[kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF

Fri Jul 22 18:58:51 EAT 2011

Walu,
The media in Kenya is competing thus the hiatus when it comes to
balanced information.
And again, it depends on who is controlling a media house, since he's
got majority of shares & control.

On 22/07/2011, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> @Wangusi,
>
> thanx for the detailed insight.  I think media houses need to be more
> committed to a balanced reporting in future. Whatever happened to their
> mantra " there are two sides to every story"
>
> walu.
>
> --- On Fri, 7/22/11, Wangusi, Francis <Wangusi at cck.go.ke> wrote:
>
> From: Wangusi, Francis <Wangusi at cck.go.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 3:48 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> A signal distribution market involves building of multiplexing platforms and
> signal transmission infrastructure for the purpose of distributing
> multimedia signals (video, audio and data). in terms of digital migration,
> SD provider is a key player in the digital migration process. under a
> unified licensing framework at the CCK, this is an infrastructure market
> segment capable of providing services beyound broadcasting. it is important
> to remember that broadcasting subsector holds a host of other market
> segments rather than what we usually know as free to air or if you may wish
> call it "free through advertisement" (FTA). this particular market segment
> is just a diminishing market in the wake of new media platforms thanks to
> the rapid evolvement of ICT technologies. there are many
> emerging technologies arising from this market supporting tripple play that
> are are blurring the boundary between broadcasting and telecommunications
> and this may explain
>  why players in the SD market should understand the dynamics surrounding the
> provision of  services under this market segment.
>
> suffice to say, there are only about 3.5M TV sets in the country from the
> last censors report against an investment of close to Ksh.4Billion for each
> signal distribution network for the SD licences that are to be given in this
> market segment. Currently, SIGNET is the only licensed public signal
> distributor which the Government is funding inorder to roll-out throughout
> the country and to fulfill its public service obligations. the Licences that
>  were advertised were for commercial  SD and therefore are only necessary to
> give Kenyans alternatives and to spur the spin-offs of digital migration and
> was done inline with public procurement rules and regulations, the ICT
> sector policy, Information and Communications Act cap 411A and all players
> were accorded equal opportunity. there are enough safety nets in place
> ranging from competition to contructural obligations in the licence to
> offered in the unfortunate but rare circumstances should an
>  investor who has poured a cool Ksh. 4Billion wishes to switch off his
> network simply because of an election. why therefore a hulabaloo about this
> transparent process? if you join a race and develop a muscle pull along the
> way, you cannot be carried on the stretcher to a finishing line and be
> declared a winner simply because the race is being held in your country. it
> is also important for us to call on our media houses to practice the
> principle of fair doctrine which demands that when reporting adversely
> against an entity then that entity is given an equal measure to respond
> inorder to enable listners/readers make fairand informed judgement  about
> the story.
>
>
>
> From: kictanet-bounces+wangusi=cck.go.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of
> Edith Adera
> Sent: Fri 7/22/2011 1:07 PM
> To: Wangusi, Francis
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF
>
>
>
>
> Why such strong defense for the Chinese? Why not have a national policy that
> signal distribution should be done by locals only? I’m a greenhorn in the
> area of signal distribution – can someone with expertise and experience in
> this area tell us the pros and cons? We need more insights.
>
> Edith
>
>
> From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
> Of Walubengo J
> Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 12:44 PM
> To: Edith Adera
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF
>
>
>
>
>
> Just got two interesting alternative views on the above at the ongoing Kenya
> IGF.
>
> 1.  the Chair of the Parliamentary Group, Eng. Rege feels that giving out
> the National Digital Signal Distribution network to a foreigner exposes the
> nation to potential sabotage.  What would happen if the Chinese decided to
> switch of the distribution when "the 2012 votes are being counted?"
>
> 2. the PS, Dr. Ndemo feels that that may really not arise for two
> reasons,(1) that there will be competition in that market, we shall have
> multiple national signal distributors and (2) Most of this signal
> distribution platforms will be over the Internet Cloud and hence the idea of
> switching off the channel may not be that simple (though it did happen in
> Egypt ;-)
>
> the debate continues...
> walu.
>
> --- On Fri, 7/22/11, Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyu at soko-id.co.ke> wrote:
>
> From: Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyu at soko-id.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 10:31 AM
>
> I think arguing only the merits of the bids in the context of telcoms (a
> strategic/security issue) will only provide half the answers. The country is
> in political transition and headed into another election where the jury on
> peace is still out. In the last few weeks, I have noticed political bias
> starting to appear in TV coverage depending on the political affiliations of
> the owners. The media may forget itself again in the heat of the election
> competition and I would not be suprised if someone in govt. wants the power
> to switch stations off - the Chinese can do this but local media houses
> would find this unacceptable.
>
> Hopefully, if media demonstrate maturity next year, govt. may cease to be
> concerned about who controls the signals.
>
> Its not a nice picture for media freedoms or harnessing local capacity for
> that matter. But there may hard realities the govt. may need to be ready to
> deal with.
>
> On the other hand, I may be entirely wrong and it may well be that the
> Chinese bribe was the biggest!..(another of our hard realities)
>
> Wamuyu
>
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.