The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced that its planned Digital Switch-Over (DSO) initiative is poised to unlock the N605.2 billion national advertising market for broadcasters and content creators.

Charles Ebuebu, the Director-General of the NBC, revealed this at a press conference, stating that a national launch is scheduled for June 17, 2026. The final analogue switch-off is anticipated by December 31, 2028.

Ebuebu explained that the DSO will enable Nigerian government institutions to deliver digital broadcasting to every household within a commercially sustainable and regulatorily defensible structure.

He further elaborated that the DSO will unlock the N605.2 billion national advertising market through verifiable audience measurement, thereby generating new revenue streams for broadcasters and content creators.

Regarding the economy, Ebuebu noted that the freed-up digital dividend spectrum, estimated to be worth over $1 billion in auction proceeds, will be reinvested in digital infrastructure and rural broadband.

The creative economy, which already contributes approximately N5 trillion to Nigeria's GDP and employs over 4.2 million individuals, will benefit from a modern distribution spine. This is expected to facilitate content export across West Africa via NigComSat-1R.

For ordinary Nigerians, the basic FreeTV service will not require a monthly subscription. The necessary satellite dish is minimal, and the decoder, an open-standard DVB-S2 device, is available on the open market for approximately N15,000 to N25,000.

The NBC has urged broadcasters, including BON and independent stations, to join the FreeTV platform and take advantage of an 18-month free carriage window. They are also encouraged to participate actively in the platform's governance.

Ebuebu acknowledged that the set-top box issue is currently subject to pending litigation with local manufacturers. However, he clarified that this does not constitute a blanket injunction against the national implementation of the DSO.