Nigerian Government Set To Launch FreeTV As National Digital Television Platform

The Nigerian government has announced plans to launch FreeTV, a free national digital television platform, on June 17, 2026.

According to the Nigerian government in a statement issued Wednesday, the move is aimed at expanding access to information, entertainment, and educational content for millions of Nigerians without the burden of monthly subscription fees.

The initiative, which forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, is expected to provide households across the country with access to over 100 digital television channels covering news, sports, movies, music, children’s programming, educational broadcasts, and indigenous language content.

According to government officials, the launch seeks to promote inclusion, create economic opportunities, support local industries, and leverage technology to improve the lives of Nigerians.

The government said FreeTV is designed to ensure that all citizens benefit from the country’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, regardless of their location or income level.

Under the platform, viewers will have access to national, regional, and state television stations through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting networks, and the FreeTV mobile application.

This arrangement is expected to make the service available to residents of major cities, towns, rural communities, and locations that were not previously covered during the earlier phases of Nigeria’s digital migration programme.

Officials stressed that Nigerians would not be required to purchase new television sets to enjoy the service.

Existing television sets can continue to function with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while households that already possess compatible free-to-air decoders may not need any additional equipment.

Speaking ahead of the launch, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, described the platform as a transformative initiative that aligns with the administration’s vision of inclusive development and digital empowerment.

According to him, “FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope towards expanding access, creating opportunity and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can benefit from the digital economy. 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.”

Beyond providing free television services, the initiative is expected to boost Nigeria’s creative and broadcast industries by creating employment opportunities across the media value chain.

The government disclosed that regional production studios would be established in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Benin to support content creation and enhance local programming. The facilities are expected to generate jobs for producers, editors, camera operators, sound engineers, technicians, and other creative professionals.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government reaffirmed that Nigeria’s final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028.

Authorities urged citizens to begin preparing for the transition by verifying the compatibility of their decoders and downloading the FreeTV mobile application.