The Nigerian Government has concluded plans to begin the new rollout of the Digital Switch Over, DSO, in Lagos State, scheduled for April, 29, 2021.
DSO is the process of transitioning from analogue to digital television broadcasting.
The Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the rollout in Lagos reflects the decision to take the DSO to commercial centres across the country.
He said with a population of over 20 million, and projected TV Households of over 5 million, the launch of FreeTV in Lagos State would be a critical milestone for the DSO and for Nigeria’s broadcast & Creative Industry.
The Minister was speaking in Lagos when he led the DSO task force on a courtesy call to the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday for a pre-rollout discussion.
“The DSO is not just about high fidelity sound and picture, it is about creating jobs, especially for our teeming youth, stimulating local content and empowering channel owners,” Mohammed stated.
Job creation
He said; ”In the next three years, the DSO is capable of creating 1 million jobs, in the manufacturing of Set Top Box or Decoder manufacturing; TV Production; Film Production, Distribution (supply of STBs, TVs and Dongles for the internet); as well as TV and Online Advertising.”
According to the Minister, Lagos State, which is the hub of the Creative Industry, will take a large share of the 1 million jobs to be created.
“Since FreeTV helps to provide Value Added Services, the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State will be supported in the collection of Television & Radio Licenses from residents.
”With FreeTV’s push system for information services, the FreeTV platform can be used to broadcast information on Lagos State activities to all viewers,” he said.
Current users of this push system for information services include;the Federal Ministry of Information & Culture, the National Broadcasting Commission, the State House and the Nigerian Police.
Also, the Audience Measurement capability of the FreeTV platform will help Advertisers in Lagos to target which programmes and channels are being watched by the audience.
Mohammed said the residents pf Lagos can also cash in on the Push Video-on-Demand capability of the FreeTV platform to access premium blockbuster Nollywood movies from the comfort of their homes.
Advantage of DSO
The Minister said; ”a major advantage of the DSO is that viewers will not pay subscription fees. Once they have acquired the Set Top Box and pay the once-a-year access fee, which is a token, it’s free viewing all the way.
“Millions of Nigerians who cannot afford to pay the rising subscription fees being charged by the Pay TV platforms can now enjoy the benefit of digital television. This is the meaning of bridging the digital divide.”
He also disclosed other advantages of the digital switch over, to the relevance of the DSO to the Lagos Smart City Project and the Lagos Broadband initiative, saying internet connectivity will be better.
“Everywhere in the world, video consumption has been the key driver for majority of homes acquiring Broadband.
And the commercialisation of Broadband requires people/home to consume the large pipes of data, which ONLY video can do. Most other uses don’t require much data. FreeTV and the DSO can provide the best of local content to drive purchase of last mile home data… Also the home equipment can be the FreeTV boxes which already have the data port to bring data to the home,” Mohammed explained.
The Minister also appealed to the Governor for publicity within the state.
He said the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) should assist in the provision out-of-home boards, lamp post and other publicity support for the DSO launch for at least three months.
Digital technology
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the DSO concept fits the 21st century thinking and reality where digital technology is central to the issue of governance.
He said the opportunity is a great one for the people of Lagos and as such the state government will support it.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was already working on how citizens can have better with cheaper internet connectivity and other technological advantage which is in line with what the DSO is bringing to Lagos.
He advised the DSO Task Force to ensure robust publicity and awareness campaigns so that the people get to know and understand what is in it.
Nigeria has already rolled out DSO in the cities of Jos, Oshogbo, Ilorin, Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos follows.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
