The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), today, December 22, 2017 switched on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), in Kaduna in an epoch making event.
This is coming barely two days after the city of Ilorin was live with digital TV viewing experience.
In his address of welcome, the Director General of NBC, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu noted that “We are gathered to commence the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, when all of us are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Kaduna”.
“There is a something very special about this city and state; this is after all the old capital of Northern Nigeria! And this is a city of politics; administration as well as of media. It was therefore natural, that Kaduna would be one of the states that we would choose in this, first phase of the DSO. To make it even more poignant, the switchover is taking place when the 100th anniversary of Kaduna is being celebrated! So we in the midst of celebration that speak to the best of our lives. And this digital switchover just underlines the mood of celebration.
Continuing, Kawu recalled that “It is equally important to note, that the Abuja Switchover, which was also done on the platform of Pinnacles Communications Limited, took place exactly a year ago today! So there are too many heart-warming coincidences associated with our gathering this morning”.
According to him, “Digital broadcasting is going to change the face of television in our country forever. The Nigerian government, through the NBC, is committed to taking advantage of the digital economy, to open up accesses for Nigeria’s young people, to create new content, that can help to reinforce patriotic commitment to national development. And as part of the work that we are doing with this DSO process, we have held content financing workshops in Lagos, Enugu and Kano. We were very happy to note that Nigeria’s young and creative community, increasingly understand the importance of the opportunities that the digital process can portend for our future.
NBC re-iterated that the switch on entails deploying two multiplexes of 30 channels for our viewers in Kaduna state. These represent local, regional and national channels. And that is the model that we have adopted for Nigeria’s digital switchover. The opportunities associated with this process are enormous.
“And the opportunities are limitless. We are very sure that as Nigerian content producers increasingly find the metier in the digital era, we would begin to see specialized productions in different genres of broadcast programming. This is the reason that the DSO process has also been designed to ensure that 70% of all programs will be Nigerian content! That way we can tap into the rich vein of Nigerian cultures; day-to-day life experiences and other themes that define us as a people.
“This is the sense in which I have always believed that the DSO process is a win-win proposition for all our stakeholders and in the long run, for the Nigerian people. As you would discover here in Kaduna state, this is the point of embarkation, for a most exciting terrestrial television adventure.
“We must thank President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a resident of this lovely city and state, for his enthusiasm for the digital revolution; and his realization that it can offer limitless opportunities for Nigeria’s young and very talented. Similarly, I want to appreciate the leadership that Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture has continued to provide for the process, over the past two years. I am delighted to underscore the incredible support that the DSO process and the NBC, as the regulatory institution, have enjoyed from the National Assembly. I must let you know that in Senator Suleiman Adokwe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information as well as Honourable Odebumi Olusegun, his counterpart in the House of Representatives, we have two gentlemen, who pull all stops, to ensure that the DSO project can roll out with minimum fuss!
NBC also hailed the efforts of the State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, for providing us the ambience that made it easy for Pinnacle Communications to roll out the transmission backbone for the DSO project, here in Kaduna state.
Business Hilights gathered that more sates will come on stream from next year in line with the structured and regional build up to achieve Digital Switch Over (DSO) nationwide.
