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Nigeria projected to be the largest free digital TV platform globally

Nigeria

Nigeria has been projected to be the largest free digital television platform globally with an estimated 30 million TV households.

This comes ahead of the completion of the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting expected to happen in June 2017, Nigerian Television Authority reports.

The Deputy Chairman of Cable Channels Nigeria Ltd., Mohammadu Bawa who disclosed this in Jos, Plateau state said that compared to the UK which had 10 million consumers, Australia with 13 million and New Zealand with three million, Nigeria would be in the lead with its 30 million free TV households by 2017.

The Minister of Information, Lia Mohammed stressed that Digital migration would democratize information in the country.

“Compared to yesterday when the average person in Jos can only watch 5 channels at best, he or she can now watch 15 television channels, local and international,” he said.

The Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alheri Saidu, said the journey to digital broadcasting started in 2006 with the target to conclude the process in 2012.

“The national broadcasting commission authorised 13 companies to establish manufacturing plants in the country in order to produce set up boxes which is a very important component of this transition,” he said.

Although the global deadline from the International Communication Union (ITU) agreement was June 2015, the country had requested for an extension.

In addition to free-to-air channels, the digital platform would also boost the development of movie and music channels.

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