STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR GENERAL, COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF KENYA, DURING PRESS BRIEFING ON DIGITAL MIGRATION ON 31ST DECEMBER 2014 Industry stakeholders Members of the Press The Communications Authority of Kenya announced on 28th November 2014 that the analogue broadcasting switch off for Nairobi and its environs would commence 2359hrs on 31st December 2014. All analogue transmitters in Nairobi shall be switched off at 2359hrs or after the Presidential new year address to the nation, whichever comes later. The rest of the analogue transmitters in Kenya shall be switched off in two phases as per the Gazette Notice No. 154 of 30th December 2014. The Communications Authority of Kenya has issued the regulatory notices to all analogue television broadcasters to this effect. We expect that they will fully comply to the notice. In particular, the analogue switch off for Nairobi tonight affects the following TV stations: 1. Citizen TV Channel 34 and 39 2. KTN Channel 59 3. KBC Channel 23 4. K24 Channel 26 5. NTV Channel 42 6. QTV Channel 12 7. Family TV Channel 9 8. EATV Channel 62 9. Kiss TV Channel 55 10.GBS TV Channel 47 The Supreme Court of Kenya on 30th December 2014 received an application from Royal Media Services, Nation Media Group and Standard Group Limited, seeking amongst others, the following prayers: “ 1. This application be certified as urgent and be admitted for hearing during the current vacation and be heard ex-parte in the first instance 2. Pending the hearing and determination of this application interpartes, an interim order be issued staying the analogue switch off dates as set by the Communications Authority of Kenya on 28th November 2014 as follows: i) Nairobi and its environs - 31st December 2014. ii) Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu (Nyadundo), Machakos, Narok and Londiani (Rongai) - 2nd February 2015. iii) Garissa, Kitui, Lodwar, Lokichogio, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Migori, Voi, Mbwinzau/Kibwezi, Namanga and all other remaining sites - 30th March 2015. 3. In the alternative and for the avoidance of doubt, pending the hearing and determination of this application the Communications Authority of Kenya be restrained from cancelling the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents broadcasting licences and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents be allowed to continue analogue broadcasting while they put in place the infrastructure necessary to migrate to digital broadcasting.” Subsequently, the Supreme Court issued the following orders: “1. That the notice of motion dated 29th December 2014 be and is hereby certified as urgent. 2. That an order of status quo as regards the broadcasting licences of the 1st , 2nd and 3rd respondents in terms of prayer No. 3 of the application be and is hereby granted until 5th January 2015. 3. That this order be served expeditiously. 4. That hearing of this application shall be on 5th January 2015 at 10:00am before a two-judge bench.” The Supreme Court specifically did not issue the second part of prayer No. 3 of the application which was that: “The 1st , 2nd and 3rd Respondents be allowed to continue analogue broadcasting while they put in place the infrastructure necessary to migrate to digital broadcasting.” Notably the Supreme Court did not also grant prayer No. 2 which sought that the analogue switch off for various areas be stayed. Under the premises, the Communications Authority of Kenya under advice will proceed with regulatory notices as communicated to the analogue television broadcasters. No broadcasting licences of any analogue broadcasting service provider shall be cancelled by the Communications Authority of Kenya. The analogue television broadcasters signals switched off in Nairobi will be available on the digital platform and viewers will be able to continue watching their favourite programmes. The Authority has undertaken awareness campaigns in the period preceding the switch off. The intensity of the awareness campaign on digital migration has seen a surge in the number of people purchasing the authorized set top boxes from vendors in Nairobi. A random check confirms set top box sales have more than doubled in the month of December. This is a good measure of the confidence that consumers have in the digital migration process and equally a sign of the preparedness of the market to handle the demand. Consumers, even beyond those residing in Nairobi, have been actively engaging with the Authority on social media platforms on the issue of the analogue switch off. Many have exhibited keen interest by asking for relevant information that will help them make a smooth transition by the set deadline. The Authority has also launched roadshows and market activations including door to door visits to ensure that the residents of Nairobi are well aware about the analogue switch off dates, the need to purchase set top boxes and even more importantly allay any fears there may be as we move to digital migration. The information sharing efforts have seen collaboration between the government, the regulator, consumer organisations, set top box vendors, an indication that we are all focused on a common goal of migrating Kenyans to the digital platform. I wish to assure consumers in particular that all measures are in place to guarantee good television viewing experience even after the switch off. I am sure all Kenyans are looking forward to the digital and social dividends of digital broadcasting, the content provision opportunities, business prospects from migration, and the promising future for the industry after migration. As we cross 2014, let me use this occasion to wish Kenyans a happy new year as we embrace the digital space with confidence.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:38:23 +0000
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