The National Broadcasting Commission says Nigerians can now access Free TV services on mobile devices through a dedicated application, alongside satellite decoders.

The expansion, according to the commission, targets younger Nigerians who increasingly consume video content through mobile apps and align with changing viewing habits.

NBC’s director-general, Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The Free TV Digital Switch Over signal is not only available using the decoders. As we speak, you can watch it on your phone. Users can download the Free TV application from the Play Store or iOS platforms and gain access after completing a simple registration process. You download the FreeTV app, whether on the Play Store or iOS, if you are using a Mac or Apple product,” he said.

Mr Ebuebu explained that the application remains free, adding that users only need to register with their WhatsApp, Gmail, or other available accounts.

Regarding concerns that data costs limit access, the NBC chief said that broadcasting worldwide had evolved with the introduction of new technologies. He said the majority of Nigerians were youths who now spend considerable time accessing platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp on mobile devices.

“What do these youths access? What do they watch? Their TikTok, their WhatsApp, it’s all on the phone,” Mr Ebuebu said.

He said the commission decided to maintain satellite broadcasting while introducing mobile access to accommodate different categories of viewers. According to him, satellite television remains accessible nationwide, particularly for people in rural communities, through affordable decoders.

“Anyone in the village buys a decoder for less than N20,000 and has it free for life,” he said.

Mr Ebuebu said satellite broadcasting was designed to serve the masses, while mobile access would provide additional opportunities for younger audiences. He added that special channels would also be developed to provide engaging content suitable for youths and their viewing preferences.

“Studies have shown they watch it basically on mobile digital devices, so that’s why we decided to go the two ways,” he said.

The NBC chief said that combining satellite and mobile platforms would expand access to Nigerian television content, both locally and internationally.

He added that Nigerians anywhere in the world would be able to watch the country’s TV channels through the FreeTV application.

(NAN)