The Nigerian government has announced plans to launch FreeTV, a national free digital television platform, as part of efforts to expand access to information, entertainment, and educational content across the country.
The platform is expected to be launched on June 17, 2026, and will provide millions of Nigerians with access to digital television services without monthly subscription charges.
According to the government, FreeTV is part of the ongoing Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme aimed at moving Nigeria from analogue broadcasting to digital television.
The service is expected to offer more than 100 channels featuring news, sports, movies, music, children’s programmes, educational content, and indigenous language broadcasts.
Officials said the initiative is designed to promote digital inclusion, create economic opportunities, and support Nigeria’s creative and broadcasting industries.
The government explained that FreeTV will allow citizens across urban and rural areas to benefit from the digital transition regardless of their income level or location.
Viewers will access national, regional, and state television stations through satellite transmission, terrestrial networks, and the FreeTV mobile application.
Authorities added that Nigerians would not need to buy new television sets to use the service, as existing television sets can work with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, described FreeTV as a major step towards expanding digital access and empowering citizens.
He said the platform would allow families to enjoy quality television content without subscription fees while creating new opportunities for content producers, technicians, and young creatives.
The government also revealed plans to establish regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Benin to strengthen local content production.
The facilities are expected to create jobs for professionals including producers, editors, camera operators, sound engineers, and other workers in the media sector.
Meanwhile, the government maintained that Nigeria’s final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028.
Citizens have been encouraged to check their decoder compatibility and download the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the nationwide rollout.
