Nigeria has taken the Digital television experience to the commercial city of Lagos, South-west on Thursday.
At the official launch, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said ordinary Nigerian must reap the benefits of the digital television without having to break the bank.
“Once a TV household acquires the Set-Top-Box and pays the once-a-year access fee, which is a token, it’s free viewing all the way. Our FreeTV brand is not a fluke. There is no monthly subscription payment,’‘ he said.
The digital switch over experience enables millions of Nigerians who cannot afford to pay the rising subscription fees being charged by the Pay TV platforms to enjoy the benefit of digital television.
The Minister said the switch-on of Lagos is unique and epochal, because it marks the first time that the DSO project would be beaming 60 choice channels to television households.
Mohammed said; “This is not by accident. Lagos is Nigeria’s creative hub; hence it is important to harness the creative talents that abound in the state through this project.
”Also, the DSO provides us with a great platform to key into the Lagos Smart City Project, which seeks to use technology to enhance service delivery in all spheres of life.”
According to him, ”the DSO was not just about high fidelity sound and picture, it is also about creating jobs, especially for our teeming youth, stimulating local content and empowering channel owners.
“We acknowledge the power and the extensive reach of modern broadcasting, which makes it a veritable tool for national development.”
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The democratisation of digital television in Nigeria, which is what DSO is about, fits into the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari for a digital economy in the country.
Mohammed said; ” Mr. President’s vision is that of national technological development driven by Nigeria’s very vibrant and creative young people; who are among the most dynamic in Africa and indeed the world.”
DSO benefits
While the DSO television platform, branded as FreeTV, offers its viewers about 60 digital channels, including sports, music, movies, and news, it also provides Value Added Services, such as; Enforcement & Collection of TV Licenses, Premium PayTV channels, Push Video on Demand, Information Services, Audience Measurement.
The Minister said the project would therefore enhance the Lagos Smart City Project while revolutionising television viewing for more than 5 million TV households in the state.
“In addition, a large number of the 1 million jobs to be created by the DSO project in the next three years will come from Lagos.
”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, its platform can be used to broadcast information about Lagos State activities to all viewers.
”It will also help Advertisers in Lagos to target which programmes and channels are being watched by the audience, while Lagosians 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, ”the Minister explained.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to the project for many reasons.
“First, it would enhance job creation and content development. Second, it would be of immense benefits to the residents. Third, it would empower many of our youths, especially those in the entertainment and tourism industry,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
Furthermore, he said ”the DSO would also provide opportunity for the government to use the content to inform and engage the citizens as well as bring governance closer to the people.”
The Governor who described the DSO as the real definition of bridging the digital divide also urged the Ministerial Taskforce on the DSO to make the FreeTV box and after sale support easily accessible.
He said; “I am convinced that making the FreeTV Set Top Box a one-off payment with an annual renewal will provide opportunity for millions of Nigerians who cannot afford to pay the subscription fees being charged by the PayTV platforms to enjoy the benefit of digital television.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Strategy.
The Ag Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Professor Armstrong Idachaba stated that the Digitisation of broadcasting brings a whole gamut of opportunities for Nigerians.
“It is perhaps without doubt the fastest and safest way to leap frog those at the lower rung up the digital divide.
”With this roll out in Lagos, a projected 5 million Lagosians are instantly going to access digital television services not only for broadcasting but with converged opportunities to Telecom and other ancillary services.
” Jobs will be created for creative, Engineers and technicians, small scale business activities are going to be stimulated around the proposition, sale of boxes, installations, content production and the like,” Professor Idachaba said.
So far, Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over have been launched in the cities of Jos, Ilorin, Osogbo, Kaduna, Enugu and today in Lagos.
Going forward, the DSO train heads to Kano State on June 3rd; Rivers on July 8th; Yobe on July 15th; Gombe on August 12th; Imo on August 24th; Akwa Ibom on August 31st; Oyo on September 9th; Jigawa on September 23rd; Ebonyi on October 17th; Katsina on October 21st; Anambra on November 4th and Delta on November 18th.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
