<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; "><u><b>WHY
THE DIGITAL TELEVISION SWITCHOVER IS IMPORTANT FOR KENYANS</b></u></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>What
is the Digital TV Switchover? </b></font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">The
digital television switchover simply means that the technology that
enables you to view programs on your television set will change from
analogue to digital. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>What
is the difference between analogue television and digital television?</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">In
a nutshell, for every channel available on analogue television,
digital television enables the viewer to get up to 20 times more
channels. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">For
the television industry, the core difference is in who does the
distribution of content. In analogue, each TV broadcaster (e.g.
Nation, Citizen, KTN, and Family TV) produced content </font></font><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><u>and
then </u></font></font><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">builds
a network to distribute their own content. In digital, all the
current TV companies (KTN, NTV, Citizen, K24, Kiss) will become
content producers and only a few will become signal distributors.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>Why
should Kenya switch from analogue to digital?</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"> <font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">This
is a global change that has been agreed by all countries that are
members of the International Telecommunications Union. The global
deadline for switch over is December 2015. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>What
was the CCK tender about?</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">To
facilitate the digital switchover, the Communications Commission of
Kenya decided to split the television broadcast market into two
segments: signal distributors and content providers. With analogue
technology, a TV broadcaster got 1 license that allowed them to both
provide their own content and distribute it to viewers using analogue
signal networks. With digital technology, there will be 2 new
separate licenses – one for signal distribution and another for
content distribution. Incumbent broadcasters are then required to
apply afresh to CCK for the licenses that they want to continue with.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Signal
distributors are companies that build, own and manage television
signal networks. The transmission networks comprise frequencies,
satellite capacity, masts, towers, transmitters, antennae and other
technology that make it possible to send television programs from the
television studios over the airwaves to television sets to households
across the country. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>How
do Kenyan TV broadcasters come in?</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Many
of the Kenyan TV broadcasters are actually already signal
distributors. Nation Media Group and Royal Media Services - actually
are already signal distributors, except that the technology they use
is analogue. They own signal distribution networks that they have
built for over 10 years and invested billions of shillings in. Given
the new sector laws and regulations, they are compelled to apply
afresh to the Communications Commission of Kenya to become digital
signal distributors. If CCK locks them out of the sector, they stand
to lose billions of shillings.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Content
providers are companies that develop, produce, buy and acquire
television content. All television companies in Kenya today including
KTN, K24, Family Media and Kiss FM are content providers. They will
all have to surrender their frequencies to the CCK who will re-issue
them to the signal distributors. They will then focus on providing
content. Those that want to distribute signals are required to apply
afresh for a signal distributor license.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">The
signal distributors will therefore carry all the programs that the
content providers submit to viewers on their television sets. What is
important to note is that to enable efficient use, there will be only
a few signal distributors. Content providers on the other hand can be
as many as capacity allows. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>CURRENT
SITUATION</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">CCK
decided to license a government corporation – the Kenya
Broadcasting Corporation to become a digital signal distributor. In
March 2011, the CCK advertised tenders for award of 2 licenses to
operate a Broadcast Signal Distribution Network in Kenya purportedly
to enable the media in Kenya to participate in the nationally
critical area of signal distribution. </font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Nation
Media Group and Royal Media Services – the two largest broadcasters
in Kenya formed a consortium – <b>National Signal Networks</b> - which bid
for one of the licenses. In total six companies were pre-qualified.
Kenyan broadcasters were represented by 2 consortia – National
Signal Networks representing Nation Media Group Limited and Signal
Distributors Limited representing Radio Africa, Standard Media Group,
and Mediamax among others. Because Kenyan broadcasters were
extremely concerned that the broadcasting industry in Kenya should be
allocated at least 1 license, Signal Distributors Limited withdrew
its bid and supported the National Signal Networks bid. By the
submission deadline, only 4 companies submitted their tender. 3 were
Kenyan and 1 was Chinese.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">The
Communications Commission of Kenya then decided to disqualify all the
Kenyan bidders on technicalities and awarded only 1 license instead
of the advertised 2. The license was issued to a Chinese company Pan
African Network Group Ltd, which is owned by Star Times Network of
China.</font></font></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; "><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"><b>WHAT
IS THE IMPACT ON THE MEDIA AND BROADCASTING INDUSTRY?</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>There
are 2 core impact areas: Media Freedom and losses of investments
made.</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>MEDIA
FREEDOM: </b></font></font>
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Under
analogue, each broadcaster had full control of their own signals.
This enables international levels of media freedom. The government
could only control the media by brutal and coercive force. Under
digital, control of signals will be surrendered to a few companies.
Media owners will not be able to directly prevent censorship and
muzzling. The government can muzzle, censor and control all
broadcasters by simply intimidating the 1 or 2 signal distributors
that it has licensed. To illustrate this, during the 2007 election
crisis, with analogue television the government could only control
the media at gun point. And it would have had to do this in up to 20
media houses. Under digital television, it only needs to threaten the
2 signal distributors.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">The
reason the CCK decision is dangerous for media freedom and the
functioning of a modern democracy is that the CCK has chosen to hand
over control of the airwaves to a government parastatal (KBC) and a
company from communist China. Kenyan media organizations will have
absolutely no ability to ensure that news reaches the masses -
however positive or negative of the government it might be and
however critical the national issues might be. This will have the
effect of making the media in Kenya impotent.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>LOSSES
OF INVESTMENT</b></font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3">Nation
media Group and Royal Media Services <b>have already investments over a billion dollars
in signal distribution</b>. Hundreds of Kenyans work hard every day to
manage these complex and huge networks from Mombasa to Busia and
Lodwar to Namanga. By locking out Kenyan broadcasters from this
sector, CCK will cause massive losses to Kenyan broadcasters some of
whom are publicly quoted companies with hundreds of thousands of
shareholders. The Kenyans who manage these networks will be forced
into unemployment in these tough economic times.</font></font></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</p><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 5:35 PM, Walubengo J <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="font:inherit">@Wangusi, <br><br>thanx for the detailed insight. I think media houses need to be more committed to a balanced reporting in future. Whatever happened to their mantra " there are two sides to every story" <br>
<br>walu.<br><br>--- On <b>Fri, 7/22/11, Wangusi, Francis <i><<a href="mailto:Wangusi@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wangusi@cck.go.ke</a>></i></b> wrote:<br><blockquote style="border-left:2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255);margin-left:5px;padding-left:5px">
<br>From: Wangusi, Francis <<a href="mailto:Wangusi@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wangusi@cck.go.ke</a>><br>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row-@Kenya IGF<div class="im"><br>To: <a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br></div>Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 3:48 PM<div><div></div><div class="h5">
<br><br><div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">A signal distribution market involves building of multiplexing platforms and signal transmission infrastructure for the purpose of distributing multimedia signals (video, audio and data). in terms of digital migration, SD provider is a key player in the digital migration process. under a unified licensing framework at the CCK, this is an infrastructure market segment capable of providing services beyound broadcasting. it is important to remember that broadcasting subsector holds a host of other market segments rather than what we usually know as free to air or if you may wish call it "free through advertisement" (FTA). this particular market segment is just a diminishing market in the wake of new media platforms thanks to the rapid evolvement of ICT technologies. there are many emerging technologies arising from this market supporting tripple play that are are
blurring the boundary between broadcasting and telecommunications and this may explain why players in the SD market should understand the dynamics surrounding the provision of services under this market segment.</font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">suffice to say, there are only about 3.5M TV sets in the country from the last censors report against an investment of close to Ksh.4Billion for each signal distribution network for the SD licences that are to be given in this market segment. Currently, SIGNET is the only licensed public signal distributor which the Government is funding inorder to roll-out throughout the country and to fulfill its public service obligations. the Licences that were advertised were for commercial SD and therefore are only necessary to give Kenyans alternatives and to spur the spin-offs of digital migration and was done inline with public procurement rules and regulations, the ICT sector policy, Information and Communications Act cap 411A and all players were accorded equal opportunity. there are enough safety nets in place ranging from
competition to contructural obligations in the licence to offered in the unfortunate but rare circumstances should an investor who has poured a cool Ksh. 4Billion wishes to switch off his network simply because of an election. why therefore a hulabaloo about this transparent process? if you join a race and develop a muscle pull along the way, you cannot be carried on the stretcher to a finishing line and be declared a winner simply because the race is being held in your country. it is also important for us to call on our media houses to practice the principle of fair doctrine which demands that when reporting adversely against an entity then that entity is given an equal measure to respond inorder to enable listners/readers make fairand informed judgement about the story. </font></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<hr>
<font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> kictanet-bounces+wangusi=<a href="http://cck.go.ke" target="_blank">cck.go.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a> on behalf of Edith Adera<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Fri 7/22/2011 1:07 PM<br><b>To:</b> Wangusi, Francis<br><b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row-@Kenya IGF<br></font><br></div>
<div>
<div>
<p><span style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt">Why such strong defense for the Chinese? Why not have a national policy that signal distribution should be done by locals only? I’m a greenhorn in the area of signal distribution – can someone with expertise and experience in this area tell us the pros and cons? We need more insights.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt">Edith</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:10pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt"> kictanet-bounces+eadera=<a href="http://idrc.or.ke" target="_blank">idrc.or.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Beadera" target="_blank">kictanet-bounces+eadera</a>=<a href="http://idrc.or.ke" target="_blank">idrc.or.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Walubengo J<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 22, 2011 12:44 PM<br><b>To:</b> Edith Adera<br><b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row-@Kenya IGF</span></p>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in" valign="top">
<p>Just got two interesting alternative views on the above at the ongoing Kenya IGF.<br><br>1. the Chair of the Parliamentary Group, Eng. Rege feels that giving out the National Digital Signal Distribution network to a foreigner exposes the nation to potential sabotage. What would happen if the Chinese decided to switch of the distribution when "the 2012 votes are being counted?" <br>
<br>2. the PS, Dr. Ndemo feels that that may really not arise for two reasons,(1) that there will be competition in that market, we shall have multiple national signal distributors and (2) Most of this signal distribution platforms will be over the Internet Cloud and hence the idea of switching off the channel may not be that simple (though it did happen in Egypt ;-)<br>
<br>the debate continues...<br>walu.<br><br>--- On <b>Fri, 7/22/11, Wamuyu Gatheru <i><<a rel="nofollow" href="http://mc/compose?to=wamuyu@soko-id.co.ke" target="_blank">wamuyu@soko-id.co.ke</a>></i></b> wrote:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><br>From: Wamuyu Gatheru <<a rel="nofollow" href="http://mc/compose?to=wamuyu@soko-id.co.ke" target="_blank">wamuyu@soko-id.co.ke</a>><br>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row<br>
To: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://mc/compose?to=jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <<a rel="nofollow" href="http://mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 10:31 AM</p>
<div>
<p>I think arguing only the merits of the bids in the context of telcoms (a strategic/security issue) will only provide half the answers. The country is in political transition and headed into another election where the jury on peace is still out. In the last few weeks, I have noticed political bias starting to appear in TV coverage depending on the political affiliations of the owners. The media may forget itself again in the heat of the election competition and I would not be suprised if someone in govt. wants the power to switch stations off - the Chinese can do this but local media houses would find this unacceptable.<br>
<br>Hopefully, if media demonstrate maturity next year, govt. may cease to be concerned about who controls the signals.<br><br>Its not a nice picture for media freedoms or harnessing local capacity for that matter. But there may hard realities the govt. may need to be ready to deal with.<br>
<br>On the
other hand, I may be entirely wrong and it may well be that the Chinese bribe was the biggest!..(another of our hard realities)<br><br>Wamuyu<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>kictanet mailing list<br>
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