Warn of legal, financial pitfalls
Barely a week after the Federal Government fixed June 17, 2026, for the nationwide rollout of Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switchover (DSO), the rollout is already facing fierce opposition from broadcasters and industry stakeholders.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government, through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and NIGCOMSAT, had promised citizens access to 100 free channels via a satellite-first model branded “Free TV.”

Also, NBC’s Director-General, Dr Charles Ebuebu, had admitted in April 2026 that N60 billion had been spent over 17 years, yet digital terrestrial signals had reached only eight states. To break the deadlock, the NBC unveiled a new satellite-first plan promising immediate nationwide coverage.

Critics argued that the plan strays from Nigeria’s legally binding roadmap and risks burdening ordinary citizens with hidden costs.

The BON, in a letter dated May 19, 2026, and addressed to Ebuebu, said that the platform being prepared for commissioning does not qualify as a true digital switchover but rather amounts to a Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite television distribution service.

It, however, warned that this pivot violates the 2012 white paper, risks wasting public funds, and creates a conflict of interest by turning NBC from a regulator to a competiton\

“Is the referee now playing the match?” BON queried, pointing to NBC’s role as a content aggregator on its Free TV platform.

According to the broadcasters’ umbrella body, both the International Telecommunication Union’s GE06 Agreement in 2006 and Nigeria’s 2012 Digital Switchover white paper define digital migration as the transition from analogue terrestrial television to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), not satellite broadcasting.

Similarly, sources within the DSO ecosystem monitoring the development, who spoke with The Guardian over the weekend, listed four contradictions in the entire process.

Firstly, DTT vs Satellite: The ITU mandate requires clearing terrestrial frequencies for telecoms use. A satellite-only model leaves ground frequencies untouched, potentially stalling spectrum auctions worth trillions of naira.

Secondly, the issue of regulator vs competitor was flagged. According to them, NBC is legally tasked with regulation, not aggregation. They claimed that by bundling channels, it risks overstepping its statutory powers and undermining the separation of roles designed to prevent monopoly.

Thirdly, the legal roadmap was bypassed. Accordingly, BON and the Set-Top Box Manufacturers Association argued that NBC is executing a “unilateral migration” without a gazetted amendment to the 2012 framework. This could render the June 17 launch unlawful.

Fourthly, there is the economic burden. While the government insists the service is free, satellite delivery requires dishes, decoders, and professional installation costs that many low-income Nigerians cannot afford. They claimed that ordinary antennas used for DTT are far cheaper, raising questions about whether “Free TV” is truly free.

Earlier before now, veteran broadcaster Aderemi Ogunpitan has urged civil society groups, such as SERAP, to demand financial and legal accountability.

Stakeholders also said that without transparency, the N60 billion already spent could be wasted, and the June 17 rollout may collapse under regulatory contradictions.