Nigerians will have free access to over 100 television stations without paying a monthly subscription fee according to the Federal Government’s announcement of intentions to develop FreeTV, a national digital television platform.
As part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) program, the initiative set for this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, aims to assist President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda while increasing access to digital broadcasting.
The platform was created to guarantee that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income level, benefits from the nation’s shift from analogue to digital television, according to a statement released on the Presidency’s verified X feed on Wednesday.
More than 100 national, regional, and state channels including news, sports, movies, music, children’s programming, educational content, and special Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo language channels would be available to households through FreeTV, according to the government.
Users in large cities, rural villages, and locations that were previously left out of the DSO pilot phases will be able to get digital television services through satellite, terrestrial transmission, and the FreeTV mobile application.Nigerians will not need to buy new TVs in order to access the platform, according to the announcement. Compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders will work with existing televisions, and households with compatible free-to-air decoders may not need to buy new equipment.
Prior to the commencement, Charles Ebuebu, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), called the project a significant step toward increasing digital inclusion nationwide.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision, which aims to provide access, create opportunities, and guarantee that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, may profit from the digital economy, is directly addressed by FreeTV. Families in Nigeria can now enjoy high-quality digital television without a monthly subscription thanks to FreeTV, which also gives local content creators, technologists, and young artists new platforms and employment opportunities, according to Ebuebu.
The platform is anticipated to boost Nigeria’s creative and broadcast sector by establishing regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Benin City, according to the government, in addition to expanding access to television services.
It is anticipated that the studios would generate jobs for young creative professionals such as content creators, technicians, editors, camera operators, and sound engineers.
Additionally, the Federal Government reiterated that the country’s ultimate analog television switch-off is still set for December 31, 2028, and it urged Nigerians to start getting ready by downloading the FreeTV mobile app and making sure their decoders are compatible.
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