Broadcasting
Why We are Setting Up N197Bn Set-Top Box Plant- MCI Bioss
Media Concepts International (MCI), a Set Top Box (STB) manufacturer licenced by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said it decided to go into local production of STBs for digital broadcasting viewing in other to create jobs, fast track digital switchover and bridge the digital divide in the country.
Media Concepts International has partnered with the world’s number three set top box manufacturer from South Korea, KAON to commence the building of a massive N197 billion ($1bn) manufacturing plant in Abule Egba, Lagos to address one of the most important aspects of digital migration.
MCI is one of the 13 indigenous companies licenced by the NBC for the manufacturing of STBs in the country.
The STBs will be used to convert analogue television sets to show digital channels at the homes of millions of Nigerians.
The construction of the manufacturing plant will begin in January 2016 and will be completed by the end of December with manufacturing activities taking off thereafter will kick off.
It is envisaged that the STB plant will employ over 1000 technical staff that will be trained on local assembly in the first instance and full manufacturing of set top boxes locally.
Nigeria’s digital switchover (DSO) driven by the private sector will lead to production of set-top boxes and viewing of digital channels by TV viewers in line with the directive of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Penultimate week, Media Concepts International (MCI) and South Korean firm, KAON signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a N197 billion ($1bn) Set Top Box (STB) manufacturing plant, the first by any company in Nigeria.
This will help Nigeria move to realise its digital switchover milestone of June 2017 for migration from analogue to digital broadcasting services in the country.
Mr. Babatope Agbeyo, chairman of Media Concepts International (MCI) speaking at the MoU signing agreement said their technical partner, KAON of South Korea which is among the top three STB manufacturers in the world will not just bring its expertise but will ensure technology transfer in the manufacturing and maintenance of STBs as well as invest as an equity holder in the Nigerian plant.
He said it is a massive project that will redefine digital media broadcasting and fast track the digital migration process with the conversion of analogue television sets digital broadcasting. “We chose KOAN as our technical partner because it is among the top three STB manufacturers in trrhe world with footprints in Asia, Europe, Latin America and now Africa.”
Agbeyo said KOAN recently established set top box manufacturing plant in South Africa and will be helping the digital migration processes in South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal and in addition to Nigeria. “In the less than one year, we will come back and show the STBs manufactured locally” he said.
Mr. Young Kang, sales director, Europe, Middle East and Africa region for KAON said on the long term, the manufacturing which will be located in Abule Egba, Lagos will be expanded to manufacture mobile phones, tablets, routers and television sets in the country to encourage technology transfer. “It is a really big step for Nigeria to build its STB factory.
“We are here to invest and ensure technology transfer. We are here for the long term as an investor in the plant and the Nigerian broadcasting industry. We will not limit ourselves to technology transfer but encourage local production of STBs, phones, tablets, TV sets, routers, etc. We have just opened a factory in South Africa and we will team up with MIC to open another here that will produce STBs that are full high definition (HD)” he said.
On his part, Mr. Emeka Mba, director general of Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said MCI was the first STB manufacturer licences that paid its N50 million authorisation fee over a year ago and has now commenced the process for local manufacturing of set top boxes.” As you know, we missed the June 17, 2015 deadline but we have made progress since to ensure that will meet the 2017 target.
“We see a digital future driven by set top boxes that can give digital channels, internet access and enhance digital lifestyle and shorten the digital divide in Nigeria. We believe this is the future which requires bold steps. Local investors like MCI are making investments that will create technology transfer that will permeate beyond television to bring job creation and economic growth” he said.
Mba however noted that “the efforts of NBC former director generals on DSO are bearing fruit. DSO is monumental. It is a national project of how people receive digital channels. The biggest challenge we have is that Nigeria is is the biggest market with 26 million TV households. We have to manage the digital migration process carefully to carry all stakeholders along,” he said.
Digital TV broadcasting offers many advantages over analogue systems for end-users, operators and regulators. Apart from increasing the number of programmes, it allows for interactive TV, electronic programme guides and mobile TV as well as transmit image and sound in high-definition (HDTV) and ultra-high definition (UHDTV).
Digital TV requires less energy to ensure the same coverage as for analogue while decreasing overall costs of transmission.
The more efficient use of radio spectrum brought on by digital TV also allows for the so-called Digital Dividend resulting from the freeing up of much-needed spectrum for use by other services, such as mobile broadband.
Digital Dividend spectrum is released when television broadcasters switch from analogue platforms to digital only platforms; part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been used for broadcasting will be freed up because digital TV needs fewer spectrum than analogue television. After the auction, GSM operators on the 2100MHz bands will move to the new band slots.
NBC recently awarded digital pay TV broadcasting services licence to MTN Nigeria. Digital migration is expected to add N320 billion yearly to the Nigerian economy, creating over 55,000 direct and indirect jobs.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are set to introduce a joint broadcast monitoring framework ahead of the 2027 general elections as part of efforts to curb unethical broadcasting and promote responsible election coverage.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC, who disclosed the plan recently, said the collaboration would strengthen election monitoring through the deployment of advanced technology and closer coordination between regulatory agencies.
According to him, the increasing influence of digital and online platforms has made it imperative for regulators to work together rather than operate independently.
“We have written to INEC, and we are going to have a joint monitoring outlook over the elections. Gone are the days when agencies work in silos. When we coordinate, we’re able to monitor more effectively,” Ebuebu said.
He explained that the partnership would enable both agencies to jointly identify and address violations of broadcasting regulations during the election period instead of handling such issues separately.
Beyond INEC, Ebuebu said the NBC is also partnering with other key regulators to strengthen oversight of election-related content across digital platforms.
According to him, the commission is finalising agreements with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) ahead of the polls to reinforce its monitoring capabilities.
“We are calling in other stakeholders to reinforce the election monitoring. We are signing agreements with the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency before the elections,” he said.
Ebuebu also revealed that the NBC is upgrading its monitoring infrastructure with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to keep pace with the rapidly expanding media landscape.
He noted that the proliferation of online platforms has made traditional monitoring methods inadequate.
“With online platforms, there are thousands of them. You need more than staff; you need AI monitoring facilities,” he said.
The NBC chief added that the commission has significantly improved its monitoring capacity and can currently track nearly 50 broadcast channels from its monitoring centre in Abuja.
He said additional monitoring facilities would be established across the country in line with evolving broadcasting technologies.As part of preparations for the 2027 elections, Ebuebu announced plans for a sensitisation workshop in Ibadan that will bring together broadcasters, INEC officials, security agencies and other stakeholders.
He said the engagement had become necessary as political discussions surrounding elections continue to grow more heated, including on television, stressing the need for broadcasters to adhere to professional standards.
Ebuebu noted that the commission has had to issue several warnings to broadcast stations for violating the broadcasting code during election periods.
“We have had to write several of them because they simply forget what the code says,” he said
Mrs. Clementine Wamba, head, Digital Switch Over (DSO) at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has stressed the need for broadcasting stations and practitioners nationwide to work towards meeting the 2028 global deadline for the switch over.
She made the call in her presentation titled, “DSO Big Picture: Free TV Audience Measurement and the Evolving Media Landscape”, at the 2026 NBC South West Summit held in Ibadan.
Wamba harped on the need for practitioners to adopt DSO in the transmission of news and other programmes in order to meet future challenges, stating that any country that fail to align with the DSO by 2028 will be shut out of practice.
This development, according to her, may result in job losses and other consequences that could hinder the growth of the industry in Nigeria, noting that Free TV is tailored towards the DSO, with provision for many channels in contrast to the age-long analogue system.
According to her, “The Digital Switch Over is a technological improvement on the age-long analogue style of broadcasting in the country. With the adoption of the DSO, practitioners will be in tune with global practice of broadcast journalism.
“Also, its benefits include efficient use of spectrum, changing of industry landscape, more access to national development programmes and better viewing experience.”
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said that Nigerians will no longer pay annual Digital Access Fees under the renewed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja,
Ebuebu said viewers only need to purchase an approved decoder and satellite dish which cost below N20,000 to enjoy free television permanently.
“Previously, users paid an annual digital access fee of about N1,500, described as an administrative charge.
“The new system removes that annual fee. It provides free access to free-to-air television channels without any payment.
“Premium channels will be introduced later. Viewers who want those additional channels will be able to access them through paid services.
“Nigerian content on free-to-air channels remains free to watch. Unlike Pay TV, this platform does not require monthly subscriptions for its basic service,” he said
Ebuebu said approved decoders for the FreeTV will cost less than N20,000 and authorised sales outlets will soon be announced.
He urged Nigerians to wait for official information on approved dealers for the DSO decoders, warning that unauthorised sellers are exploiting growing public demand.
He reiterated that people only need a free-to-air decoder, along with a satellite dish instead of the old antenna system to receive the DSO signal.
“Once the equipment is installed, viewers can access all available channels across the country without paying any subscription fees,” he stressed
The DG dismissed claims by some retailers that there are different categories of decoders sold at varying prices, stressing that such sellers are not authorised by the commission.
According to him, the NBC will soon publish the list of approved dealers, official prices, and locations where genuine decoder boxes and accessories can be purchased.
The NBC boss said the DSO project is designed not only to improve television broadcasting but also to stimulate economic growth by creating jobs, attracting investment, and opening up opportunities for businesses that support the broadcasting industry.
Ebuebu noted that content producers and broadcasters stand to benefit significantly from the nationwide reach of the DSO platform.
Unlike the previous system, where many stations had limited regional audiences, he said the new platform will make their channels available to viewers across Nigeria.
He added that the introduction of audience measurement technology will provide scientific and reliable data on television viewership.
Ebuebu added that audience measurement technology will give advertisers greater confidence in placing adverts and enable broadcasters to demonstrate the true size and reach of their audiences nationwide.
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