BREAKING: Nigerian Govt launches Free cable TV platform without monthly subscription*
*BREAKING: Nigerian Govt launches Free cable TV platform without monthly subscription*
The Federal Government has launched FreeTV, a nationwide digital television platform aimed at providing Nigerians with free access to a broad range of television channels and digital content without monthly subscription charges.
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting while improving access to quality television services for households across the country.
Announcing the rollout in a statement posted on its official X handle, the Presidency said the platform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to expand opportunities, promote digital inclusion, support local businesses and leverage technology to improve the lives of citizens.
According to the Presidency, FreeTV is a key component of Nigeria’s ongoing Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme and is designed to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from the country’s migration to digital broadcasting.
The platform will provide viewers with access to more than 100 channels, including national, regional and state-owned stations. Programming will span news, sports, movies, music, educational broadcasts, children’s content and dedicated indigenous-language channels in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
To broaden accessibility, the service will be available through satellite and terrestrial transmission networks, as well as a dedicated mobile application, allowing users in urban centres, rural communities and previously underserved locations to access digital television content.
The Presidency clarified that households would not be required to purchase new television sets to use the service. Existing television sets can be connected through compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while some users with free-to-air compatible devices may not need any additional equipment.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, said FreeTV represents a major step in the government’s drive to bridge the digital divide.
“FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed 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,” he said.
Beyond expanding access to television services, the government said the platform is expected to boost the nation’s creative economy through the establishment of regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.
The hubs are projected to create employment opportunities for content creators, editors, camera operators, sound engineers and other professionals within the media and entertainment industry.
The Presidency also reaffirmed that Nigeria’s final analogue television switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028, and urged citizens to prepare for the transition by verifying the compatibility of their decoders and downloading the FreeTV mobile application ahead of wider adoption.
