FG Launches FreeTV Platform to Bring 100+ Free Channels to Nigerian Mobile Phones

The Federal Government has launched FreeTV, a new digital television platform designed to deliver free-to-air television content directly to mobile phones across Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, the government said the platform would provide Nigerians with free access to more than 100 national, regional, and state television channels without a subscription.

According to the Federal Government, the initiative is part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital inclusion.

FreeTV will offer a range of programming, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s content, educational programmes, and dedicated Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo language channels.

The service will be accessible through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as the FreeTV mobile application, enabling users in urban and rural communities to watch live television on smartphones.

TheCable, citing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said the platform is being rolled out to fast-track Nigeria’s long-delayed migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, a transition first scheduled for 2015.

Premium Times reported that FreeTV forms part of broader efforts to make broadcast content more accessible to Nigerians who do not own televisions, particularly in rural and low-income communities.

Government officials say FreeTV is expected to drive digital literacy, expand advertising reach, and create new jobs in Nigeria’s creative and broadcasting industries.

Sources: TheCable; Premium Times; The Guardian