TV stations go back on air after 19 days

Thursday, March 05, 2015 — updated on December 13, 2020 - 2 min read

Four free-to-air TV stations --NTV, QTV, KTN and Citizen TV-- whose analogue broadcast signals were switched off in a row with the regulator nearly three weeks ago, went back on air in Nairobi and its environs March 5, 2014 evening. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE

Four free-to-air TV stations, whose analogue broadcast signals were switched off in a row with the regulator nearly three weeks ago, went back on air in Nairobi and its environs last evening.

The switch-on followed a deal reached on Tuesday between the government and the four — NTV, QTV, KTN and Citizen TV —allowing them to broadcast in Nairobi on the digital platform under their Africa Digital Network (ADN) consortium licence.

Their broadcasts are available to those with universal free-to–air set top boxes. The three companies that own the TV stations—Nation Media Group, Royal Media and Standard Group— said in a joint statement Thursday they are in the process of importing their own free-to-air set top boxes.

READ: Top media firms to stir market with free to air digital boxes

“We would also like to inform our viewers that our channels NTV, KTN Citizen and QTV are and must remain Free-To-Air (FTA) available to you free of charge and without monthly subscription on all universal decoders,” read the statement.

The deal reached with the government is a win for television viewers with free-to-air set top boxes.