 FreeTV, 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”, Ebuebu stated.
Beyond expanding consumer access to digital broadcasting, the Federal Government said the initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s creative and broadcast industries through the establishment of regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.
According to the Presidency, the production centres are expected to create employment opportunities for content creators, video editors, camera operators, sound engineers and other professionals within the country’s growing media and entertainment ecosystem.
The government further disclosed that Nigeria’s final nationwide analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028, urging citizens to begin preparations by confirming decoder compatibility and downloading the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the nationwide rollout.
