By David Ochami and Macharia Kamau
Media owners have suspended transmission of signals to KBC on the digital platform due to what they termed as unfair practices by Government in allocation of digital frequencies.
The move casts doubt on the process of migration to digital broadcasting from analogue, which is currently on a trial phase, and whose complete roll out has a 2012 deadline.
Media Owners Association ;(MOA) said Kenya Broadcasting Corporation violated procurement laws in digital frequency allocation, and called for the suspension of the trial phase of migration to digital.
At a press briefing yesterday, Kiprono Kittony, the vice chair MOA, said the process had so far been characterised by underhand and illegal transactions, and urged the government to start the process afresh while engaging all stakeholders at all levels.
"Broadcasters within MOA have today resolved to suspend forthwith the provision of their signals to KBC, until such time the Government and KBC act in a transparent manner," Mr Kittony said.
"MOA is demanding that Government provides clarity on its policy towards digital signal distribution, and how its intends to ensure equity, fairness and transparency."
Kenya launched the migration to digital process late last year, and television stations have been making available their content to Signet, a KBC subsidiary mandated to manage digital signal distribution, for broadcasting on the digital platform on a trial basis.
However, MOA says KBC has been giving preferential treatment to pay TV firms that are ‘buying’ frequencies on the digital platform’ to the detriment of other players who have been kept waiting for a long time.
"Unlicensed broadcasters, mostly foreign-owned, offering pay channels, are now hiring digital frequencies on the test platform from KBC," said Kittony.
Public Procurement Act
He pointed out that digital frequencies are a public asset, and their allocation should be done in accordance with Public Procurement Act.
Kittony said local free-to-air players should be given priority in allocation of frequencies on the digital platform to encourage uptake of digital TV among Kenyans.
"During the transition period, digital frequencies are a limited resource and priority should be given to free-to-air channels to encourage take up of digital TV without putting a monthly financial burden on viewers who will have to bear the cost of acquiring a set-top box," said Kittony.
"Transition will not be achieved if the public have to pay monthly subscriptions to access digital broadcasts. These foreign broadcasters have been given preference over a long list of Kenyan broadcasters who have applied for licenses and have been waiting for years."
The Association also noted that pay TV firms marketing local TV channels as part of their content offering were violating the law.
"One such company said its content would include local TV channels, an illegality since no arrangement has been reached or sought from broadcasters with proprietary rights to the content," said Kittony.
Among those present in the MOA press briefing were Linus Gitahi, the CEO of Nation Media Group, Waruru Wachira CEO of Royal Media, and Joshua Chepkwony, an official from Kass FM.
