Broadcasting
FG Approves N10Bn to Boost Digital Switch-over
President Bola Tinubu has approved a grant of N10 billion for the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to embark on a transformative journey to achieve the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) dividends for Nigeria.
The Director-General of NBC, Mr Charles Ebuebu, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at a joint news conference with the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida.
DSO is a project to transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Launched by the Federal Government in 2008, the DSO project aimed to enhance the quality and quantity of television programming, increase access to television services, and free up spectrum for other uses.
Addressing the newsmen, the NBC boss explained that, to achieve the desired results in the DSO journey, the commission would collaborate with the NCC and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
“Under the visionary leadership of Mr President, we are embarking on a transformative journey to achieve the DSO dividends for Nigeria.
“As you are all aware, the process of switching over from analogue to digital terrestrial television platforms began fully in Nigeria in 2016. However, the process has stalled due to enormous challenges.
“In view of this, the President has graciously approved a grant of N10 billion from spectrum sales by the Federal Government to the NBC,” Ebuebu said.
He added, “This grant is not just a financial allocation; it is a testament to Mr President’s collective commitment to driving technological advancement, economic growth, and cultural enrichment through the DSO project.
“The areas of utilising this grant include developing and managing channels that cater for diverse interests, leasing transponders, and establishing a robust satellite backbone to ensure 100 per cent signal coverage across Nigeria.
“Others are audience measurement, marketing and publicity, content production studios, digital set-top boxes, FreeTV APP, and conducting comprehensive training sessions and workshops for stakeholders,” Ebuebu said.
According to him, adopting the digital broadcasting standards will align Nigeria with global norms, enhance competitiveness, and attract foreign investments.
Ebuebu added that digital broadcasting will bridge the digital divide, ensuring access to vital information, education, and entertainment for remote and unserved communities.
He also said that traditional platforms would not fade out but adopt the new digital system because the ecosystem is huge and has a lot of dividends.
“With the introduction of DSO, a lot of people are going to be introduced to a new set of skills; there is technology; you are going to learn to use software in production; and all of that, and we are partnering to ensure it is done right.”
Also speaking, Maida said convergence is the new way to go in digital operations.
“Convergence has changed the media landscape. About 90 per cent of the media we consume today is not traditional broadcast.
“This convergence has given us the option to consume media in so many ways, but primarily through the internet and as a regulator for communications.
“It is very important that the NCC be part of this journey.
“To do justice to the DSO project, there is a need to create content with the notion that the mode of production has changed and that the majority of this content is going to be consumed on demand,” he said.
Maida added that contents in DSO, required some levels of interaction in real-time, which the traditional broadcast did not allow or do optimally.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
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NIPR Postpones Maiden PRICE Awards to January 25, 2026
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