CA to repossess all analogue broadcast licences

The offices of the Communications Authority of Kenya in Nairobi. The authority is set to switch off analogue in Nairobi and its environs on February 13, 2015. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |

What you need to know:

  • The switch-off follows a Supreme Court directive on Friday that the switch-off dates set by the communications authority be upheld.

  • On November 28, 2014 the authority announced that analogue switch-off would be done in three stages, with Nairobi and its environs scheduled for December 31, 2014.

  • Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Nyadundi, Machakos, Narok, Londiani and Rongai were set for February 2, 2015.

  • All other areas will be switched off on March 30, 2015.

Nearly 90 per cent of TV viewers are set to be switched off from analogue broadcasting on Friday midnight.

This follows a Supreme Court directive on Friday that the switch-off dates set by the communications authority be upheld.

“The general switch-off dates from the analogue to the digital platform shall remain as scheduled,” ruled a five-judge bench.

A few hours after the ruling, Communications Authority of Kenya Director-General Francis Wangusi called a press conference and announced that all regions that should have migrated by February 2 should comply by midnight or be switched off.

On November 28, 2014 the authority announced that analogue switch-off would be done in three stages, with Nairobi and its environs scheduled for December 31, 2014.

Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Nyadundi, Machakos, Narok, Londiani and Rongai were set for February 2, 2015.

SWITCHED OFF

All other areas will be switched off on March 30, 2015.

"Any media house currently broadcasting on the analogue platform in the areas already switched off is required to migrate by midnight. Any broadcaster still on the analogue platform will be doing so illegally,” Mr Wangusi said.

The judges also said all pending cases before the Supreme Court challenging the migration had been dismissed.

However, they directed the CA to reinstate the licence and 21 digital frequencies it had withdrawn from Africa Digital Network, a consortium of the Nation Media Group, The Standard Group and Royal Media Services.

Mr Wangusi said the authority would start repossessing all frequencies TV stations were using to transmit analogue broadcasts on Saturday.

Information Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i separately said the government had an obligation to respect international treaties.

He said the Supreme Court had vindicated the government.