BMA has learnt that the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, has taken a significant step to further accelerate the transition to digital broadcasting in Nigeria by recently granting the sum of $6.3 million (N10 Billion Naira) to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) project.
According to a government spokesperson, the grant – reportedly derived from spectrum sales – signifies the nation’s commitment to enriching Nigeria’s cultural landscape through the DSO project while driving technological advancement and economic growth.
The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Charles Ebuebu, has outlined a plan for using the funds. He said this would include developing and managing television channels catering to diverse interests and ensuring widespread access to nationwide programming. The grant will also be allocated to lease transponders, establish a robust satellite backbone for 100% signal coverage nationwide, support audience measurement, marketing, content production, distribution of digital set-top boxes, and the launch of the FreeTV APP.
For his part, the Chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, emphasised his organisation’s pivotal role in the DSO project, especially in creating content that meets the demands of digital production and real-time interaction, areas where traditional broadcasting has lagged.
This move towards digital broadcasting is expected to bridge the digital divide, providing vital information, education, and entertainment to underserved communities while integrating traditional platforms with new digital systems, thereby introducing fresh skills and technologies to the industry.
