The Federal Government says Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme is expected to unlock about N605.2 billion in the country’s advertising market, while expanding opportunities across broadcasting, content creation, and the wider creative economy.
This was disclosed in Abuja by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, during a media briefing on the National Broadcasting Commission’s “Big Picture” strategy for the DSO initiative.
She explained that the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting will transform how media content is consumed and monetised in Nigeria. According to her, the system will introduce improved audience measurement tools, including the GARB rating system, which will provide advertisers with more accurate data on viewership and help broadcasters secure fairer advertising revenue.
Egerton-Idehen added that the switch-over will also unlock the 700/800 MHz digital dividend spectrum, a highly valuable frequency band expected to generate over $1 billion for the Federal Government through auction. She said the proceeds will be invested in expanding digital infrastructure and improving rural broadband access across the country.
She further noted that Nigeria’s creative industry, currently contributing about N5 trillion to the national economy and supporting over 4.2 million jobs, stands to benefit significantly from the digital transition through wider content distribution and increased monetisation opportunities.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, said the DSO programme would modernise Nigeria’s broadcasting system and create a stronger platform for exporting local content across West Africa using the NigComSat-1R satellite infrastructure.
He explained that the initiative would strengthen the creative sector by improving content reach, boosting revenue generation, and enabling Nigerian productions to compete more effectively in regional and global markets.
The nationwide rollout of the Digital Switch-Over programme is scheduled for June 17, 2026, while the complete analogue switch-off is expected by December 31, 2028, marking a full transition to digital broadcasting in Nigeria.
