The Nigerian Government has committed to reach 100% penetration of digital terrestrial television (DTT) by 2016 to facilitate a ‘vibrant TV and media economy’.
Speaking at the 35th anniversary of media and entertainment company Silverbird, president Muhammadu Buhari said the analogue switch-off provides an opportunity to diversify the country’s provision of TV channels and content.
Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to have 46.46 million primary digital DTT homes by 2020, he added, with 37.6 million receiving free-to-air (FTA) content and 8.86 million pay-TV subscribers, according to World Stage.
“Nigeria will be the largest DTT nation in Africa in 2020, both for free-to-air, that is 9.07 million, and for pay, that is 3.59 million ... The target markets for free-to-air are the 26 million-plus TV households, and the growth of DTT in Nigeria is accelerating much faster than the growth in the pay-TV market,” said President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also called on stronger cooperation between Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry and the government administration to fight terrorism and increase the jobs available for young people.