The Federal Government has set December 2028 as the final deadline for Nigeria’s complete migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting, reviving a long-delayed reform that authorities say will modernise the country’s broadcast industry, expand digital access and unlock valuable radio frequency spectrum for broader economic use.
Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, disclosed the timeline in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), describing the date as the country’s definitive analogue switch-off target after years of missed deadlines.
According to Ebuebu, the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme will be implemented in phases, with the initial rollout focusing on terrestrial broadcasting before extending to pay television services, studio upgrades, production infrastructure and nationwide audience measurement systems.
He said the commission has completed a proof-of-concept audience measurement exercise involving about 7,000 households in Lagos, while implementation has commenced in Abuja. A comprehensive audience measurement system is expected to provide broadcasters and advertisers with more reliable television viewership data, improving advertising efficiency and industry transparency.
One of the biggest economic gains from the transition, the NBC said, will come from releasing spectrum currently occupied by analogue television signals. Once vacated, the frequencies can be reassigned to sectors such as telecommunications, broadband services and other digital applications, a process commonly referred to as the digital dividend.
Ebuebu said the spectrum represents a strategic national asset and would undergo professional valuation before any allocation or auction process. While he suggested its potential value could exceed $50 billion, no official government valuation has been announced.
The commission is also preparing to launch its revised digital broadcasting framework, known as the “Big Picture” strategy, which integrates Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite broadcasting and Internet Protocol (IP)-based delivery into a unified distribution model.
As part of the transition, the proposed FreeTV platform will provide subscription-free television services. Viewers will only need compatible DVB-S2 decoders, currently available in the market, while government support mechanisms, including possible subsidies for low-income households, are under consideration.
The NBC said broadcasters joining the platform will benefit from an 18-month free carriage period, nationwide distribution and access to audience analytics. The platform is expected to carry more than 100 television channels, including indigenous language programming aimed at expanding local content and improving nationwide access.
Industry stakeholders view the digital migration as a key step toward strengthening Nigeria’s media and creative economy while improving spectrum efficiency. However, analysts note that meeting the 2028 deadline will depend on sustained investment in infrastructure, consumer adoption of digital receivers and close coordination among broadcasters, telecom operators, equipment manufacturers and state governments.
