Confusing Signals: Media Houses switch back to analogue signals

I happen to be one of those Kenyans who fell on Communication Authority’s digital migration grid on the 31st of December 2014. I just won’t connect my decoder, something about being Kenyan. However, the migration left me with three channels to peruse through; NTV, KTN and Citizen. Nobody wants to pay for television before the government is done chasing its own tail.

Just yesterday, I noticed I have more channels on my set which really seemed a big joke to me, little did I know KBC, K24 and family Tv had reverted to analogue signals. Seems like the other side of migration has nothing much to offer financially. This is definitely a major setback for the government and country as a whole not to forget  the alleged ‘rivals’ are winning on this one or I assume.

The second phase of the digital migration seemed unclear when the three channels; KBC,K24 and Family TV failed to switch off analogue signals on the 2nd of February 2015 which was the set date for analogue switch off in Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu (Nyadundo), Machakos, Narok and Loldiani (Rongai).

The third and final phase was expected to take place on 30th March 2015 to cover Garissa, Kitui, Lodwar, Lokichogio, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Migori, Voi (Vuria), Mbwinzau/Kibwezi, Namanga and all other remaining sites. The government has however not said a word about the change of dates or authorization in reverting signals.

Meanwhile, the government is set to hold a board meeting next week to review a petition by media houses in the Africa Digital Network consortium challenging the regulator’s decision to withdraw their digital migration license after the three media houses broadcasted an informercial against set top boxes StarTimes and GoTV.

The media houses have requested to air content through analogue signals till the end of April in preparation of their own internet enabled set top boxes to air without cost. The houses have also cited on the need to have additional frequencies for the migration since they currently own only 21 frequencies against a minimum of 56 needed to cover the country.

 

Winfred Kuria854 Posts

Winfred Kuria is a self-constituted web content writer in charge of Tech News and Events Publicity at Kachwanya.com. She will communicate in the simplest way possible with an aim of changing the world one mind at a time.

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