[kictanet] Digital migration and mass ignorance

Wed Dec 5 17:28:45 EAT 2012

Dear All,

Great voices on the issue of digital switchover. I wrote some article late last year attached for your consideration.

HENRY O. MAINA
DIRECTOR
ARTICLE 19 KENYA/EASTERN AFRICA
P O BOX 2653,00100
NAIROBI
TEL:+254 (20) 3862230/2
FAX:+254 (20) 3862231
EMAIL: henry at article19.org

________________________________________
From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+henry=article19.org at lists.kictanet.or.ke] on behalf of Mark Mwangi [mwangy at gmail.com]
Sent: 05 December 2012 03:34 PM
To: Henry Maina
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital migration and mass ignorance

I agree with Hook int saying that if the Govt. was serious about the migration then they would have facilitated importation of the set-top boxes if not banning imports of analogue tvs. The case being that they didn't do that what now? Push the deadline again? and again?

I read a lot of mischief too in declaring that a potentially humongous swath of the country will have no access to the TV news come January 2013. Where are the Set-top boxes? and where is the movement of the government in educating the public why they need to bother with these fangled contraptions? The media campaign with TVs swimming across a river elicited curiosity, not action.

On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 2:01 PM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com<mailto:odhiambo at gmail.com>> wrote:
My understanding is that he meant the B&W TVs cannot use STBs, which might be right or wrong, depending on the interfaces provided on the TV for connecting input devices. All TVs are not the same. We should not wait till everyone can afford STBs. They will catch up one day:-)
We cannot wait till everyone buys a car so that we start taking a journey than can only be taken by car. Those who don't will "take a lift" from those who have already. Those whose TVs stop working can watch at the neighbors.

On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 1:56 PM, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com<mailto:francis.hook at gmail.com>> wrote:
I'd surmise he (rightly) meant that some people cannot afford a colour
TV let alone a decoder. So what happens to them?

On 5 December 2012 12:56, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com<mailto:odhiambo at gmail.com>> wrote:
> Hi Francis,
>
> It's because of the following part of his  statement: "....Some have old
> black and white television sets. What happens to them?”"
>
> We need to ask him what he meant. I hope he didn't mean to say that B&W TVs
> cannot use a STB.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 12:42 PM, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com<mailto:francis.hook at gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Washington
>> Thanks.   I think have rudimentary knowledge of what a set top box is
>> - is it a device used to convert digital signals to allow an analogue
>> TV to receive them?
>>
>> If so, then I still do not get why it should be said Linus does not
>> understand.  Is it because he used the word "decoder" instead of "set
>> top box"?   Sorry i still do get it.
>>
>> Can anyone else enlighten me?
>>
>> Rgds
>>
>> F
>>
>> On 5 December 2012 11:26, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com<mailto:odhiambo at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> > @Hook,
>> >
>> > Let me quote what Bobby attributed to Mr. Linus Gitahi (sorry, I did not
>> > hear Linus first hand).
>> >
>> > <quote>
>> >
>> > “Kenyans are not ready because less than one per cent have decoders.
>> > Some
>> > have old black and white television sets. What happens to them?” queried
>> > Nation Media Group Chief Executive Linus Gitahi.
>> > </quote>
>> >
>> > If that is truly what Mr. Gitahi said, then I must say it is nonsense. I
>> > must side with Robert on this. Why?
>> > Almost ALL TVs in Kenya (with the exception of a few that Samsung
>> > brought
>> > into the market recently) are analog. They all need a Set Top Box (STB)
>> > to
>> > receive the Digital signals when the analog transmission is switched off
>> > regardless of whether they are color or back&white TVs. I believe you
>> > are
>> > not asking Bobby to explain to you what an STB does.
>> >
>> > I hope this answers both your questions, especially if you've looked at
>> > the
>> > diagrams Bobby attached.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 11:00 AM, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com<mailto:francis.hook at gmail.com>>
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Hi Robert
>> >> I'm sorry but I do not see how Mr Gitahi's statement shows a lack of
>> >> understanding of the decoder.  Please elucidate?  I myself do not have
>> >> a set top box or decoder.
>> >>
>> >> Also, you say "The black and white TV you are referring to will
>> >> receive an analogue signal and will not need to understand the digital
>> >> signal. "  Pls explain why not?
>> >>
>> >> Rgds
>> >> Francis
>> >>
>> >> On 5 December 2012 08:57, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk<mailto:robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>> wrote:
>> >> > trouble
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Francis Hook
>> >> +254 733 504561<tel:%2B254%20733%20504561>
>> >>
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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
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Best regards,
>> > Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>> > Nairobi,KE
>> > +254733744121<tel:%2B254733744121>/+254722743223<tel:%2B254722743223>
>> > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
>> > I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
>> >
>> >
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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.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Francis Hook
>> +254 733 504561<tel:%2B254%20733%20504561>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
> Nairobi,KE
> +254733744121<tel:%2B254733744121>/+254722743223<tel:%2B254722743223>
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francis.hook%40gmail.com
>
> 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.

--
Francis Hook
+254 733 504561<tel:%2B254%20733%20504561>

--
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121<tel:%2B254733744121>/+254722743223<tel:%2B254722743223>
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.

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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.

--
Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke<http://markmwangi.me.ke>

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