C&P:
Dirty Secrets Behind NTV,KTN And CITIZEN TV
On Monday high court judge Manyanja ruled against the Media Owners plea of suspending digital migration which would see many screens blur. They reacted by switching off the stations as a way of protesting. The reasoning they give to the layman is a hogwash saying the migration will lock out many
people who can't afford,they want the public to feel that they are emphatic but as you are about to realise,its all a sham and a huge scandal.
A few years ago, the Kenyan government invited tenders for the distribution of digital signal amid pressure from the International Telecommunication Union that was pushing to abandon the outdated analogue signal (with the worldwide deadline being June 2015). At the end of the process, Signet and PAN won the tender, edging out a consortium of that included Citizen, NTV and KTN. Despite losing, the three broadcasters loathing the fact that they would have to pay KBC-affiliated Signet and the Chinese firm pushed the government to approve a third licence. But CCK rejected, claiming it was set aside for a telecommunication firm. Since then they've been pulling a number of tricks and stunts e.g. Removing their channels from both the Startimes and signet bouquets.
KTN, NTV and Citizen have no problem with the migration.That's not really what they are fighting. They know it is inevitable and they can't stop it. What they want and the reason they all came together like loving brothers and sisters is because they want to be the supplier of YOUR set box (e.g. like Startimes). Why? So that they can charge you a monthly fee. It's a different way to earn revenue from TV, like the Zuku's and DSTVs! They however did not win that tender and that's why they are fighting and delaying the migration in the name of "the public ain't ready".
Another fear is competition. Once the digital migration is effective, a lot of content will be available on different platforms. The big three are worried of losing their monopolistic grip of the advertisement industry. These stations entirely depend on advertisement so in the case many competitors gets into the market then their revenue will undoubtedly be affected. Now you understand their little fear.
Many Kenyans especially online were unamused and the blackout got a backlash reception.
Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.