ICT Researcher
We don't leave in a utopian world..He who pays the piper calls the tune.
At the risk of belaboring the point it is a competitive issue that has to be addressed. In fact we are already seeing trends of content providers and infrastructure owners morphing into one:-
1. Google is busy laying fibre/buying fibre across the world
2. Facebook is doing the same
3. Zuku is a triple play player - owning the infrastructure and at the same time involved heavily in content creation and distribution
4. Safaricom is moving the same way.
5. Infact all across the world we are seeing the convergence of content and infrastructure.
This is partly due to competitive pressures and at the same time an answer to policy, regulatory and legislative pressures.
By the way one of the key bones of contention at WCIT12 in Dubai was the principle of whether content providers should pay telcos to carry their content.
The point is that there is no simple answer to this.
@Wambua - lastly I'm really curious as to what shareholder (percentage terms) was offered to the media Owners in Signet. And whether the Media owners are just Wagging the dog and distracting from the real issues or it is the Government that is Wagging the dog.
Bottom-line? There has been too much brinkmanship on both sides and its time to sit down and sort these issues out for the betterment of the country.
Ali Hussein
+254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113
"I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPad
Sure! They would like us ti believe that is has been and should remain ok for them to hold public freedom of expression hostage? Priority given to those with deep pockets aka advertisers?------------------------------On Fri, Dec 27, 2013 11:28 AM MSK Mark Elkins wrote:On Thu, 2013-12-26 at 21:49 +0000, Omo, John wrote:
Thanks Steve,
The question you raise to Mr Wambua has been answered on this thread:
there is currently not enough spectrum to licence a third operator .
I don't understand the "not enough spectrum" position. Technically
speaking,
1 - with Analogue switched off - there will be more unused spectrum. I'm
sure plans are being made as to how it will be used though.
2 - The two licensed holders presumably have enough spectrum to both
distribute and broadcast all current TV stations - plus many, many
more..
I guess the issue is TV signal producers (content) would rather
distribute and broadcast (control) their own signal rather than enrich
and be held hostage (unknown performance/censored) by a third party?
That's a familiar argument.
Let me attempt a layman's answer to your second question. Many an
Editor/Correspondent from the so called mainstream media are on this
list. Their silence on such a topical issue is telling of one of the
major ills besseting our media industry: one way- (as opposed to what
I call discourse-) journalism. One way journalism prefers to give
information in/on its own way/terms but quite shy in hard-talk
engagement.
When you dialogue with some of our Editors, they bemoan the loss of
professionalism, largely due to 'censorship from inside'. Many of what
they would write on such a 'sensitive' issue is 'edited' by a non
editor sitting much higher up. The irony is that this is part of what
is killing the mainstream media. Engaged viewer/reader-ship has little
or no time for a 130-paged newspaper, or some evening outdated screen
verbiage.
I do this in my private capacity from my Land's end village with no TV
signals and does not receive 130-paged newspapers. We though envision
additional community ICT centres around schools and the only one
available is over stretched.
Omo
From: Collins Areba | Tel +254 707 750 788 | twitter @brainiacKE
[mailto:arebacollins@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 11:19 PM
To: Omo, John
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's Digital
Migration Ruling
@wambua,
I guess my question is on the issue of the 3rd signal distibution
license.. Why not award it to the players crying foul and asking for
it? Might it be because the two awardees could not survive without
content from these players if they focused their content on their own
distribution network? Might that explain why Digital migration has not
taken off as effectively (because it lacks prime movers).
and to the Media Houses..
Were you soo sure you would win on an extended technicality that the
ruling caught you off guard? at what point were you planning to shift
focus from protecting turf to getting into the formidable arena of
competing in a crowded arena?
On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 11:02 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group]
<bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:
Wambua,
I see stations now scrolling messages and one saying they are
not against the migration and in fact they support it, and
that their concern is “…not enough set top boxes have been
acquired or that adequate stocks are available for acquisition
by viewers”.
I only wish they started scrolling this a month ago…
What is you comment on this statement currently scrolling on
screens?
Regards
From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces
+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of
Wambua, Christopher
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 10:21 PM
To: bkioko@bernsoft.com
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs; KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
Because of frequency spectrum limitations.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
From:Watila Alex
Sent:Thursday, 26 December 2013 21:56 PM
To:Wambua, Christopher
Reply To:awatila@yahoo.co.uk
Cc:Consumer and Public Affairs; KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject:Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
why was the number of signal distributors limited to two?
--
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
______________________________________________________________
From: Wambua, Christopher <Wambua@cck.go.ke>;
To: <awatila@yahoo.co.uk>;
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs <CPA@cck.go.ke>; KICTAnet ICT
Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>;
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
Sent: Thu, Dec 26, 2013 6:43:55 PM
The tender for the 2nd signal distribution licence was an open
one. And indeed some of the local media set up a consortium
through which they submitted a bid. Their bid was however
unsuccessful.
If they had put in an attractive bid, they could have improved
their chances of winning. Even if CCK were to float another
tender for signal distribution restricted only to local firms,
interested companies would have to compete for the licence.
Firms that submit poor bids would still lose.
Local firms need to improve their capacity in responding to
government tenders. If they don't, they will continue losing
out to international firms even in businesses where they have
proven expertise.
Wambua
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
From:Watila Alex
Sent:Thursday, 26 December 2013 21:22 PM
To:Ngigi Waithaka
Reply To:awatila@yahoo.co.uk
Cc:Consumer and Public Affairs; KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject:Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
i think their major compliant is the limiting of the number of
signal distributors. they had hoped to also be signal
distributors
--
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
______________________________________________________________
From: Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi@at.co.ke>;
To: <awatila@yahoo.co.uk>;
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs <CPA@cck.go.ke>; KICTAnet ICT
Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>;
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
Sent: Thu, Dec 26, 2013 4:01:53 PM
Quick one,
Why would the media houses object to going Digital? Are there
any advantages to remaining analog?
While I support that the 2nd license ought to have gone to the
Kenyan Consortium, I don't support us remaining on the analog
broadcasting platform.
For the uninitiated, Digital is equivalent to FM in radio
while Analog takes you back to Short Wave radio. Good luck
tuning that....
Waithaka Ngigi
Alliance Technologies
Nairobi, Kenya
www.A1.io
On 26 Dec 2013 13:56, "Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group]"
<bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:
Ali,
It’s no secret am for the digital migration.
Sometime in 2006, a worldwide decision was taken to migrate to
Digital by 17th June 2015. Kenya actively started this process
in 2009. Many consultative meetings have been held (75
according to CS Information). Of the 9yrs allocated for this
transition, Kenya has already used up 7 doing rounds and
entertaining selfish interests like we are seeing now. We have
2 to go on now if we are to meet this deadline. Question: When
do these media houses feel is the right time to move?
These media houses were running in 2006….2009 … 2013… so their
inability to appropriately plan to migrate should not be used
to hold the country against the development and opportunities
that Digital broadcasting brings to the people of Kenya.
What I find distasteful in their argument is that Nairobians
need more time to acquire these devices. CCK had a clear
awareness campaign which involved running advertisements
informing Nairobians of this switch over and the need to
purchase settop boxes. These media houses found it ideal to
refuse to run these advertisements – even though CCK was going
to pay for the advertisements.
Secondly, It was these media houses that asked that the
deadline be moved to December instead of August as CCK had
wanted. Instead of supporting their own December date, they
rushed to court to make an effort to block the migration. A
judge has made a decision and I appreciate that they have a
right to the appeal – but what was the need to maliciously
deceive Kenyans that they have been switched off? They were
transmitting. When DSTV and Zuku took them off their bouquets
the game changed abit of course! What is the reason they
resumed their broadcast? Did CCK change any terms?
If you watched the CS explain his frustrations with these
media houses, then you can understand more why we must not
allow them to hold us ransom.
BTW, it needs to be noted that there are no technical issues
around the media houses being able to broadcast digitally.
They are all currently technically able to broadcast.
Just like they resisted having their print newspaper on the
Internet – and were eventually forced to, they will need to
understand that Digital Broadcasting is technology they have
no choice but to embrace.
Regards
PS: I wish they were telling CCK, we will comply with Digital
broadcast fully right now, but allow us to stay on the analog
for another 3 months so that we are available on both analog
and digital for that period. That to me would be a slightly
reasonable bargaining point.
From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces
+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Ali
Hussein
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 1:16 PM
To: bkioko@bernsoft.com
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs; kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's
Digital Migration Ruling
@Wambua
Thanks for that information. If that is the case then the
media houses are definitely not acting in good faith. I
suspect though that there may be an issue of who controls
what..which in my opinion is shortsighted. I stand corrected
in my assertions then.
@ICT Researcher, what in your view is my stand? I'm simply
making my personal assertions on this issue. We can of course
agree to disagree.
Ali Hussein
+254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113
"I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The
world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 26, 2013, at 1:03 PM, "Wambua, Christopher"
<Wambua@cck.go.ke> wrote:
Ali,
I know that the government has on a number of
occasions offered to offload some shares in Signet to
interested media houses.
Instead of taking up the offer, the media houses have
instead persisted in their clamour to be issued with
the third signal distribution licence.
Is this insistence in the interest of optimal use of
frequency spectrum resources?
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
From: Ali Hussein
Sent: Thursday, 26 December 2013 12:29 PM
To: ICT Researcher
Cc: Consumer and Public Affairs;
kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest
Majanja's Digital Migration Ruling
@ Ohaga, ICT Researcher
Lest we forget
1. http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/cck-caught-in-surprise-cabinet-secretary-directive-to-issue-3rd-digital-tv-signal-licence#
2. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/KBC-set-for-split-as-State-registers-Signet-subsidiary--/-/539550/1384608/-/m5c6khz/-/index.html
The issue guys isn't whether the media houses are
right or wrong. Digital Migration is a foregone
conclusion. The issues is how we make policy in this
country on ICT issues. And this is not a reference to
the current administration. This is a blanket
discussion on the last 15 years to date.
Admittedly good things have happened and that is why
this country has progressed to where we are. There is
a lot to celebrate but there is also a lot to be done.
The digital migration ought from the onset (and I say
this with a straight face and no shame at all) to have
been skewed towards local media houses as a matter of
course. In fact the first CIO article I mentioned
above (see the link) seemed to have alluded to the
fact that the ministry had realized its error and
decided to award a 3rd digital license to local media
houses...then poof! Something happened again and the
decision was rescinded.
Ohaga, forgive me for being underwhelmed by the
Government's awarding a digital platform license to
KBC. No one on this list can deny the fact that KBC is
a shadow of itself (if ever it was a whole being).
Even its mandate of being the Government's mouthpiece
is not being fulfilled. So why waste such a
strategically important asset to it?
The second article in the business daily alludes to
the fact that the AG registered Signet as a separate
entity from KBC. That is as it should be. I wonder
where that process is at...in fact I will be daring
enough to say that Signet should be reconfigured and
shares offered to the local media houses so that there
is ownership of the local content producers. This is
the prudent thing to do. After all why offer a share
of Signet to DSTV (which is owned by Naspers of South
Africa) and not to other media houses?
Lastly I would like to address the issue of policy
making and regulation. I'm not a lawyer but a simple
explanation:-
The policy maker decides what the regulations should
be and passes the laws implementing the regulations.
The government regulator enforces those regulations.
This issue has been addressed before by different
listers on the list. I humbly submit that the lines
here are very blurred in government as to who shapes
policy and who regulates. I think its time someone
took the bull by its horns and does what needs to be
done.
Ali Hussein
+254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113
"I fear the day technology will surpass human
interaction. The world will have a generation of
idiots". ~ Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 26, 2013, at 11:03 AM, ICT Researcher
<ict.researcher@yahoo.com> wrote:
i.e. one fails to understand what new
arguement is, beyond all those dealt with on
judgement at:
http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/93274/
Commeding Kenyalaw.org people for opening up
court decisions to the public, without which
we used to argue on third parties' opinions,
views, hearsy, innuendos etc...
------------------------------
On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 8:38 AM MSK ICT
Researcher wrote:
-2 @Ali -1 @Ngigi -1
-------------------------------
On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 12:04 AM MSK S.M.
Muraya wrote:
+1 @Ali +1 @Ngigi +1
Regards
Murigi / Stanley Muraya
*"Better a patient person than
a warrior, one with
self-control than one
who takes a city." Prov 16:32*
On Wed, Dec 25, 2013 at 10:27
AM, Ngigi Waithaka
<ngigi@at.co.ke> wrote:
This is the same corruption
issues disguised as
'competitive' tender...
Look at it this way, you want
Kenya's airwaves to be
digital. On one hand
you get a national parastatal
which performs below average
on the other
hand a foreign company.
We all know KBC wouldn't
perform, so we will have our
key national
broadcast handled by a foreign
firm. If some guy in China
pushes a certain
button, we could get a
complete news blackout. Is
that not a serious
security risk that ought to
have mitigated against during
the bid
requirements stage?
Now my hypothesis, the Chinese
got this since the ones
handling the tender
could not get kickbacks from
either KBC nor from the Kenyan
consortium that
generally operates in an
industry where they dont have
to pay kickbacks.
With the incoming new
government the ones handling
the tender, had to line
their pockets quick. Damn
national interests!
But, we are where we are and
them TV stations have been
down for a number
of days, interestlingly enough
I havent noticed!
Merry Xmas.
Waithaka Ngigi
Alliance Technologies
Nairobi, Kenya
www.A1.io
On 25 Dec 2013 07:32, "Ali
Hussein" <ali@hussein.me.ke>
wrote:
Wambua
The issue I raise is beyond
'competitive bidding issues'.
Try owning digital signals in
China, US or Europe if you are
a foreign
company. Why is it that we
think that 'free markets' are
only 'free' when
African countries are
involved?
History is littered with local
protectionism for certain
industries. In
fact China and Japan are the
biggest examples of this. Way
do we see it fit
to just give away our Crown
Jewels in the guise of free
and competitive
bidding?
I understand that this may be
beyond CCK's pay grade and
should actually
be addressed to policy
makers...
Ali Hussein
+254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113
"I fear the day technology
will surpass human
interaction. The world will
have a generation of idiots".
~ Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 24, 2013, at 6:41 PM,
Bernard Kioko
<bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:
They can't share or come out
like he just did. Theirs is
not based on
honesty and valid reasons. The
use of court is so they can
hide behind
legal technicalities.
The CS said he has been
available for dialog but they
go chest thumb and
threatening.
If they had any previous
effort towards educating
consumer they would
hold moral authority in my
space. Refusing to air paid
adverts by cck....I
say very irresponsible.
sad though.
On 24 Dec 2013 18:35,
"Walubengo J"
<jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
@Wambua
jst seen the CS
breathing fire on
K24 on this matter. It
looks like
this fight is moving
from the courts into
the public space. It
sounds like
its going to be looong
and bloody. Ave heard
from the Govt side, I
wonder
what the Media house
side is...they are all
here on KICTAnet and I
wish
they would freely
share their view
-outside the
constraints of a court
case.
One good outcome of
the blackout from NTV,
KTN and Citizen is the
discovery of KBC and
KT24...had forgotten
they exist :-)
walu.
------------------------------
On Tue, Dec 24, 2013
4:39 PM AST (Arabian)
Wambua, Christopher
wrote:
Bernard,
CCK has not
issued a third
licence for
digital signal
distribution.
Christopher
Wambua
Manager -
Communications
Consumer and
Public Affairs
Department
Communications
Commission of
Kenya
P.O. Box 14448
NAIROBI 00800
Tel: +254 20
4242209
info@cck.go.ke<mailto:info@cck.go.ke>
www.cck.go.ke<http://www.cck.go.ke>
From: Bernard
Kioko
[Bernsoft
Group]
[mailto:bkioko@bernsoft.com]
Sent: Tuesday,
December 24,
2013 4:35 PM
To: Wambua,
Christopher
Cc: Consumer
and Public
Affairs;
'KICTAnet ICT
Policy
Discussions'
Subject: RE:
[kictanet] 3
Media houses
protest
Majanja's
Digital
Migration Ruling
Christopher,
I am an ardent
supporter of
the migration
but I need to
ask.
Have you
issued any 3rd
license to
anyone?
Regards
From: kictanet
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=
bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke]<mailto:[mailto:
kictanet-bounces
+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke]> On Behalf
Of Wambua, Christopher
Sent: Tuesday,
December 24,
2013 12:54 PM
To:
bkioko@bernsoft.com<mailto:bkioko@bernsoft.com>
Cc: Consumer
and Public
Affairs;
KICTAnet ICT
Policy
Discussions
Subject: Re:
[kictanet] 3
Media houses
protest
Majanja's
Digital
Migration Ruling
Importance:
High
You will
recall that
the 2nd
licence for
digital
broadcasting
signal
distribution was
issued out
competitively through
an open tender. Some
of
the local media houses
expressed interest in
the tender but lost
out to the
licence by the
Pan-Africa Network
Group in an open and
transparent
tendering process.
They subsequently
lodged an appeal to
the Public
Procurement Oversight
Authority (PPOA) which
was dismissed as
lacking any
merit.
The two firms
have set up
digital
platforms in
Nairobi and
other major
towns in country to
support the migration
from analogue to
digital TV
broadcasting. The
issue of awarding the
licences to a Chinese
firm and a
subsidiary of a firm
on its deathbed is
therefore a non-issue.
Best regards
Christopher
Wambua
Manager -
Communications
Consumer and
Public Affairs
Department
Communications
Commission of
Kenya
P.O. Box 14448
NAIROBI 00800
Tel: +254 20
4242209
info@cck.go.ke<mailto:info@cck.go.ke>
www.cck.go.ke<http://www.cck.go.ke>
From: kictanet
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+wambua=
cck.go.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Kivuva
Sent: Tuesday,
December 24,
2013 12:25 PM
To: Wambua,
Christopher
Cc: KICTAnet
ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject: Re:
[kictanet] 3
Media houses
protest
Majanja's
Digital
Migration Ruling
On 23 December
2013 19:01,
Ali Hussein
<ali@hussein.me.ke<mailto:
ali@hussein.me.ke>
wrote:
Brinkmanship.
To be fair
though I can't
help thinking
how skewed we
are as a
country
that the two digital
signals are:-
1. Controlled
by a Chinese
company
2. Controlled
by a defunct
media company
that is at its
death bed..
+1 Ali
Capital flight
is a KILLER of
any economy.
Where have we
go we wrong?
Ali Hussein
+254 0770
906375 / 0713
601113
"I fear the
day technology
will surpass
human
interaction.
The world
<
...
[Message clipped]
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
_______________________________________________kictanet mailing listkictanet@lists.kictanet.or.kehttps://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanetUnsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.comThe Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.