Kano, the country’s most populous state has embraced the digital world with the promise of improved television service after making the transition from analogue broadcast technology. The glitz at the launch evinced a renewal of hope in the future, Olawale Ajimotokan reports
Kano State became the seventh state of the federation besides the Federal Capital Territory to join the Digital Switch Over (DSO) league recently under the second phase of the national transition programme.
The exercise that was held at the Government House, Kano had dignitaries from across the country.
Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who performed the switch over, said the new technology would provide an opportunity for the people to have access to local, national and international space and use the content for public engagement.
He also declared that effective from December this year analogue signals will no longer be available in the state as every household must now have a Digital Set Top Box (decoder) in order to receive TV signals at home.
Nigeria embarked on the journey towards Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting on June 17, 2006, following the deadline of June 15, 2015, set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for member countries to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting.
However, following several reviews, Jos became the pilot city on April 30, 2016 when Nigeria launched the digitalisation process.
Since then, the FCT, Kwara State, Kaduna State, Osun State and Enugu State have concluded the first phase of the digital switch over while Lagos was switched on April 29 at the herald of the second phase programme to activate 13 states.
The DSO project when fully completed will translate to increased digital television penetration, improved quality TV services, audience preference ratings, crystal clear sound and visuals in addition to other value-added services.
The switch-on of Kano marked the launch of the project in the nation’s most populous state with over two million TV households out of the estimated 40 million TV households in the country.
Ganduje noted the DSO is pivotal to the digital economy of the country as it is capable of creating jobs and bringing governance closer to the people.
To facilitate access to signal for all, the state government is partnering the manufacturers of the decoders to support indigent households in 44 local government areas for the provision of 100,000 units of subsidised decoders, beginning with 10,000 units for the first phase of the supply.
He said the state government had also directed the supply of 44,000 STBs to the 44 local governments at the rate of 100 per local government, with the primary health care centres, community viewing centres, government education authorities, primary and basic schools, as well as local government councils as prime beneficiaries.
“The DSO project would also be a great platform for the entertainment industry to key into by using technology to enhance their services not only for high fidelity sound and picture but also create more jobs for our teeming youth and stimulating local content,” Ganduje said.
In his remarks, the Chairman Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN), Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa described the transition of Kano State into the terrestrial realm as a testimony of perseverance and determination after a series of setbacks and missed deadlines.
He said the DSO project would mark the beginning of the democratisation of television and leisure in the country as it will bridge the gap that exists between the common man and the upper crust of society.
Ohuabunwa said that the onus is now on the stakeholders to transform the directives of the ITU on the switch on into an experience for every Nigerian to progress to the next level until when broadband is available in every home.
He likened the Set-Top Box as a first step into the world of digital television broadcasting adding decoders would provide the Nigerian citizen with every type of television experience imaginable at an affordable price.
The Chairman of Gospell Communication said that decoders will take digital TV experience to the common man, expand internet and broadband penetration presence to every TV household in the country in addition to providing teleschool and telemedicine to every home.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed assured that the federal government will vigorously sustain the process of implementing a comprehensive nationwide process of transitioning from analogue to digital television broadcasting despite the slow process of the exercise.
He said the transformation to digital was aimed at creating a more equitable, just and people-centered information society, which would connect underserved populations and remote communities, thereby bridging the digital divide.
He listed the key benefits of digital television broadcasting to include wider choice in TV and radio channels, improved picture, enhanced information services including the electronic programming guide for interactivity and increased market competition and innovation enabled by the potential arrival of new entrants at different levels in the value chain.
The minister added that the DSO process can enable a variety of competing service offers, improve digital service coverage even in remote places, and improve access to communication networks while acting as a catalyst for better management of spectrum resources.
He noted that due to bandwidth restrictions, analogue television only offered a small selection of programmes and is therefore outmoded.
“The federal government is prioritising the DSO project because it is critical to the post-COVID recovery and prosperity of the creative industry.
The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, working with its relevant agencies -NBC and APCON-has commenced the process of implementing Audience Measurement, which will go a long way in driving advertising spend to the DSO platform, thus helping the channels to fulfill their obligations to the signal distributors. We have also instituted a number of reforms, some of them necessitating amendments to the Broadcasting Code which we have since carried out, with a view to encouraging investments in the Broadcast Industry in particular and the Creative Industry in general,” Mohammed said.
The Chairman of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Mr John Ugbe has also proposed a constitutional amendment on television and radio licence fee collection to broadcasters instead of local government councils.
Ugbe, who was represented at the launch by his deputy and Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mansur Liman, urged the minister of Information and Culture, or the National Assembly to initiate the process.
He said the 1999 Constitution wrongfully conferred the power to collect TV and Radio licence fees on the local government councils.
He noted the constitution has wrongly empowered the local government to rob the broadcast industry in the collection of radio and TV licence fees, likening the scenario to making Peter rob Paul.
“We cannot understand the synergy between the local government council and the collection of radio and TV licence fee anywhere in the world.
“Collection of local radio and TV licence fee by broadcasters will provide necessary funding for content development and allow for proper public broadcasting.
“We believe that the minister and the national assembly have what it takes to return to the broadcaster what belongs to them as it is done in other countries,” he said.
Ugbe said the success of digital broadcast migration would depend on broadcasters who are channel owners and content providers.
He also solicited more funds to NBC to fast-track the coverage of DSO in the entire country before the end of the current administration.
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Digital Switch Over is pivotal to the digital economy of the country as it is capable of creating jobs and bringing governance closer to the people
Photo 2—Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed launch the DSO
Photo 1.1 L-R: Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Deputy Governor Kano State, Nasir Gawuna; Governor Ganduje; Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Chairman Digiteam Nigeria, Edward Amana; DG NBC, Balarabe Ilelah; and Chairman STBMAN, Geoffrey Ohuabunwa
