The Nigerian government has announced plans to launch FreeTV, a free national digital television platform, on June 17, 2026.
According to the Nigerian government in a statement issued Wednesday, the move is aimed at expanding access to information, entertainment, and educational content for millions of Nigerians without the burden of monthly subscription fees.
The initiative, which forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, is expected to provide households across the country with access to over 100 digital television channels covering news, sports, movies, music, children’s programming, educational broadcasts, and indigenous language content.
According to government officials, the launch seeks to promote inclusion, create economic opportunities, support local industries, and leverage technology to improve the lives of Nigerians.
The government said FreeTV is designed to ensure that all citizens benefit from the country’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, regardless of their location or income level.
Under the platform, viewers will have access to national, regional, and state television stations through satellite transmission, terrestrial broadcasting networks, and the FreeTV mobile application.
This arrangement is expected to make the service available to residents of major cities, towns, rural communities, and locations that were not previously covered during the earlier phases of Nigeria’s digital migration programme.
Officials stressed that Nigerians would not be required to purchase new television sets to enjoy the service.
Existing television sets can continue to function with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while households that already possess compatible free-to-air decoders may not need any additional equipment.
