Federal Government don announce fresh plan to expand free television services across Nigeria, with target to reach at least 40 million households and provide up to 100 free-to-air TV channels without monthly subscription.
Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, reveal this during exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for Abuja on Wednesday.
According to am, government don change the old Digital Switch Over (DSO) strategy and move from terrestrial broadcasting to a satellite-based system wey go cover the whole country immediately.
“We dey target at least 40 million TV households. Na minimum of 40 million homes we want reach,” Ebuebu talk.
He explain say the old DSO model wey the previous administration launch for eight states only carry between 24 and 28 channels depending on location and no fit cover most parts of Nigeria.
According to am, after assessment, authorities discover say terrestrial broadcasting no even cover up to one-quarter of the country because of infrastructure challenges.
Ebuebu say to achieve full nationwide coverage through terrestrial broadcasting, Nigeria for need about 160 transmission towers, expensive imported equipment and more than three years of work.
Because of this, government decide to switch to satellite technology.
“We decide to go through satellite because e fit cover the whole Nigeria from day one,” he explain.
The NBC boss reveal say the renewed DSO platform already dey transmit more than 73 channels nationwide, while government dey work towards increasing am to 100 channels in the coming months.
He add say viewers now fit watch television stations from any part of Nigeria no matter where dem dey stay.
Ebuebu explain say while NBC remain the regulator of broadcasting in Nigeria, NIGCOMSAT dey provide the satellite and ground services wey power the new Digital Switch Over project.
According to am, the satellite infrastructure no only cover Nigeria but the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region.
He describe the renewed DSO programme as a better arrangement because e go offer more channels, clearer picture quality and wider access to Nigerian content.
The NBC DG also say the project go help national unity by making regional television stations available to viewers across different parts of the country.
