Thousands of DStv and Zuku
subscribers will be forced to buy new
decoders to access free-to-air
channels after the December 13
switch-off deadline for analogue TV
signals in Nairobi.
The Communications Commission of
Kenya said on Wednesday that the
present decoders provided by the
two pay-TV operators would no
longer transmit free-to-air stations
such as NTV, KBC, KTN, Citizen and
K24 after the switch-off.
This means that the subscribers will
have to either invest in new gadgets
that convert analogue signals to
digital format or buy upgraded
decoders from service providers like
StarTimes and GOtv.
The regulator said DStv and Zukus
decoders use a different technology
from the Digital Video Broadcast
Technology 2 (DVB-T2) linked to the
migration, prompting a protest from
the latter.
We have only two pay-TV providers
that is StarTimes and GOtv
whose decoders are compliant with
the DVB-T2 technology, said CCK
director-general Francis Wangusi.
He added that DStv and Zuku
subscribers would have to invest in
new set boxes to convert analogue
signals to digital format. The
subscribers will, however, still use
the decoders to view the various pay
bouquets.
In August last year, CCK revised the
minimum specifications for DVB-T2
set-top boxes, making the
conditional access feature optional
for DVB-T2 set top boxes intended
for use to receive free-to-air TV
content.
The conditional access feature
allowed the pay television providers
to control what their subscribers
watch and the review was aimed at
ensuring that pay-TV subscribers
access the free-to-air channels even
when in default of payment.
(Read: Pay-TV subscribers get free
access to public channels )
This review has seen pay-TV
providers such as Startimes and
GOtv a subsidiary of DStv
upgrade their decoders. StarTimes
launched its new models retailing
at Sh4,999 in May and said old
subscribers who bought set-top
boxes at a subsidised rate of
Sh1,999 would have to pay the
difference to qualify for the new
model.
This was followed by the launch of
GOtvs new decoders in the market
dubbed GOtv Open that allows
viewers to receive local free-to-air
channels in digital quality for a one-
off administration fee.
The introduction of the new models
by StarTimes and GOtv came on the
backdrop of a demand by CCK that
all pay TV providers give their
customers access to at least five
free-to-air channels like KBC, NTV,
QTV, KTN, Citizen, K24 and Kiss TV,
regardless of whether they were up-
to-date on their monthly
subscription fees or not.
With the new model subscribers can
access the channels without
attracting monthly subscription fees.
The switch to digital signal is
expected to boost investors in digital
terrestrial TV, broadcast mobile TV,
commercial wireless broadband
services, as well as help in disaster
relief while offering viewers wider
choice.
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http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/DStv-and-Zuku-users-to-buy-new-decoders-for-free-to-air-TV/-/539550/1941488/-/qbjfg0/-/index.html
