Reporting by *Daily Post* indicates that the Federal Government has set a definitive target of December 31, 2028, to achieve a 100 percent transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting across the country. The announcement marks a critical milestone in the long-delayed Digital Switch Over (DSO) program, which aims to modernize Nigeria’s media landscape. Officials describe the timeline as part of a renewed, realistic strategy to resolve the technical and financial hurdles that stalled past transition attempts.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is driving the “Big Picture” initiative, designed to move Nigeria past outdated terrestrial-only platforms. Under this model, the government is focusing on a converged broadcasting setup that integrates satellite and digital terrestrial systems to ensure nationwide coverage. The NBC has also announced plans to eliminate the annual digital TV access fee, aiming to reduce the financial burden on lower-income households as the country phases out analogue signals.
To facilitate the transition, local manufacturing and assembly of set-top boxes are being prioritized, which is expected to boost employment. The commission is currently in discussions regarding subsidy vouchers to make digital receiving devices affordable for the most vulnerable citizens.
The digital switch-off timeline has been verified by alternative news networks. *Leadership Newspaper* highlighted the policy, noting that the “federal government has fixed December 2028 as the deadline for the complete transition”. Similarly, *The Nation* detailed the operational shift, quoting NBC Director-General Charles Ebuebu, who emphasized that “the ‘Big Picture’ strategy is not a rhetorical flourish” but a practical plan to bring modern television to all Nigerians.
Echotitbits take:
A firm deadline for the Digital Switch Over is a positive step toward unlocking valuable spectrum for telecommunications expansion, commonly referred to as the digital dividend. However, the ultimate success of this 2028 target depends on establishing a stable local supply chain for set-top boxes and ensuring the poorest Nigerians are not left in the dark.
Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/fg-sets-dec-2028-for-final-analogue-tv-switch-off/, July 15, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
