Monday, February 9, 2015 TV stations revert to analogue

 
Communications Authority director-general Francis Wangusi (left) and board chairman Ngene Gituku address reporters at the authority's offices in Nairobi on February 6, 2015. Two TV stations are still broadcasting their signals in analogue format although the authority has declared the move illegal. PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI | NATION MEDIA GROUP.   

By EDWIN OKOTH
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Monday, February 9, 2015

TV stations revert to analogue

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Communications Authority director-general Francis Wangusi (left) and board chairman Ngene Gituku address reporters at the authority's offices in Nairobi on February 6, 2015. Two TV stations are still broadcasting their signals in analogue format although the authority has declared the move illegal. PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI | NATION MEDIA GROUP. 

In Summary

• Communications Authority Director-General Francis Wangusi on Friday called K24's and KBC’s actions illegal and said he had summoned the top leaders of the two TV stations over the matter.
• Some consumers have complained that pay TV firms are charging monthly fees to consumers to watch free-to-air channels.
• The CA has already fined three media stations Sh500,000 each for what it called anti-competitive behaviour. The authority had set December 31, 2014 as the switch-off date for analogue transmission in Nairobi and its environs.

Two TV stations are still broadcasting their signals in analogue format although the Communications Authority has declared the actions illegal.

The analogue signals of K24 and KBC had been switched off on December 31 by the industry regulator as part of the migration to digital broadcasting.

But they reverted to transmitting in analogue, a move that CA deemed illegal.

NTV, KTN and Citizen TV were allowed to continue transmitting in analogue by the Supreme Court on December 30 following their application.

Communications Authority Director-General Francis Wangusi on Friday called K24's and KBC’s actions illegal and said he had summoned the top leaders of the two TV stations over the matter.

"We have been made aware that certain TV channels (that) had been migrated to digital have reversed to analogue transmission because they probably feel they are not being treated fairly. They did it without our authority and I have summoned their CEOs over the same. They will be dealt with accordingly. We cannot condone that,’’ said Mr Wangusi

Mr Wangusi did not say whether he had met the CEOs of the two stations and what action would be taken against them for failing to comply.

The authority also acknowledged that there had been some hitches in the second analogue switch-off in certain parts of the country, with some areas experiencing partial migration to digital broadcasting.

The CA had also declared illegal the fees charged by pay TV providers to access local free-to-air stations.

CHARGING FEES

Some consumers have complained that Pay TV firms are charging monthly fees to consumers to watch free-to-air channels.

Asked whether the authority was aware of the charges, the director-general wondered why no one had complained about the fees.

‘’No one has ever complained about that. They are not supposed to charge and we are not always in your house to know you are being charged when you do not complain,” the CA boss answered .

The CA has already fined three TV stations Sh500,000 each for what it called anti-competitive behaviour. The authority had set December 31, 2014 as the switch-off date for analogue transmission in Nairobi and its environs.

Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu (Nyadundo), Machakos, Narok and Londiani (Rongai) were meant to follow suit on February 2.

The final phase of the migration will affect Garissa, Kitui, Lodwar, Lokichogio, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Migori, Voi, Mbwinzau/Kibwezi, Namanga and all other remaining sites on March 30, according to the plan.