The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced that Nigerians will no longer be required to pay annual Digital Access Fees under the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
The NBC Director-General, Mr Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ebuebu said viewers would only need to purchase an approved decoder and satellite dish, costing less than N20,000, to access free-to-air television channels permanently without subscription charges.
He explained that the previous system required users to pay an annual digital access fee of about N1,500 as an administrative charge, but the new arrangement had removed the requirement.
“Previously, users paid an annual digital access fee of about N1,500, described as an administrative charge.
“The new system removes that annual fee. It provides free access to free-to-air television channels without any payment,” he said.
The NBC boss added that premium channels would be introduced in the future for viewers who wish to access additional paid services, while Nigerian content on free-to-air channels would remain available at no cost.
“Unlike Pay TV, this platform does not require monthly subscriptions for its basic service,” he said.
Ebuebu said approved FreeTV decoders would be available for less than N20,000, adding that the commission would soon announce authorised sales outlets.
He advised Nigerians to rely only on official information regarding approved dealers, warning that unauthorised sellers could take advantage of growing public interest in the DSO project.
The NBC director-general explained that viewers would require a free-to-air decoder and a satellite dish, replacing the previous antenna-based system, to receive DSO signals.
“Once the equipment is installed, viewers can access all available channels across the country without paying any subscription fees,” he said.
Ebuebu also dismissed claims by some retailers that different categories of decoders would be sold at varying prices, saying such sellers were not authorised by the commission.
He said the NBC would publish a list of approved dealers, official prices and locations where genuine decoder boxes and accessories could be purchased.
The NBC chief said the DSO project was designed not only to improve television broadcasting but also to promote economic growth by creating jobs, attracting investment and supporting businesses within the broadcasting value chain.
He added that content producers and broadcasters would benefit from the wider reach of the platform, as channels previously limited to regional audiences would now become accessible to viewers across Nigeria.
Ebuebu further said the introduction of audience measurement technology would provide accurate data on television viewership, helping broadcasters understand their audiences and giving advertisers greater confidence in placing adverts.
