Nigeria’s long-delayed transition from analogue to digital broadcasting may be heading for a fresh start, as broadcasters across the country rally behind renewed efforts to revive the Digital Switchover (DSO) programme while demanding transparency and broader stakeholder involvement.
Key Highlights:
- Broadcasters under the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) are supporting a fresh effort to restart the DSO programme.
- The initiative is being driven in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which is pushing for a relaunch after years of stagnation.
- Stakeholders acknowledge that the project has been delayed for years, slowing improvements in signal quality, content variety, and broadcast technology.
- BON President Tony Akiotu led discussions emphasizing the need for a stronger framework to avoid past failures.
The renewed push follows a resolution by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), which backed plans by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to relaunch the digital migration project, a process considered critical to modernising Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape and improving service delivery.
At an online General Assembly attended by over seventy member stations nationwide, broadcasters acknowledged that the Digital Switchover initiative had suffered years of stagnation, slowing expected gains in signal quality, expanded content access, and technological advancement in the media industry.
Presiding over the meeting, BON Chairman, Mr. Tony Akiotu, led discussions on the future of digital broadcasting, with participants expressing optimism over efforts to restart the process in a way that reflects industry realities and protects the interests of operators.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to actively support the implementation of the programme but stressed the need for a sustainable, transparent and accountable framework to ensure long-term success.
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As part of efforts to avoid previous setbacks, BON endorsed proposals for the NBC to convene a broad-based stakeholders’ roundtable involving the Presidential Implementation Committee on Digital Switchover (DigiTeam), the Association of Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN), signal distributors, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Information, and BON.
Industry players believe such engagement could help resolve technical, regulatory and operational concerns that have slowed implementation over the years.
The General Assembly also directed the BON Secretariat to engage technical partners and industry operators to review the proposed relaunch strategy and develop an informed position capable of ensuring a seamless and inclusive digital migration process.
Observers say a successful digital switchover could significantly reshape Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem by improving content delivery, expanding viewer choices, creating jobs, and opening new opportunities for investment in media technology.
With broadcasters now openly backing the process, expectations are rising that Nigeria may finally move closer to completing a transition many African countries have already embraced
