The Federal Government has announced plans to launch FreeTV, a national digital television platform, on June 17, 2026, in a move aimed at providing Nigerians with access to free digital television services without monthly subscription fees.
According to a statement released by the Federal Government, the platform will offer households across the country access to more than 100 national, regional and state television channels covering news, sports, movies, music, children’s programming, educational content and indigenous language channels.
The initiative forms part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, which seeks to transition the country fully from analogue to digital broadcasting while expanding access to information and entertainment.
The government said the platform aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting digital inclusion, creating jobs and supporting local content development.
The statement noted that FreeTV would be accessible through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as a dedicated mobile application, enabling Nigerians in urban and rural communities to enjoy digital television services regardless of their location.
“Nigerians will have access to over 100 national, regional and state channels, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s programmes, educational content, and dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels,” the statement said.
The government further clarified that citizens would not need to purchase new television sets to access the service, provided their existing televisions are compatible with DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders.
Speaking on the project, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, described FreeTV as a major step towards expanding access to digital broadcasting across the country.
“FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope towards expanding access, creating opportunity and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can benefit from the digital economy,” Ebuebu said.
He added that the platform would also boost Nigeria’s creative and broadcast sectors by creating opportunities for content producers, technicians, editors, camera operators and other media professionals.
The Federal Government disclosed that regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin would support content creation and contribute to economic growth in the media industry.
Meanwhile, the government reiterated that Nigeria’s final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028.
To set up and enjoy, Nigerians are encouraged to verify the compatibility of their television decoders and download the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the rollout.