[kictanet] Local media get digital TV signal distribution licence

[Eng. Wainaina Mungai]

My understanding of the Digital TV broadcast space implies that Broadcast
Signal Distributors (SIGNET & PANG) are service providers to all Content
Service Providers (ie. current radio and TV stations).

Separately, there are those who are licensed as "self provisioning"
broadcasters.

1) That is what the consortium of 3/4 free-to-air stations
(NTV/QTV/KTN&Citizen) have been allowed to do. Carry their own signals but
not to offer the service to other CSP. The announcement that Kenya has a
third BSD was therefore surprising - if not all together misleading. We'll
assume it was an editorial error (!).

2) That said, there has been little mention of BombaTV/RadioAfricaGroup
that has been on a trial for "self provisioning" with a number of
frequencies in several parts of the country.

--- What is the future of self provisioning? Will these later become BSDs?
If so, Kenya would end up with at least 5 BSDs.

--- What of the ongoing controvery about PayTV operators carrying
Free-to-Air (as well as Free to View) content?

--- With the AnalogSwitchOff (ASO) date finally set at 30th December for
Nairobi & 30th January for the rest of Kenya, it would be great to
eliminate prevailing ambiguities to enable industry players to effectively
support Consumer Education such as the one planned by COFEK.

Tanzania and Rwanda switched off successfully. Burundi, that was lagging
behind is already funded to atleast migrate by 17th July 2015. Uganda has
its migration reliant on UBC which has completed 40% of the process and may
soon begin to switch off Kampala - and hopefully meet the global deadline.
Are we finally seeing light at the end of the Kenya's migration tunnel?
On 28 Nov 2014 10:35, "Dennis Kioko via kictanet" <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

>
> http://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/Local-media-get-digital-TV-licence/-/1950946/2537584/-/format/xhtml/-/byk09a/-/index.html
>
>
> Interesting development, while this guarantees local media houses
> independence in signal distribution, it will however cost them capital in
> setting up at a time when they are competing with deep pocketed StarTimes,
> who also have the advantage of a Nigeria to Kenya to South Africa scale.
>
> There's also small players, like our own Robert Yawe who may focus on
> niches such as construction and property.
>
> Content, it appears, will be the new media war.
>
> Perhaps, revenues may drop at the big boys, alongside salaries, though
> there will be more jobs overall in the sector and a wider distribution of
> revenue.
>
> Game on.
>
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