The federal government has launched FreeTV as part of efforts to expand access to digital television across Nigeria.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FG said the platform will provide households with free access to more than 100 television channels without monthly subscription fees.
FreeTV forms part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, which seeks to move the country fully from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Through the platform, Nigerians will access national, regional and state channels covering news, sports, movies, music, education and children’s programming.
In addition, viewers will have access to dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels.
The service will be available through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting and the FreeTV mobile application.
Consequently, households in cities, towns and rural communities will be able to access the platform.
The government said Nigerians would not need to buy new television sets to use the service.
Instead, existing television sets can work with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders. Households with compatible free-to-air decoders may also continue using their existing devices.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said the platform aligns with efforts to expand digital inclusion and create opportunities in the creative sector.
“With FreeTV, families across Nigeria can enjoy quality digital television without a monthly subscription, while our local content producers, technicians and young creatives gain new platforms and new jobs,” he said.
Furthermore, the platform will support content production through regional studios located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.
The government said the initiative would create opportunities for content producers, editors, sound engineers, camera operators and other creative professionals.
Meanwhile, the final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028.
The government advised Nigerians to check the compatibility of their decoders and download the FreeTV mobile app ahead of the launch.
