The Federal Government will roll out FreeTV, a national digital television platform offering Nigerians free access to more than 100 channels with no monthly subscription required.
The platform is set for official launch on June 17, forming part of efforts to expand digital broadcasting and speed up the country’s Digital Switch-Over programme.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, citing its emphasis on digital inclusion, job creation and wider access to economic opportunities.
Officials said FreeTV will carry a broad mix of content, including news, sports, movies, music, educational programming, children’s shows and dedicated channels in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
The service will run on both satellite and terrestrial transmission, with a companion mobile app to let users stream content on their devices. The government said the platform is meant to reach urban and rural communities alike, helping close gaps in access to digital broadcasting.
Nigerians won’t need to buy new television sets to use the service, as long as they already own compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders. Households with compatible free-to-air decoders may also be able to access FreeTV without extra equipment.
Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, said ahead of the launch that the platform would widen access to quality digital content while opening up opportunities for professionals in the creative industry. He said FreeTV reflects the president’s push to expand access and ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can tap into the digital economy, adding that it would benefit viewers and industry players alike, letting families enjoy television without subscription costs while giving local producers, technicians and young creatives new platforms and jobs.
The NBC said the initiative would further boost Nigeria’s creative economy through regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin, which are expected to generate jobs for content creators, camera operators, editors, sound engineers and other broadcasting professionals.
The commission reaffirmed that Nigeria’s final analogue television switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028, and urged Nigerians to check their decoders’ compatibility and download the FreeTV app ahead of the nationwide rollout.
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