The competition for audiences in the digital migration in Kenya took a new turn this week as local free to air channels (Citizen TV, NTV, QTV, KTN) began to run adverts in which they were urging viewers not to purchase Startimes and GOtv setboxes claiming that they are airing without their consent.
This comes after the local media houses had gone to court to request for more time to put in place the necessary infrastructure for digital migration.
Reacting to the advert, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) withdrew the permit allowing local media houses to transmit their own signal on digital platforms.
CAK Royal Media Services that owns Citizen TV, recently launched their set top box called Bamba TV, other free to air channels will soon follow suit as part of the process of putting in place the required infrastructure to facilitate the digital migration. Their aim was to launch 150 000 set boxes in next few weeks that will retail for less than KES 2500. TV viewers in Kenya with analogue TV sets are required to purchase set top boxes that converts the digital signal to analogue.
The two Pay TV broadcaster’s GO TV and Startimes charge monthly subscription in addition to purchasing the decoder. The free to air channels will not charge any monthly subscription.
