FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES FREETV, OFFERS NIGERIANS OVER 100 FREE DIGITAL CHANNELS
The Federal Government has officially launched FreeTV, a new national digital television platform that will provide millions of Nigerians with access to over 100 television channels without monthly subscription fees.
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, forms part of the Federal Government's efforts to deepen digital inclusion, expand access to information and entertainment, and accelerate Nigeria's transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Announcing the development through its official communication channels, the Presidency stated that FreeTV aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on inclusion, economic opportunity, technological advancement, job creation and improved access to essential services for all Nigerians.
According to the government, the platform was created to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of geographical location or financial status, has access to quality digital television services as the country continues implementing its Digital Switch Over programme.
The service will provide households with access to more than 100 television channels, including national broadcasters, regional stations and state owned television networks.
Viewers will enjoy a broad range of content spanning news, sports, movies, music, educational programming, children's entertainment and cultural content. The platform will also feature dedicated indigenous language channels broadcasting in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo to promote local languages and cultural heritage.
The Presidency explained that FreeTV represents a major milestone in Nigeria's broadcasting industry and is expected to strengthen public access to information while supporting local content development.
To ensure nationwide accessibility, the service will be available through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting and a dedicated FreeTV mobile application. This multi platform approach is designed to serve viewers in urban centres, rural communities and underserved areas across the country.
The Federal Government clarified that Nigerians would not be required to purchase new television sets to access the service. Existing television sets will function with compatible DVB T2 or DVB S2 decoders, while households already using compatible free to air equipment may not require additional devices.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, described FreeTV as a key component of the administration's broader digital inclusion agenda.
According to him, the platform directly reflects President Tinubu's vision of expanding opportunities and ensuring that all Nigerians benefit from the growing digital economy.
"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," Ebuebu stated.
Beyond providing free television services, the initiative is expected to stimulate growth within Nigeria's creative and broadcasting sectors.
The Federal Government disclosed plans to establish regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin. These centres are expected to serve as major production and content development facilities for the media and entertainment industry.
Officials noted that the hubs would create employment opportunities for content creators, video editors, filmmakers, camera operators, sound engineers, producers and other professionals across the creative value chain.
Industry stakeholders believe the project will increase local content production, improve broadcast quality and create new economic opportunities within Nigeria's expanding digital media ecosystem.
The government further announced that Nigeria's final nationwide analogue television switch off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028.
Citizens have therefore been encouraged to verify the compatibility of their decoders and television equipment while also downloading the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the nationwide rollout.
With the launch of FreeTV, the Federal Government aims to bridge the digital divide, expand access to information and entertainment, support local content creators and ensure that millions of Nigerians are fully integrated into the country's digital future.
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The Federal Government has launched FreeTV, a new digital television platform offering Nigerians access to over 100 free TV channels without subscription fees. The initiative supports digital inclusion, job creation, local content development and Nigeria’s transition to digital broadcasting.
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