By DEJI ABDULWAHAB

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project is targeting at least 40 million television households with up to 100 free channels nationwide.

The Director-General of NBC, Mr Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ebuebu said the renewed DSO strategy had replaced the previous terrestrial transmission model, which achieved limited nationwide coverage.

He said the satellite-based platform would provide wider coverage and significantly increase access to free television services across the country.

“We are gunning for 40 million TV households. Count 40 million homes at a minimum. That’s what we’re targeting,” he said.

According to him, the satellite platform will provide up to 100 free-to-air television channels across the country.

Ebuebu said the previous terrestrial model was launched in eight states by the last administration and the platform carried between 24 and 28 channels, depending on the location.

“The previous DSO plan combined terrestrial broadcasting for 75 per cent to 80 per cent nationwide coverage with satellite services for areas where terrain, such as mountains, blocked terrestrial signals.

“After launching in eight states, it became clear that terrestrial broadcasting had covered less than a quarter of Nigeria, revealing major infrastructure and coverage limitations.

“Achieving nationwide terrestrial coverage would require about 160 transmission towers, costly imported equipment, and over three years to complete, prompting a change in the DSO implementation strategy.

“We, therefore, decided to go by satellite that covers Nigeria totally from day one,” he said.

Ebuebu said the renewed project already transmits more than 73 channels nationwide and targets 100 channels in the coming months.

He explained that the NBC remains the broadcasting regulator, while Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) provides satellite and ground services for the digital switch over.

“We are the regulator of broadcast media in Nigeria, whether radio, TV, online and all of that.

“NIGCOMSAT, on the other hand, is providing satellite services and ground services for the DSO.

“They are using their satellite capacity, which covers not just Nigeria, but the whole sub-Saharan Africa to provide carriage for the DSO,” he said.

Ebuebu said viewers can now watch channels from every part of Nigeria regardless of their location.

He noted that satellite transmission provides complete national coverage immediately, unlike terrestrial broadcasting that depends on transmission towers

He described the renewed DSO as “a better proposition” because it offers more channels, clearer pictures and wider access to Nigerian content.

The NBC boss said the initiative will strengthen national integration by making regional television channels available across the country. (NAN)