The Government of Enugu State, South East Nigeria has offered to give out freely, about 10,000 Set Top Boxes (STBs), following the Monday launch of Digital Switch Over (DSO) by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Governor of the State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who made the announcement said the STBs valued at about N15m will be given to low income households in rural areas to enable them access digital television experience.
While describing the switch over as a `landmark’ in television broadcasting in Nigeria, he stressed that the free give out was to ensure that low income households were not denied opportunities of accessing digital television contents.
Business Hilights South East Bureau Chief reports that the distribution started on Wednesday.
Ugwuanyi noted that the state government was fully conscious of the possible discomfort economically challenged families would face as a result of disruption in accessing free to air television contents hence the free distribution.
It would be recalled that while switching on the state to join the like of Kwara, Kaduna, Plateau and FCT, the Director General of the NBC, Mr. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu said that the digital switch-over would enhance the broadcast value chain and open up jobs for Nigerians.
Before now, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had made it clear that DSO remains a game changer that will deepen investment in the sector as millions of jobs will be created especially in content development and production.
Enugu State had been known for high level content developers which spurred the leading Pay TV group, MultiChoice to anchor its recent launch of Africa Magic Igbo in the State.
