Africa Independent Television

{{short description|Private television network in Nigeria}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox broadcasting network

| name = Africa Independent Television

| logo = AIT_News_Logo.jpg

| type = Private company

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| country = Nigeria

| available = Africa
Europe
North America

| founded = 1996

| founder = Raymond Dokpesi

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| area = Nigeria

| erp =

| owner = DAAR Communications plc.

| key_people = Dr. Raymond Dokpesi

| foundation =

| launch_date = 22 November 1996

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| website = [http://ait.live www.ait.live]

| footnotes =

}}

Africa Independent Television, also known by its acronym AIT, is a privately owned television broadcaster in Nigeria. It operates Free To Air in Nigeria as the largest privately{{cite web|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/333778-atiku-shehu-sani-others-speak-on-closure-of-ait-ray-power.html|title=Atiku, Shehu Sani, others speak on closure of AIT, Ray Power|website=Premium Times|access-date=8 December 2019}} operated terrestrial television network with stations in twenty-four out of thirty-six states in Nigeria. AIT is also broadcast via satellite television from its operational headquarters in Abuja.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.gov.ng/channel/details/africa-independent-television-ait/|title=Broadcast organisations|website=National Broadcasting Commission|access-date=23 December 2018}} AIT is a subsidiary of DAAR Communications plc, available throughout Africa, and via Dish Network to North America.

The network emerged due to the deregulation of the Nigerian media landscape, which up until then, was dominated by federal and state government outlets.{{cite web |title=The role of African Independent Television in promoting popular culture among youths in Kaduna metropolis |url=https://nairaproject.com/projects/453.html}} Satellite broadcasts started on 3 November 1997."Nigeria launches 24-hour sat TV", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 16, January-March 1998

In the early 2000s, it was one of the many affiliates that relayed TVAfrica's output in Nigeria.{{cite web |title=Global Entertainment Media: Content, Audiences, Issues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=96-QAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22TVAfrica%22+%22MITV%22&pg=PA110 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Google Books |date=2005 }}

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it was available on Sky channel 454 as a free-to-air channel (originally a subscription channel until 1 August 2016). An additional channel called AIT Movistar, formerly on Sky channel 330, ceased broadcasting on 28 July 2009. AIT International ceased broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 15 October 2019.