[kictanet] Is CCK's move to renege on a promise to award a 3rd digital signal distributor license justified?

Wed May 22 18:32:52 EAT 2013

Thanks Robert: 

I had not seen as I was replying to David a few minutes ago. I agree. Lets talk about the digital TV content. You also mention StarTimes and we have received a lot of "scrambled screens" complaints. Francis Kipyapyap of Digital Migration Secretariat at CCK only said "currently we are facing challenges at the platform (Signet) and are being addressed" and he could not answer more questions. What are these "challenges"? Is someone attempting to sell free to air channels through the "backdoor". Why is it happening when MOA have issues with 3rd license? Just who can consumers turn to? I could get through DG, CCK today. It is a serious issue to collect Sh1000 bob from the "Wanjikus" and then nothin .. please see a sample complaint below:

I'm a subscriber of
StarTimes. I pay a monthly fee of Kshs.1,000 for the classic package which
entitles me to have access to all the local channels plus the additional
channels under this package. However, for the last two weeks, I have not been
able to access any of the local channels except KBC. The official response from
StarTimes when contacted has been that they are having some challenges which
they are working round the clock to resolve. When asked how they will
compensate for the less value subscribers are getting for their money, they
simply have no clue. I request for your intervention to have StarTimes give its
subscribers full value for money and explain how they will compensate for the
period that they have not been able to avail some channels to its customers. You
will agree with me that if one fails to pay even 1/- they will not get any
service so there is no reason why someone should pay the whole amount and fail
to get full service. Please assist.

Regards

Stephen Mutoro
www.cofek.co.ke 

________________________________
 From: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
To: smutoro at yahoo.com 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is CCK's move to renege on a promise to award a 3rd digital signal distributor license justified?

Hi,

If they are so concerned about monopolistic tendencies why have they not requested for a power generating license, a police force license, a military license, an ISP license, sewage treatment license, lay their own marine cable into the Internet backbone and  get a mobile license.

Startimes are doing distribution they are not a content producer unlike our media houses who want to retain the monopoly of being both which has resulted in the consumer (@COFEK) being provided with mediocre content over a wanting signal.

Regards

PS.  I am yet to buy shares or be appointed to the board of StarTimes

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

________________________________
 From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 14:50
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is CCK's move to renege on a promise to award a 3rd digital signal distributor license justified?

Robert

+1 :)

Seriously though is there a clause that ensures we are protected from Monopolistic tendencies? Is the Government ensuring that all broadcasters would have access without the 'owner' of the signal resorting to exorbitant or extortionist tendencies? Maybe this is what the broadcasters are fearing? 

The other contentious issue is whether it is fair for the 'owner' of the signal to also compete in distributing content? I'm not an expert in this area so mine is a layman's argument which may not hold any water.

Ali Hussein
CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd
Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd

+254 713 601113

"The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb
Sent from my iPad

On May 22, 2013, at 10:46 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Hi,
>
>Yes, especially since 2 is already tooooooooo many, it is justified as the consumer (@COFEK) suffered for many years when forced to purchase a myriad of antennae to receive the various signals transmitted from different directions (Ngong, Limuru, CBD, Kariadudu).  
>
>In addition the signal foot print for Startimes is already larger than that of all the analogue stations combined, we have devolved the government it is
 foolhardy to want to devolve the airwaves.
>
>Signal transmission is not a competitive advantage but more a strategy by the incumbents to raise the barriers to entry (never knew I would ever use that statement) and stifle the growth of new entrants into the broadcast playing field.
>
>With a single  digital signal distributor you will be able to setup AliTV for as little as Kes.
 500,000/- per month for the signal distribution plus 5,000/- for a 2 MB local loop connection to the distributor.  The fear of the incumbents is that you might convince 10 of your friends to place adverts on your channel at 100,000/- per month instead of on the current channels at 100,000 for a 15 second slot, do the math.
>
>Cofek needs to get off the road so this truck can finally run over the stifling incumbents once and for all, who is with me?
>
>Regards
>
>PS.  Those who do not fear teargas can join me for the demonstration, the rest can fund the activity (please inbox me for details) and for the rest you can +1 this.
>
> 
>Robert Yawe
>KAY System Technologies Ltd
>Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>Kenya
>
>
>Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
>To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk 
>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
>Sent: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 5:21
>Subject: [kictanet] Is CCK's move to renege on a promise to award a 3rd digital signal distributor license justified?
> 
>
>
>In a move that is likely to open up a new battlefront in the Digital TV migration saga in Kenya, CCK announces that it will not after all award a 3rd digital signal distributor license to Kenyan Broadcasters.
>
>Saying that the  international regulatory environment has since changed and that it would be difficult to go ahead with the plan, the DG asked broadcasters to either partner with Signet, a subsidiary of KBC or buy shares in Pan African Network, the other distributor of digital signals.
>
>
>http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/CCK-now-rules-out-third-digital-signal-distributor/-/1006/1858996/-/r5yo02/-/index.html
>
>
>The Media owners are definitely going to come out fighting.
>
>
>What's your take? 
>
>
>
>
>Ali Hussein
>CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd
>Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd
>
>
>+254 713 601113
>
>
>"The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb
>
>Sent from my iPad
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