Govt to provide N200bn for broadcast operators

The Federal Government has said it will float a N200bn fund to enable operators in the broadcast industry to deliver quality services to consumers.

The Chairman, National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Herbert Orji, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of the 10th edition of the NBC flagship conference and exhibition known as Africast.

Orji said the money would serve as revolving fund and would give broadcast operators the opportunity to obtain grants and loans at minimal interest rates.

He also said the fund would be sourced from multilateral agencies, foreign organisations and other relevant bodies that were keen on supporting the Nigerian broadcast industry.

He said the ongoing digitisation of the broadcast industry was not just about technology, adding that content occupied a place of primacy in the effort to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country.

Orji said, “We have tried at the NBC to focus attention, perhaps not away from technology aspects, but also to emphasise that content is important. In fact, it has been the experience of all the countries that have digitised that what drives and increases digital uptake is the availability of content.

“Our role at the NBC and organisers of this event is to effectively manage the change that comes with digitisation, while ensuring that existing players are not unfairly treated, invite necessary fresh investment into the broadcast landscape and promote innovation.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said the Federal Government would ensure that set-top boxes that would enable analogue televisions to receive signal from digital transmitters were produced in the country.

Anyim, who was represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the President, SGF Office, Dr. Ferdinand Agu, said the government would ensure that digital broadcasting did not cut off poorer segment of the society from broadcasting.

“We are mindful of the challenges of digitisation, including the funding. We will encourage the production of set-top boxes in Nigeria. We will not allow any segment of the society to be cut off by digitisation,” he said.

Some stakeholders had expressed doubts about the capacity of the country to meet the June 17, 2015 deadline for migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

However, the Director-General, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mbah, said it was important for the entire industry to work together to achieve digitisation.

Source: The Punch

Photo: NBC