reception systems and equipment.
It is important that we also focus
our attention on how developments
in terrestrial broadcasting
technology can enhance the lives of
the general public and end users of
the services made possible by them.
This is especially paramount in a
country like Nigeria, where our
citizenry face peculiar challenges
arising mostly out of lack of
information, necessary for
development and peaceful
coexistence.
KEYDRIVER
The key driver for digital remains
content; and we would like to
transform the TV set into a
“comprehensive information
terminal” for the household. NBC
hopes to see the establishment of
more broadcasting services to fill
current gaps in content and services
such as: themed channels, special
interest channels, educational and
children’s channels, regional
channels, new HD services, and
interactive services such as T-
Health, T-Government, T-Voting,
and Banking, etc. In short, see the
TV become the hub for a new
digital lifestyle, the device that
helps to bridge Nigeria’s stark
digital divide.
Digital will usher in varying
levels of convergence, which will
disrupt existing business models as
far as content production,
distribution and monetisation is
concerned. A greater need for
synergy is called for between
broadcasting and telecom-
munications operators, especially
given the fact that Nigeria has two
distinct regulators for both sectors.
It is also important to recognise
that with the DSO, the provision
and regulation of broadcasting
services to meet general public
expectations are inextricably
intertwined with decisions made
regards the new digital
broadcasting licensing framework,
right transmission and reception
equipment technology and
standards.
DIGITAL MIGRATION
|
THE CHANNEL
The transition to Digital TV
broadcasting opens up huge
opportunities for a wide range of
new services such as more channels,
better pictures and sound, high
definition, interactive services,
deepening local production, plus
the added use of the digital
dividend spectrum for broadband
service deployment across the
country. The big question is: are we
ready to take advantage of the
opportunities that it presents?
ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESS
In my view, DSO requires four key
elements for success: (1) Broad
stakeholder involvement, deep
collaboration between and amongst
all important key players,
especially of existing analogue
broadcasters, government and
regulators as well as advertisers,
content producers, etc.; (2) Focus on
the benefits of the new digital
broadcasting ecosystem to each
stakeholder group, and the general
economy; (3) Effective leadership
and change management by
regulator/government; and (4)
Availability of funding to drive the
entire process by Government.
There still remain further
strategic objectives that we as a
regulator believe should underpin
DSO, based on the local market
environment, and the future
envisaged by the Commission.
These are as follows:
FTA TV and the DTTV delivery
platform dominate in Nigeria –
analogue FTA TV dominates the
leisure and entertainment lives of
most Nigerians. The NBC believes
strongly that it is in the general
public interest for FTA DTTV to
continue to grow as a vital delivery
platform as it represents the
highest value proposition to
viewers and therefore, the
Commission would take steps to
ensure that we have an increase in
the number of FTA TV channels as
soon as practicable to enhance the
entertainment and information
utility Nigerians can derive from
further investment in DTTV
THE CHANNEL
|
ISSUE 2 2014
|
19
With regards to the new Digital
licensing framework, the NBC shall
focus on a number of key areas: (a)
Promoting creation of more
broadcasting services &
competition (themed/special
interest/educational/children’s/
regional channels, HD); (b)
Promotion of competition in
relation to the provision of
broadcasting services and
associated facilities; (c)
Interoperability of digital
interactive TV services: The NBC
fully supports the concept of
interoperability and recognises the
need for flexibility and consensus
between all major players within
the DTT value chain: broadcasters,
multiplex operators, signal
distribution companies, and other
relevant market players so that
effective interoperability can be
achieved for the benefit of the end
consumer. Therefore all multiplex
licensees shall operate within a
regulatory framework, which
promotes and encourages
interoperability through the use of
open standards. (d) Licensing
Electronic Programme Guide
providers: The EPG becomes
increasingly important as the main
means by which viewers find their
way through the multitude of
channels and programmes. Because
the EPG becomes the main means
of access, it is important that it, too,
is properly licensed to ensure that
all TV service providers are given
Digital is
disruptive,
no doubt,
yet
evolutionary
“
”
Dr TomAdaba,
former DG of the
Nigerian
Broadcasting
Commission
gives DSO his
approval
