By Macharia Kamau

After decades of inactivity in Pay TV industry, the impeding analogue TV signal switch off seems to be tilting the balance.

 Pay TV operators are offering digital decoders that promise to move millions of viewers from an analogue to a digital platform.

But those buying into Pay TV services may soon realise they cannot access channels if they fail to pay monthly subscriptions. This includes Free to Air (FTA) channels available on the analogue platform at no cost.

For now, Pay TV clients who default on monthly payments can switch back on to local FTA that are still available on the analogue platform.

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) said two types of top boxes are currently on sale. “Pay TV set top boxes operates based on payment of monthly subscriptions. If one does not pay, they do not enjoy the programming,” said CCK in an e-mail response to The Standard.

Pain of non payment

“FTA set top boxes receive free channels and no monthly subscriptions are required once the set top box has been purchased and installed. FTA boxes  vary in cost based on  origin and functionalities.”

  The State has considered analogue signal switching off in Nairobi, where those who have acquired Pay TV decoders will have to pay to watch any TV channel.

Those who may not be able to sustain monthly fees will either have to do without TV or acquire new decoders that are not tied to Pay TV operators. This information has however not reached the market.

Pay TV operators are taking the advantage of to push their products to unsuspecting consumers. “Pay TV operators are confusing people by pooling FTA channels as part of their bouquet to sell their services,” said Stephen Mutoro secretary-general Consumers Federation of Kenya.

“I am afraid there may be limited options for a consumer when the analogue signal is switched off and they cannot sustain the monthly subscriptions. They might have to go back to shops and get an FTA complaint set top box.”

Cost of decorders

The lobby has also questioned the migration to digital platform, including the cost of FTA decoders as well as its timing. “What we do not understand is why the FTA set top boxes are so expensive yet there is duty waiver to those importing the gadgets.”

He noted that the FTA decoders should be retailing at under Sh1,000 as opposed to the between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000 prices in the market. “We have scheduled meetings with CCK and we are pushing to have decoders that go for Sh1,000,” he said.

The regulator said it is looking at ways to get Pay TV decoders access FTA channels without subscription. “The Commission is looking at the configuration of Pay TV set top boxes with the view of exploring the possibility of the same being able to access FTA channels which is not possible at the moment,” said CCK.

Getting Pay TV operators to bend the rules for audiences to access content without paying will be hard.

Pay TV firms are adamant that theirs is a subscription-based model and would not make money if they gave audiences access to content free of charge.

Zuku TV however said it gave access to FTA channels to clients who paid the entire cost of the equipment, as opposed to those that buy at subsidised rates.

“Zuku fully subsidies the customer premises equipment as such if our customers, who have enjoyed the fully subsidised premises equipment do not pay for their monthly subscriptions then they will not have access to our channels,” said Irene Muratha, Zuku marketing manager.

StarTimes also said it subsidises its gadgets and hence the need to get customers to pay for the services offered on decoders. The firm however gives continued access to KBC for users who fail to pay up.

 CCK Director-General Mr Francis Wangusi, said late last year that the industry regulator pushes digital migration deadline after elections citing prohibitive cost of acquiring set top boxes.