[kictanet] Fw: [isoc_ke] The battle for control of Kenyan Digital airspace - Way Forward

[Network of non- formal Educational institutions]

Is Safaricom preparing to join the decoder business. What dynamics would this bring to the battle
Jane 

     On Wednesday, January 28, 2015 2:15 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
   

 See my view inline
On 27 January 2015 at 18:25, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Its a very complicated chess game going on.
1. SIGNET+PANG are the designated national digital distributors - but bila (without) content to distribute2. The 3private Broadcasters have content - but bila (without) distribution rights or licenses.
Regulatory Options:1. Do you FORCE the 3 to surrender their content to SIGNET+PANG for distribution? 

2. Do you give the 3private Broadcasters their own distribution network (BSD License?)

I like to view this from a mobile phone perspective. Each user is allowed to buy whichever phone (s)he loves, and put whichever SIM card, Safaricom, Zain, Orange. CA should take a bold move forward and require standard digital boxes where users buy TV CARDS and load funds -- same ase SIM cards to insert on the setboxes to view either Supersport, GoTV, Startimes, BambaTV, ZUKu, e.t.c or whoever does not want to buy the card can view all Free To Air channels. Do I make any sense.
Regards 
 

Impact1. Option 1 can be and will be frustrated (cry copyright, cry media freedom, cry all over to Supreme court +  now Paris :-)2. Option 2 seems attractive and doable - HOWEVER, giving the 3private their own license has the following impacta) It leaves SIGNET+PANG high and dry with close "nothing" to distribute. Technically the close shop.

This will give PANG an avenue to innovate and offer competitive "carrier charges" to independent content providers. Let PANG work hard to earn their position. Remembers Standard and Nation has been on the scene since around year 1901. Signet (read KBC) have always rode on taxpayers funding and have nothing to prove. Taxpayers actually expect no surprise from them, but CA must ensure Signet has more reach across the country through USFs. 
b) It leaves the 3broadcasters enjoying and sometimes exploiting their dominant position (think Safcom :-)


There is a "must carry" principle whereby all FTA channels should be accessible from whichever network. I would love to see how CA enforces this.


Way forward.Seek solutions together since a local solution must be existing.  Thorax and chest thumping by both government and broadcasters will not work and will simply leave Kenya's digital migration process critically damaged and perhaps beyond salvage.



______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya

"There are some men who lift the age they inhabit, till all men walk on higher ground in that lifetime." - Maxwell Anderson


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