National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced that its planned Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme is expected to unlock Nigeria’s ₦605.2 billion national advertising market, creating new revenue opportunities for broadcasters and content creators.
The Director-General of the Commission, Charles Ebuebu, made the disclosure during a press conference and media tour of facilities at NIGCOMSAT.
He said the national rollout is scheduled for 17 June 2026, while full analogue switch-off is expected by 31 December 2028.
According to him, the DSO will enable government and broadcasters to deliver digital television services nationwide through a commercially sustainable and regulatorily structured framework.
“The DSO will unlock the N605.2 billion national advertising market through verifiable audience measurement, generating new revenue streams for broadcasters and content creators,” Ebuebu said.
He added that the transition will also release the digital dividend spectrum in the 700/800 MHz band, which he estimated could generate over $1 billion in auction proceeds. The funds, he said, would be reinvested into digital infrastructure and rural broadband expansion.
Ebuebu noted that Nigeria’s creative industry, currently valued at about ₦5 trillion and employing over 4.2 million people, would benefit significantly from improved distribution channels, including regional content export across West Africa via satellite infrastructure.
He explained that the basic FreeTV service would not require monthly subscription fees, while set-top boxes compatible with DVB-S2 technology would cost between ₦15,000 and ₦25,000.
The Commission also urged broadcasters under the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and independent stations to join the FreeTV platform and take advantage of a 18-month free carriage window.
However, Ebuebu acknowledged that litigation involving set-top box manufacturers remains unresolved, though he said it does not halt national implementation of the project.
Managing Director of Jane Egerton-Idehen said replacement satellites NIGCOMSAT 2A and 2B are scheduled for launch in 2028 and 2029 respectively, with interim satellite capacity already secured to ensure uninterrupted service.
She added that the agency would avoid nationwide dish realignment by adopting a phased migration approach, with estimated rollout costs for five million households ranging between ₦5 billion and ₦10 billion.
The Digital Switch-Over project, first formally advanced in previous years, is part of Nigeria’s broader push to modernise broadcasting, improve local content distribution, create jobs, and expand digital access across households nationwide.
