New CCK policy to halve price of digital TV device

• The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) order means cheaper gadgets for converting analogue television signals to digital format will now be available in the market.
• Consumers are expected to benefit from clear pictures and competition among the providers for affordable and better quality of programmes.
• Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu have already been covered with the digital signal that is being provided by Signet and Pan African Group.
• A CCK study showed that out of the four million households with TV sets, 1.6 million (40 per cent) own black and white ones bought at about Sh4,000 and may not afford or find value in investing in gadgets required for digital migration.
• CCK director-general Francis Wangusi earlier said that the greatest barrier to the success of digital migration plan would be the access to affordable set-top boxes.

“Most of us just need to convert the signal and watch free-to-air instead of assuming that we need conditional access.”

The Regional Radio Communication Conference held in Geneva in 2006 set a 2015 deadline for migration to digital TV, but the five East African Community members set their deadline at December.

Apart from larger content generation, the switch is expected to expand opportunities for investors in digital terrestrial TV, broadcast mobile TV, commercial wireless broadband services and help in disaster relief.

Consumers are expected to benefit from clear pictures and competition among the providers for affordable and better quality of programmes.

Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu have already been covered with the digital signal that is being provided by Signet and Pan African Group.

A CCK study showed that out of the four million households with TV sets, 1.6 million (40 per cent) own black and white ones bought at about Sh4,000 and may not afford or find value in investing in gadgets required for digital migration.

CCK director-general Francis Wangusi earlier said that the greatest barrier to the success of digital migration plan would be the access to affordable set-top boxes.
pmutegi@ke.nationmedia.com