Digital television firms refute KBC’s intrusion claims

Kenya: Two digital signal distributing companies have defended their move to air World Cup matches arguing KBC allowed them to air its content under the free-to-air platform.

Pan African Network Group, which distributes Star Times broadcasts and Star Times Limited, in their response to a case filed by the national broadcaster on Friday argued that it was imperative for them to air KBC’s content as required by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) as part of incentives for the implementation of the digital migration process.

According to William Lan, the Managing Director of Star Times, CCK required the company to carry free-to-air channels including KBC’s in order to ensure Kenyans can access them without having to purchase separate digital set top boxes.

Moreover, Lan told the court that KBC’s management had agreed to have the distributor running their content in the platform.

“I am aware that quite apart from the requirement by CCK for KBC content to be carried on the digital platform, the plaintiff had itself confirmed to Star Times that its content could be carried on our platform,” Lan said.

He said CCK had written to the broadcaster explaining the policy behind open access to the digital platform for all free-to-air content, arguing that access to the platform does not constitute an infringement of their intellectual property rights.

The same was reiterated by Pan Africa Network Group Managing Director Song Deng who argued that the case by KBC was misconceived.

The court allowed Wananchi Group which owns Zuku to file their response by Wednesday. It extended the orders made on Friday to Thursday when the case is to be heard.