Either way, its still very tricky for NTV, KTN & Cord TV. Not too sure if consumers will want to buy an NTV set top box.

I dont think this will mean buying other sandukus. Just that we have one additional supplier of platform from the trio's consortium

Because of their massive 15-year investment, the media firms were entitled to a licence without going through tender, they said. “It will be outrageous to reduce to waste the over Sh40 billion they have invested in the industry and it is our view that there should have been exception for them to get the licence.’’ Does this mean that an investor should be exempted from competing for a tender in their industry because of the money they have put in?

The key word is "WITHOUT PERMISSION". DSTv is permitted, i think, but GoTv and StarTimes, am not sure.

Now I can say I told you so. The problem of getting old guard to understand what they voted yes to. My only concern with the judgement is the moral like ruling giving the 3 local companies the right to a digital license simply because they have invested a lot of money. That one.....apana. But this issue of forcing technology on people is unconstitutional and wrong. Now for the guys who bought these setboxes, shauri yenu. They should also sue the gov't for allowing an illegality in their midst. But they won't. Accept and move on they will say. First Konza, now digital migration. These were the real Ndemo years.