By Nnasom David

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced that Nigeria will fully complete its analogue television switch-off by December 31, 2028, as the country moves to accelerate its long-delayed Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme.

The Commission also said a nationwide launch of its revised digital broadcasting framework, known as the “Big Picture” strategy, is scheduled for June 17, 2026, marking a key milestone in the country’s transition to digital television broadcasting.

According to the NBC, the plan represents a decisive shift from years of delays and fragmented implementation efforts, with the aim of finally delivering universal access to digital broadcasting across terrestrial, satellite and internet platforms.

The regulator said the hybrid model—combining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), Direct-to-Home satellite (DTH) and Internet Protocol (IP) systems—is designed to address Nigeria’s geographic and infrastructural challenges while ensuring nationwide coverage.

The Commission noted that the Digital Switch-Over process has been stalled for nearly two decades due to funding, infrastructure and coordination challenges, adding that the new approach is intended to resolve these longstanding bottlenecks.

It explained that satellite infrastructure provided through NigComSat will play a central role in ensuring coverage in underserved and hard-to-reach areas, alongside terrestrial transmission networks and digital streaming platforms.

The NBC said the earlier assumption that Nigeria could rely solely on terrestrial broadcasting for digital migration was unrealistic, stressing that global practice has moved towards hybrid systems that combine multiple delivery platforms.

It cited countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Morocco as examples of nations that adopted mixed broadcast models to achieve full coverage.

On affordability concerns, the Commission said the FreeTV model would not require monthly subscription fees for basic access, while set-top boxes compliant with DVB-S2 standards would remain relatively affordable in the Nigerian market, estimated between N15,000 and N25,000.

It added that subsidy programmes, voucher schemes and financing arrangements are being considered to support low-income households and prevent exclusion during the transition.

The NBC projected that successful completion of the DSO would unlock Nigeria’s N605.2 billion advertising market through improved audience measurement systems, while also generating over $1 billion from the digital dividend spectrum in the 700/800 MHz band.

It said the creative industry, which contributes about N5 trillion to GDP and supports over 4.2 million jobs, would benefit from improved distribution channels under the new digital framework.

The Commission also defended its role in facilitating the FreeTV platform, saying it is not competing with broadcasters but rather creating a national framework for fair and efficient content distribution.

It added that extensive consultations have been held with stakeholders across the broadcasting sector, including broadcasters, manufacturers, signal distributors and advertisers.

The NBC urged all stakeholders, including broadcasters, telecom operators, manufacturers and state governments, to collaborate in ensuring a smooth transition.

It reaffirmed that Nigeria’s analogue switch-off deadline of 2028 remains achievable, provided all parties align with the revised implementation roadmap.