The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Mr Charles Ebuebu has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a N10 billion to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to fast-track the process of achieving Digital Switch-Over.
The process of switching over from Analogue to the Digital Terrestrial Television platform began in 2016 with the Digital switch On of Jos, Plateau State. However, the process has stalled due to enormous challenges.
During a joint Press conference with the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida in Abuja, Mr Charles noted that this intervention is a testament to the visionary leadership of the President and commitment to achieving a future where every Nigerian, regardless of their location, has access to superior broadband services and is included in the digital economy.
Ebuebu observed that adopting the digital broadcasting standards will align Nigeria with global norms, enhancing our competitiveness and attracting foreign investments stressing that digital broadcasting will bridge the digital divide, ensuring access to vital information, education, and entertainment for remote and underserved communities.
He stated that the DSO project is a catalyst for Nigeria’s media and socioeconomic transformation and will stimulate significant job creation, drive economic growth, and expand the industry. Ebuebu said that to accelerate the process, the Commission is in collaboration with the NCC adding that this collaboration signifies a strategic alliance and a unified effort to bring about a seamless transition to digital broadcasting and underscores NCC’s determination to support this monumental project and ensure its success.
He further mentioned that the key areas of utilisation of the grant include developing and managing channels that cater to diverse interests, including educational, children’s programming, comedy, shopping, sports, gaming, betting, and local language channels. This ensures a rich and diverse content ecosystem that resonates with our viewers. In addition, the grant will be used for the acquisition and distribution of hybrid Android/DTH set-top boxes with data connectivity functionalities, positioning them as gateways to a rich and diverse content ecosystem.
