By Standard Reporter
The journey to digital broadcasting has gained momentum with pay television provider, Multichoice extending its low cost version to the coastal region.
The new pay television, GOtv, which is on the latest Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) technology, will allow Coast residents to benefit from access to increased channels with enhanced picture and sound quality.
Launched at a function held at the Whitesands last week, is a low cost flagship product by MultiChoice Kenya and KBC. Speaking at the launch, Information and Communications minister Samuel Poghisio said the State expects four million analogue viewers to have migrated to digital TV by the end of this year.
migration deadline
Poghisio said the launch of GOtv coincides with the Government’s target of migrating from analogue to digital TV transmission by end of this year. “Kenya committed to a mutually agreed East African deadline of 2012 to fully migrate television broadcasting to the digital platform.
This move is expected to free up much-needed spectrum, which the government plans to re-use for other purposes,” said Poghisio.
He added that the launch of GOtv will play a pivotal role towards contributing to this technological transformation and in the process will help the country to achieve its set target towards the migration to digital TV transmission.
GOtv General Manage Felix Kyengo said the new pay-TV service will make available an affordable digital television product to Kenyans. The firm now eyes Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru after Nairobi and Mombasa. “GOtv is uniquely placed to become the home of African television.
We firmly believe that there is enough rich content created here on the continent to make a case for packaging great African entertainment and we have committed ourselves to making this a reality thus, offering channels made in Africa for Africa,” Kyengo said.
GOtv subscribers will have access to a selection of channels containing news, children’s programming, documentaries, series and movies. The firm is selling GOtv decoders at a discounted price of Sh5,500 inclusive of three months subscription and is available from the MultiChoice offices and selected dealers.
The quest to migrate from analogue to digital TV broadcasting dates back to 2006 when the country expressed its desire to the International Telecommunication Union to be joined to a digital broadcasting planning conference.
