NBC faults scorecard report on digital TV switchover

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has faulted an earlier media report that 78 per cent of Nigerians may miss out in digital television switchover.

In an objection to the “Misrepresentation of facts” article , Director General of the NBC, Emeka Mba assured ‘’stakeholders that transition from analogue to digital television transmission is on course.”

He reiterated that since the Commission had commenced the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting following the signing of the Geneva 2006 agreement, much progress has been achieved.

Mba explained that the NBC with the support of the federal government initiated the setting up of a Presidential Advisory Committee on transition from analogue to digital terrestrial transmission in Nigeria.

He cited instance where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim inaugurated the Digiteam Nigeria as an implementation committee for the transition on December 20, 2012 and the Jos pilot-city DSO was flagged off with the full support and presence of the Plateau state and federal government. All these actions Mba said was to demonstrate the interest the government has for the success of the project.

According to the NBC scorecard, the Commission appointed Inview Technologies Limited. a United Kingdom based software company for the provision of a national common set-top-box system with the appointment accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between both parties.

Mba denied the insinuation or allusion that migrating was imposed on Nigeria by the United States (U.S).

He added that the deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for June 2015 was being adhered to while the “legal framework is being updated to enable a formal switchover as issues of standardization, professionalism and regulation are being rationalized.”