The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says it is unlikely for Nigeria to attain the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting by June this year. Director General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during a familiarization visit to the Commission by the Minister of Information, Sen. Patricia Akwashiki.
He said it would be risky for Nigeria to switchover to digital broadcasting at the moment when about 78% of the populace was still using analogue broadcasting.
Mr. Mba, who attributed the challenge to the paucity of funds, was hopeful that funds would be secured to complete the switchover before the expiration of this administration.
He explained that since the launch of the pilot digital switchover in Jos, Plateau State last year, a lot of progress had been made, which included the licensing of ten indigenous manufacturers to produce the sector boxes to be used for the reception of the digital signals. The Director General said the development would have a multiplier effect on the local economy.
Mr. Mba, however, disclosed that the second signal carrier had dragged NBC to court over its dissatisfaction with some of the conditions attached to the license.
At the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Director General, Mr. Sola Omole, told the Minister that N7 billion was the amount required to digitize all NTA stations across the country.
He said through the strategic partnership of NTA with the Star-Times of China, forty cities in Nigeria were now enjoying digital broadcast signals.
Mr. Omole stated that funding had been a major challenge in the NTA as the station was weighed down by a debt burden of over N3 billion it owed the Debt Management Office (DMO) for the cost of Outside Broadcasting Vans procured for the live coverage of an international event in Nigeria.
The Director General complained that N67.5 million went into servicing the debt every month until the DMO recently granted moratorium to NTA in order to inject the funds into running the station.
He said NTA under his leadership had improved the quality of signals and audio output in addition to the development of new programmes with rich content in order to compete globally and boost the viewership of the station.
Mr. Omole added that NTA had introduced live streaming of news and programmes on the internet, which had significantly improved the reach and depth of the station.
In her remarks, Information Minister Sen. Patricia Akwashiki told the NBC that it was essential to meet the deadline for digitization by June this year in line with global standards.
She said due to competing demands and dwindling revenue from government, both NTA and NBC should strive to look inwards and be more creative to attract private sector funds in order to remain afloat.
The Minister urged government’s ministries, departments and agencies to always patronize public media outfits alongside the private broadcasters to encourage healthy competition and support the public media to thrive.
Sen. Akwashiki particularly commended NTA for their professionalism and adequate publicity of government’s activities, policies and programmes.
