Waithaka,
Quick notes….
The advantages of remaining analog are only with the existing broadcasters – IN MY VIEW!. Even the viewers would rather not watch unclear pictures without sufficient choices/options.
1. Remaining Analog means we cannot have any more TV stations in Nairobi especially. There are no more frequencies to be issued by CCK. This means TV broadcast remains a cartel really… Moving to Digital however means we can have MANY more TV stations – as at a month ago, I checked with CCK and they had “licensed” over 60 digital TV stations of which about 20 were already live.
2. Moving to digital means ALL TV stations are on same platform and level – on that decoder. It’s the quality and relevance of the content that will matter to the viewer. Same way DSTV has many channels but you know which ones have what you want. This creates major fears for “lazy stations” that have been feeding Kenyans with what they want and disregarding everything else. In their current state, many of these stations will lose out to younger more innovative broadcasters. Take for example – its been 10yrs since people started sending SMS to stations during news – why are we still sending the SMS in the same exact way? Why haven’t these stations made any further innovation? When a younger broadcaster changes this to SMS-TV-2.0 what will that mean to older ones?
3. December is a revenue earner – many advertisements run during this time. Disrupting viewership in any way means advertisers may hold ad revenue. Infact this revenue issue am told is mentioned as a reason for resisting the change. However, it’s these same media owners that proposed December (according to CS Information). This part really makes me want to laugh!
4. In real sense, it will indeed cost Kenyans that wish to watch tv some money to move to digital (at least that one time cost for the set top box). This point is clear BUT as a country we have had 7 years to preach this. Why are they now telling us Kenyans are not ready or able? They failed to run TV and Print adverts that CCK was paying for to educate viewer. We now have over 1million set top boxes lying somewhere yet in 5hrs, there will be a rush and scrabble. Although this point is acknowledged, the reason I quickly dismiss it is because in our nature as Kenyans, we have a habit of waiting for the last minute or “when we really have to”. The issue of people that cannot afford the device is valid but only to some extend – when are we going to ensure everyone can afford a set top box so that we can migrate?
5. If you were around when mobiles made their entry into Kenya, you could not actuallyl buy a mobile phone for less than 10k – most going to 30k….i saw numbers grow from 10….500….900,000, 1.5m…. now you know how large these numbers are like. I am of the opinion that Kenyans will indeed move to digital to watch tv. There might be an inconvenience here and there….but they will. Remember Michuki rules? We complied….for the better. Mututho? We are complying…for the better. Even digital we will comply…for our better!
Anyway, I do agree that the media houses have issues that need dialogue, but I also understand (from the CS) that they have consistently shut the dialogue!
I could be wrong – but I am an Digital Migration Evangelist – self appointed – so forgive me if I am.
Regards
From: Ngigi Waithaka [mailto:ngigi@at.co.ke]
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 7:02 PM
To: bkioko@bernsoft.com
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions; Consumer and Public Affairs
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's Digital Migration Ruling
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.
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.
+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
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.
Sent: Thursday, 26 December 2013 12:29 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] 3 Media houses protest Majanja's Digital Migration Ruling |
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.
+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
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
will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya.
twitter.com/lordmwesh<http://twitter.com/lordmwesh>
google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh
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