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

Thu Feb 12 15:07:01 EAT 2015

More informed comments here..

http://www.digitaltvafrica.com
On Feb 12, 2015 12:16 PM, "Walubengo J" <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:

> @Murigi
>
> ..that would be a hostile takeover of the PANG shares. However, I still
> dont understand how PANG can be 100% chinese owned given a previous policy
> that foreign telcos must have at leat 30% local ownership(has this
> changed?).  However, given the full-blast pressure PANG has managed to
> withstand from the 3local broadcasters - chances are very high that indeed
> PANG does have its "local" owners in the "leafy suburbs" :-).
>
> Anyway, from a regulatory point of view, the ideal  market was supposed to
> be such that the content providers (broadcasters)  do not actually own the
> distribution infrastructure (digital network+spectrum). This is so that
> they can "hire" the distribution channel from the few infrastructure owners
> (PANG/SIGNET) and concentrate on production of content (which is a good
> thing).
>
> However, regulator failed to anticipate the resistance coming from the
> 3Broadcasters who own 80% of the market (TV eyeballs).  These guys have
> refused to "hire" channels from the infrastructure owners - preferring to
> build their own infrastructure instead. So they are most likely not
> interested in partnering with PANG/SIGNET through shares.
>
> @Jane - can Safaricom or any (other Internet company) become a digital
> network distributor?
> They already are - from a converged point of view.  You can watch
> NTV/KTN/Citizen online.  Except that the data bundles will cost you more
> than an arm and a leg, forcing you to disconnect
>
> Can Safcom bid for the 3rd Signal Distribution Licences? They are ably
> represented here and so should speak for themselves.  But my take is that
> it depends on how the supreme court rules in the fight between the
> 3Broadcasters and the Regulator (aka PANG/SIGNET).
>
> walu.
> nb: KBC(SIGNET) has since then gone back to analogue (without the
> 3Broadcasters, they are "bila" content as earlier predicated).
>
>
>
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>
> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Cc:* ISOC Kenya Chapter <isoc at lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 11, 2015 7:11 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fw: [isoc_ke] The battle for control of Kenyan
> Digital airspace - Way Forward
>
> @Walu
>
> How about forcing PANG to sell up to 80% of its shareholding to 5 local
> broadcasters?
>
> Foreigners MUST not solely control a company in Kenya with signal
> distribution rights.
>
> Regards
>
> Murigi / Stanley Muraya
>
> *"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one
> who takes a city." Prov 16:32*
>
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2015 at 6:25 PM, 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 distribute
> 2. 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?)
>
> Impact
> 1. 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 impact
> a) It leaves SIGNET+PANG high and dry with close "nothing" to distribute.
> Technically the close shop.
> b) It leaves the 3broadcasters enjoying and sometimes exploiting their
> dominant position (think Safcom :-)
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* Network of non- formal Educational institutions <
> nnfeischools at yahoo.com>
> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Cc:* ISOC Kenya Chapter <isoc at lists.my.co.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy
> Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 27, 2015 3:35 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fw: [isoc_ke] The battle for control of Kenyan
> Digital airspace
>
> Dear All
> The cost charged by Signet is affordable on an open opportunity platform.
> The delay in migration gives the old boys an advantage since advertises are
> still not convinced off the viewership on the digital platform.
>
>
>
>
>
>  On Tuesday, January 27, 2015 11:24 AM, Walubengo J via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>
> @ Mwendwa,
>
> You are right it should be exceedingly cheap for Jane to transmit on the
> digital platform. Otherwise the whole essence of going digital is lost.
> Here's my other take on the issue @
>
> TV consumers should not be locked in, but neither should broadcasters -
> Walubengo - nation.co.ke TV consumers should not be locked in, but
> neither should broadcasters
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2602512/-/10d292yz/-/index.html>
>
>
> [image: image]
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2602512/-/10d292yz/-/index.html>
>
>
>
>
>
> TV consumers should not be locked in, but neither should...
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2602512/-/10d292yz/-/index.html>
> It is not too far-fetched to imagine SIGNET and PANG would block content
> deemed 'uncomfortable'.
> View on www.nation.co.ke
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2602512/-/10d292yz/-/index.html>
> Preview by Yahoo
>
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *To:* jwalu at yahoo.com
> *Cc:* ISOC Kenya Chapter <isoc at lists.my.co.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy
> Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Sent:* Friday, January 23, 2015 1:23 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fw: [isoc_ke] The battle for control of Kenyan
> Digital airspace
>
>
> On 23 January 2015 at 12:02, Network of non- formal Educational
> institutions <nnfeischools at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> We have also been paying Signet and Startimes monthly fees for carrying us
> and relaying our content to available free to air set boxes.
>
>
> Jane, thank you for this. I need to understand something, do a digital
> content provider like ElimuTV need to pay all digital signal providers for
> them to be accessible by all set-top boxes? My understanding is if I buy
> any box (say Samsutech set-top box), I will be able to watch all
> non-subscription based TV stations. As per your email, it seems a content
> provider has to pay all licensed digital carriers. This is is a very
> expensive way of distributing content.
>
> Let me understand, if you only paid Signet to carry your content, I would
> not be able to access it via Startimes set-top box?
>
> There is something fundamentally wrong with how we have structured policy
> around the digital migration and we need to clearly define a set of
> principles that must be adhered to by all players.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> ______________________
> 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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> 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.
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> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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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,
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