From Magnus Eze, Abuja
Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, has assured of government’s commitment to implementing its White Paper on Digital Switch Over (DSO) of broadcasting in the country.
He spoke on the heels of demand by stakeholders at the 68th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja, yesterday, for a clear road map on the DSO process.
The DG explained that the white paper was not adhered to religiously by the previous administration for some political reasons; adding that efforts were on to amicably resolve such contentious issues as the role of content aggregators not envisaged by the White Paper and what signal distributors will be paid, among others.
He assured that the digital switch over process was on course, adding that he would soon convene a meeting between BON and signal distributors to agree on signal carrier fees.
Kawu added that the national security imperative of the DSO had motivated the Federal Government to enter into discussion with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, such that state governments would help in procuring large numbers of set top boxes for the residents of their states.
He stated that the set top boxes manufacturing companies that will be based in the various states would create massive jobs in those states.
Earlier, BON Chairman, John Momoh in his address expressed worry over what he called disruptive innovations staring broadcasters in the face, such as disparity in licence fees between public and private broadcasters and the implications of the DSO.
“We are yet to have a roadmap to the implementation of the Digital Switch Over in Nigeria. And we are all in quandary….”
“The regulator is silent on many critical issues affecting our members; chiefly among which are; the compensation that should accrue to broadcast organisations who will be vacating frequencies in accordance with the White Paper on DSO; the fee to be paid to Signal Distributors after the Digital Switch Over and what would or should happen to Pay-TV services currently operating on the DTT platform, the Switch Over is effected,” Momoh stated.