The Federal Government of Nigeria said it has directed two
PayTv platforms – GoTv and Startimes – to migrate their signals from
self-carrying to any of the two licensed FreeTv signal distributors.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said the directive was in
line with the Digital Switch Over (DSO) process.
DSO is the process of transiting from analog to digital
terrestrial broadcasting and the country has set April 29 for the resumption of
the roll-out of the second phase in the remaining 31 states.
The first phase of the rollout had covered the Federal
Capital Territory and the five states of Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, Osun and
Enugu.
According to the minister, the laws of the land recognises a
single frequency network that is being operated by two licensed signal
distributors – Integrated Television Services (ITS) and Pinnacle
Communications.
He said the two PayTv – Startimes and GoTv – which are
currently carrying their respective signals, are in the negation of the law and
must migrate to any of the licensed signal distributors of their choice.
“ We have directed National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to
ask Gotv and Startimes to go to either Pinnacle of ITS.
“They cannot carry their signals and that is the only way
the licensed signal distributors can survive,’’ he said
The minister gave an assurance that with the approval of
N9.4 billion by the Federal Government and the setting up of a 14-member
ministerial task force to drive the DSO process the remaining 31 states would
be successfully and effectively covered.
He said the DSO would enable Nigerians to have the
opportunity to have choices of many TV stations as well as have access to
quality pictures and programs with little annual cost and no monthly
subscription.
Mohammed said the plan for every state the DSO is being
rolled out is to cover at least 70 percent of population coverage with Digital
Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) while the remaining areas would be covered by
Direct To Home (DTH).
He pledged that no part of the country would be left out
without DSO signal before the final Analogue Switch Off
Speaking on content on the FreeTv platform, the minister
said the government would set up a Local Content Development Fund to assist
talented young artists and content developers as well as enable budding
stations to thrive.
He said part of the fund would also be used to assist
veteran actors and notable celebrities to procure special licenses to either
have their own channels or programmes.
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