Broadcasting
Domicilation of NBC in Ministry of Information and Culture; a Grave Misplacement
by Kayode Ahmadu
All players in the broadcasting value chain from equipment manufacturers to content providers are being affected by the impact of rapid evolution of broadcast technology and the growth of broadband internet access.
These developments demand higher technical quality with improved coverage and improved efficient utilization of spectrum from regulators, who have to be strong and efficient in their drive to deliver bespoke first in class broadcast services.
The need, therefore, of commensurate technical capacity and knowhow cannot be over emphasized.
Regulation both on international and regional levels require high technical skills and knowledge in order to manage frequency spectrum and in particular decisions adopted at high levels of ITU (International Telecommunications Union), which is a United Nations specialized agency formed to “facilitate international connectivity in communications networks”. Frequency spectrum is allocated globally by ITU and it also develops technical standards to ensure standardization in the ICT world.
As we are now in the age of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), it is apposite to take a close look at the meaning of the term ICT. The term ICT is made up of Information Technology (IT) which relates to Computer Hardware, Software and Peripherals; and Communications Technology which involves Telecommunications and Broadcasting. The current use of the term ICT is firmly established and it implies corresponding physical moves towards the convergence of service and technologies. In particular Telecommunications and Broadcasting can today use the same technology for transmission e.g. Information Protocol (IP) Technology, Fibre Optic Cable, Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and Radio.
Furthermore, transmission and frequency control are coordinated using information technology hardware and software like Computers and Software Programmes.
In line with the above, Governments the world over are also ‘getting with the Programme’ by making their policies and administration fit into an ICT or convergence model; whereby the Broadcasting, Information Communications and Postal Services are under the same Ministry and or, are regulated by the same super regulatory Body, albeit called by varying names.
Let’s look at the ICT Industry supervising structure of some Countries that pioneered the development of ICT as well as Countries with comparable levels of development to Nigeria:
* The United States of America ‘Federal Communications Commission’ FCC regulates both International and local Communications by Radio, Television, Wire, Satellite and Cable and is responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s Communications Law and regulations. It is an independent U.S. Government Agency overseen by Congress.
* The United Kingdom has it’s Office of Communications Ofcom established in 2003 to replace Organizations, namely Oftel, the ITC, the Radio Authority, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Broadcasting Standards Commission. This includes Spectrum Management and Auctioning. In addition, since 2011 it took over Postcomm’s functions to include regulation of postal services. Along with 45 other Public Bodies Ofcom supports the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
* In Malaysia The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates the Communications and Multimedia Industries based on the powers provided in the Malaysian Act 1998 and Strategic Trade Act 2010. Apart from pursuing the Government’s policy objectives for the Sectors, MCMC oversees the new regulatory framework for the converging Telecommunication and Broadcasting Industries and online activities. In 2001 Postal Services and licensing under the 1991 Act and the Certification Authorities under the Digital Signature Act 1997 were added.
* Nearer home, under it’s Ministry of Communication and Technology Ghana has its National Communications Authority (NCA), which has the responsibility of regulating Telecommunications, Frequency Spectrum, Broadcasting Authorization, Amateur Radio Licencing, Numbering, Standards & Clearance, Schedule of Fees amongst others.
*South Africa has its Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICSA). It was established in July 2000 by merging the Telecommunications Regulator, the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). In 2005 the Postal Regulator was included.
We can go on and on with scenarios in numerous countries but for the constraint of space in this short position paper.
This trend enables Countries to fully take advantage of convergence and its underlying concomitant benefits. A single knowledgeable and agile Agency is ideal and more likely to bring about policies, activities, infrastructure and an enabling environment such as shared media and spectrum or facilitate services in underserved and unserved areas to bridge the digital divide.
In Nigeria we still have separate Regulators for the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Industries. Worse still, they are under separate Ministries. Again, we need to ask the nagging question…”why Nigeria is still lagging behind”? Why are we not conforming with this obvious global trend?
Thankfully though our visionary President Muhammadu Buharihas gone one step towards convergence by renaming the Communications Ministry as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
A development that is quite commendable and apt. Government needs to however take the next bold step of moving the NBC from its current misfit stead, into a single super regulatory Body for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Sectorsunder the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
This would automatically put Nigeria in step with universal best practices and prevailing trends, as we have seen in the examples mentioned above.
The move would also position the NBC in a better environment than it is presently, to tackle the challenges of ongoing Digital Switch Over (DSO).
It is imperative to note that Nigeria has significant deadlines issues with this exercise and thus must take steps to ensure success this time around.
The success of the DSO is not negotiable as it would be of enormous economic benefit to the country and would also be greatly impactful on the quality of broadcasting services made available to the citizens at large; not to mention its job creation potentials.
In conclusion, domiciling NBC and its activities, especially the ongoing DSO, in the Information and Culture Ministry is a gross misplacement.
It portends danger that could be of grave consequences if the needful is not done immediately.
KAYODE AHMADU
B.Sc (Hons) Physics, 1981 – Jos
M.Sc Physics/Electronics, 1986 – Jos
LCOR Harvard Business School, Massachusetts USA
Broadcasting
CANAL+ Partners Samsung to Pre-Load DStv Stream on New Samsung TVs In Nigeria, Other African Countries
Following an expanded partnership between CANAL+ and Samsung Electronics, the DStv Stream app will now be pre-installed on new Samsung Smart TVs sold in Nigeria and 17 other African countries.
The agreement covers English and Portuguese-speaking African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It marks the first pre-installation rollout of a MultiChoice Group streaming application on Samsung Smart TVs.
The development comes after the completion of the combination between CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group. It also extends an existing relationship between both companies that already spans 40 markets across Europe, French-speaking Africa, and Asia.
Through the integration, Samsung customers can now access DStv Stream directly from the television home screen. The app provides access to premium sports and entertainment content, including coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, English Premier League football, domestic and international rugby, and local and international television programming.
With the introduction of this connected television which kicked off on June 1, televisions can now connect to the internet, allowing users to stream content directly without requiring a separate decoder or satellite dish. The pre-installation of the app removes the need for users to search for and download it themselves, reducing friction and improving content discoverability.
The rollout is one of the first major distribution initiatives following the integration of CANAL+ and MultiChoice. The combined group has identified streaming growth and enhanced digital distribution as key priorities across Africa, where connected television adoption continues to increase.
David Mignot, CEO of CANAL+ Africa and CEO of MultiChoice Group, affirmed, “We are delighted to extend our longstanding partnership with Samsung across new English and Portuguese-speaking African countries. It marks a significant milestone in the synergies created by the combination of CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group.
“Mignot added, “As viewing habits continue to evolve rapidly across the continent, strengthening the accessibility and discoverability of our content offer on connected devices is key. By expanding the availability of our applications on Samsung Smart TVs across key African markets, we are making it even easier for millions of MultiChoice Group’s subscribers to seamlessly access the content that define the uniqueness of the CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group experience.”
This extended partnership is expected to strengthen Samsung’s position as a key distribution partner for streaming services globally while providing CANAL+ and MultiChoice with a broader route to market as competition intensifies among international and regional streaming platforms across Africa.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) challenging a Federal High Court judgment that restrained the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations.
Delivering judgment, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang held that the appeal was fundamentally defective and therefore incompetent.
The appeal stemmed from a Jan. 17, 2024 judgment delivered by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which barred the NBC from enforcing N5 million fines imposed on several broadcast stations in 2022.
The sanctions had been issued over allegations that the stations aired documentaries on banditry and insecurity considered by the commission to be capable of undermining national security.
The affected broadcasters included Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DStv, TelCom Satellite Limited, Trust TV Network Limited and NTA StarTimes Limited.
The suit was instituted by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), which challenged the legality of the fines imposed by the commission.
In her ruling, Justice Inyang pointed to a discrepancy in the appeal documents, noting that the respondent before the Federal High Court was listed as the “National Broadcasting Commission,” while the notice of appeal identified the appellant as the “Nigerian Broadcasting Commission.”
According to the court, the inconsistency was substantial enough to deprive it of the jurisdiction required to entertain the appeal.
“The notice of appeal is the foundation of an appeal and a condition precedent to the exercise of appellate jurisdiction by this court,” the judge held.
Consequently, the appeal was struck out without consideration of the substantive issues raised by the commission.
The ruling represents another setback for the NBC in its efforts to defend its authority to sanction broadcast organisations through administrative fines.
In April 2026, the Court of Appeal similarly dismissed a separate appeal by the commission against another judgment that restricted its powers to impose fines on broadcasters.
Earlier, in May 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the NBC lacked the judicial authority to impose penalties on media organisations without recourse to the courts.
The controversy over the commission’s sanctioning powers dates back to March 2019 when the NBC imposed N500,000 fines on 45 broadcast stations for alleged violations of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during the general elections.
At the time, the then Director-General of the commission, Is’haq Kawu, said the sanctions were imposed for ethical breaches and violations of broadcasting regulations.
Legal analysts say the latest judgment reinforces previous court decisions limiting the commission’s authority to impose fines on broadcasters without judicial intervention.
Nigeria has launched FreeTV, a broadcasting platform, designed to provide households across the country with free access to digital broadcasting, improved picture quality, and a wide range of local and international content without subscription fees.
The announcement was made in a post on the official X handle of the Presidency, describing the initiative as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusion, expanded access to opportunities, job creation, support for local enterprise and the use of technology to improve daily life for citizens.
According to the statement, FreeTV forms part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme and is intended to ensure that no Nigerian is excluded as the country transitions fully from analogue to digital broadcasting.
The platform will offer access to more than 100 national, regional and state-owned channels, covering news, sports, films, music, children’s programming, educational content, as well as dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels.
The Presidency noted that the service will be accessible through satellite, terrestrial transmission and a dedicated FreeTV mobile application, enabling coverage for users in urban centres, rural communities and previously underserved areas that were not fully captured in earlier DSO pilot phases.
It also clarified that Nigerians will not need to purchase new television sets to access the service. Existing televisions can work with compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders, while users with already compatible free-to-air devices may not require additional equipment.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Charles Ebuebu, director-general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said the initiative reflects the administration’s broader digital inclusion strategy.
“FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope towards expanding access, creating opportunity and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can benefit from the digital economy. With FreeTV, families across Nigeria can enjoy quality digital television without a monthly subscription, while our local content producers, technicians and young creatives gain new platforms and new jobs,” he said.
The statement added that the platform will also strengthen Nigeria’s creative and broadcast industry through regional production hubs in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin, creating employment opportunities for content creators, editors, camera operators, sound engineers and other media professionals.
The Presidency further disclosed that the final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028, urging Nigerians to begin preparations by confirming decoder compatibility and downloading the FreeTV mobile application ahead of rollout.
PalmPay MD Seeks Stronger Infrastructure, Access to Finance for SMEs @ Digital Pay Expo 2026
Winners Emerge in KidsCook Showdown 2.0 Programme
Glo Elevates Customer Experience with optimized “Borrow Me Credit” Service
Kaspersky Identifies Over 336 Unique Domains Impersonating the Official World Cup Website
Africa Projected to Lead Global 5G Growth
CBN Extends PoS Geo-Fencing Enforcement Deadline to August 2026
London Strengthens Global Investment Ties with Africa @ First Ever London-Africa Business Summit
FG Targets Alleged N3tn Capital Flight, Opens Airtime Credit Market to Nigerian Fintechs
Japan, UNESCO Boost Digital Learning in 15 CoEs with Donation of ICT Equipment
Mobile Internet Gender Gap Widest in Africa – GSMA
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Commits to Ethical Conduct with IFRS S1, S2 Compliance
E-Financial2 days agoFG Moves to End Double Taxation
News2 days agoBoI’s EIB-Backed Financing Accelerates Fidson’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Growth
General News2 days agoALTON Backs CBN on Local Data Hosting Rule for Banks, Fintechs
E-Business2 days agoNDPC to Review Data Law to Address AI, Privacy Concerns
Telecom2 days agoNCC, CAC Move to Block Unapproved Ownership Changes in Telecom Sector
E-Business1 day agoKaspersky Discovered a Malware Campaign Targeting Steam Users Through Infected Wallpaper
E-Business2 days agoGalaxy Backbone @ 20, Unveils New Identity