Nigeria to Launch FreeTV June 17: 100+ Channels Free Nationwide

Nigeria to launch FreeTV June 17, 2026, offering 100+ free digital channels nationwide with no subscription, NBC says.

Nigeria FreeTV launch June 2026 free national digital television platform by NBC

Abuja — Millions of Nigerian households will soon watch television without paying monthly fees, as the Federal Government prepares to launch a new free national platform called FreeTV.

The government announced the plan in a statement issued on Wednesday. The service will go live on June 17, 2026.

FreeTV is part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over programme. Officials say it is designed to give every Nigerian access to information, education and entertainment, no matter their income or location.

The platform will offer more than 100 digital channels. Viewers can expect news, sports, Nollywood movies, music, children's shows, educational programmes and content in local Nigerian languages.

Access will be simple. Households can watch through satellite, through the existing terrestrial broadcast network, or directly on their phones using the FreeTV mobile app. The government says this will finally reach rural communities that missed earlier phases of the digital migration.

There is no need to buy a new television. The NBC explained that any TV set that works with a DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoder will receive FreeTV. Families who already use a free-to-air decoder may not need to buy anything at all.

Speaking ahead of the launch, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, called it a game-changer. He said FreeTV delivers President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda by expanding access and creating opportunity.

“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,” Ebuebu said.

The government is also backing the creative economy. Six regional production studios will be set up in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin. The studios are expected to create jobs for producers, editors, camera operators, sound engineers and other media professionals.

Authorities confirmed that Nigeria's final analogue switch-off is still fixed for December 31, 2028. They are urging Nigerians to start preparing now by checking their decoders and downloading the FreeTV app ahead of the June launch.