The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have jointly launched a new strategy to reinvent Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project, aimed at transforming the country’s digital broadcasting landscape. Called the “Big Picture,” this next-generation vision is expected to leverage Nigeria’s satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1R, to ensure nationwide access to digital broadcasting that is affordable and rich in local content.
The NBC Director General, Charles Ebuebu, explained that, unlike previous DSO models, this satellite-first approach is designed to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation by providing a robust infrastructure backbone. Mr Ebube said, in line with President Tinubu’s directive to improve affordability, NBC is collaborating with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) to offer near-zero-interest financing for five million Direct-To-Home (DTH) and internet-enabled reception devices. He added that the repayment plans will be tailored specifically for low-income earners, expanding access across socio-economic groups.
Expatiating further, he said a key innovation in the project is the introduction of a DSO Mobile App capable of streaming over 100 channels to internet-enabled devices. This app, he said, uses adaptive bitrate technology to maintain smooth video playback even on low-bandwidth networks, a feature that, according to the NBC Director General, particularly benefits Nigeria’s youth, who make up 70% of the population and primarily consume media on smartphones.
He also disclosed that to boost local content production, NBC is partnering with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and private studios to establish regional production hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical sones, that will produce more than 1,000 hours of original content monthly, focusing on educational, cultural, and youth-themed programming. Independent producers will be prioritised to foster innovation and diversity in content creation.
Mr Ebube stated that customer support will be strengthened through a 24/7 multilingual call centre staffed by agents fluent in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin English, in addition to 15,000 trained technicians and ‘Digital Ambassadors’ who will conduct grassroots awareness campaigns nationwide to ensure smooth adoption and usage.
The Director General stated that the success of the ‘Big Picture’ depends on strong collaboration across sectors, adding that the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and other stakeholders will help fill 60% of the 120-channel lineup with existing and repurposed content. He disclosed that local manufacturers will be engaged to produce five million hybrid-compliant reception devices annually, creating over 20,000 jobs in assembly plants nationwide. This initiative, he said, supports the government’s ‘By-Nigeria’ agenda, promoting local production, economic growth, and national identity.
Describing the strategy as a paradigm shift, Mr Ebube affirmed that with NIGCOMSAT’s satellite infrastructure and NBC’s regulatory leadership, Nigeria is not merely digitising television but democratising information, empowering cultural narratives, and redefining national connectivity for the 21st century. He concluded, “We are bridging the digital divide, one household at a time and embracing how Nigerians actually consume media today. The future of broadcasting lies across the boundaries between traditional TV and streaming; our devices contain both”.
