• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Digital Migration

Communications Authority Revokes KTN, NTV, Citizen Spectrum And Bars Their Importation Of Set-top Boxes

July 18, 2016
Private Number calls

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025
Kenya Power EV charging stations

Kenya Power Rolls Out 45 EV Charging Stations Across the Country

May 8, 2025
Bayobab

MTN’s Bayobab Connects Uganda and Kenya with New Fiber Route

May 8, 2025
Airtel Africa Starlink partnership

Starlink Is Expanding in Africa Through New Airtel Partnership

May 8, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Android FreeType patch

Android May 2025 Security Update Fixes Critical FreeType Zero-Click Vulnerability

May 7, 2025
worldcoin kenya

Court Ruling Orders Worldcoin to Delete All Kenyan Biometric Records

May 7, 2025
smartphones-2024

Smartphone Market Recovers Slightly in Q1 2025 With Apple, Vivo Leading Gains

May 7, 2025
GTA 6 Trailer 2

GTA 6 Trailer 2: Rockstar Confirms Release Date and Dual Protagonists

May 7, 2025
YouTube Premium Duo

YouTube Now Lets Two People Share a Premium Plan

May 6, 2025
Infinix GT20 Pro

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review: You Don’t Need to Overspend on Gaming Power Anymore

May 6, 2025
Emerald PostPay

Safaricom Transitions Customers to New Emerald PostPay Plans

May 6, 2025
Intrusion Detection System

Android 16 Will Let You Track Suspicious Activity on Your Phone

May 6, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Communications Authority Revokes KTN, NTV, Citizen Spectrum And Bars Their Importation Of Set-top Boxes

Martin Gicheru by Martin Gicheru
July 18, 2016
in News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
251
3
Digital Migration

Digital Migration Cat and mouse. The cat is stamping authority. The cat is Communications Authority of Kenya and this is after a series of events that has had the Digital Migration delayed in Kenya. The struggle between CA and the three media houses Nation Media Group, Royal Media Services and Standard Group might see an end if nothing changes after today’s resolution by the Communications Authority.

The authority notes that the three have overstepped their mandate by advertising what the authority terms as misleading content in form of an advertisement directed at Startimes and GOtv. The three media houses claimed that the two were doing illegal business, and by this ending up implying that the authority which approved of the boxes they are selling wasn’t right in doing so. Basically undermining the work of the authority.

READ: NTV, Citizen, KTN Ordered To Cease Airing Ads Claiming GOtv Is Doing Illegal Business

The three media houses have been advertising that consumers should not purchase set top boxes by Startimes and GOtv and should instead wait and purchase the set top box that the three will sell in the future. This is uncompetitive according to the authority which has decided to take stern measures which include repossessing the frequency spectrum allocated to them for digital transmission and request Kenya Revenue Authority to prevent them from importing their set top boxes which by now are yet to be type-approved.

See below the full message by the Communications Authority.

PRESS STATEMENT BY MR. FRANCIS WANGUSI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF KENYA (CA), ON THE ADVERTISEMENT BY NATION MEDIA GROUP, STANDARD GROUP AND ROYAL MEDIA SERVICES, RELATING TO MEDIA TRANSMISSION SERVICES

21ST JANUARY 2015

It has come to the attention of the Authority that three media houses, namely Nation Media Group Limited, Standard Group Limited and Royal Media Group Limited have jointly been running a misleading advertisement on Television and Radio since Friday 16th January 2015. The said advertisement purports that Startimes and GOtv are illegally carrying their content thereby infringing on copyright and neighbouring rights. The advertisement goes farther to instruct consumers not to purchase Startimes and GOtv pay-tv set-top boxes to watch CITIZEN Television, NTV, KTN and QTV. In addition, the advertisement allege that the three media houses are the exclusive vendors of Free-To-Air set-top-boxes that can enable the public to view their channels

The Authority is gravely concerned by the misleading content in the advertisement and wishes to advise the industry and the general public as follows:

1. The advertisement by the three media houses is misleading to the public, is offensive to the market. It is equally in gross violation of the legal and regulatory framework governing the sector;

2. The tone of the advertisement, its content and timing is intended to cause confusion and disrupt the digital migration programme;

3. The digital migration framework allows for the distribution of the ‘Free-to-Air’ signals on the digital platform under the “must-carry principle” . This was supported by the ruling of the Supreme Court of Kenya in September 2014 . It allowed for the availability of Free-to-Air channels to the public through all set-top-boxes (FTA and Pay TV). The advertisement dissuading consumers from purchasing set-top-boxes from other suppliers approved by the Authority is therefore misleading to the public and portrays anti-competitive conduct by the three media houses. Consumers need not be constrained to purchase a specific set top box to view the content of the three broadcasters whose content is Free-to Air;

4. The Authority has type-approved more than 65 set top boxes which are available in the market today. GOTV and Startimes set top boxes are duly type-approved by the Authority and are therefore authentic decoders in the local market authorized to carry the Free-to-Air Channels of the three media houses under the auspices of the “Must Carry Principle;

5. The sale of set top boxes in Kenya is a free market. Consumers can purchase type approved set top boxes from any vendor registered by the Authority. The full list of approved set top boxes and registered vendors can be freely accessed on the Authority’s website;

6. The Authority has neither received any application nor granted any type-approval of any set top box model from the three broadcasters, individually or collectively, for sale in Kenya. It is therefore illegal to purport to advertise set-top-boxes that have not been type-approved by the Authority;

7. The Authority has also received a formal complaint from Gotv and Startimes that the three media houses have refused to Air their digital-migration related advertisements which is potentially an anti-competitive conduct prohibited by law. While this complaint has not been investigated, the Authority notes with concern that it has itself been a victim of such refusal to carry advertisements both in the electronic and print media owned by the three media houses, yet the advertisements are aimed at educating the public on digital migration.

In view of these gross violations by the three media houses as enumerated above, the Authority has decided to take the following administrative actions:

1. Withdraw the temporary authorization granted to the consortium by the three media houses (under the consortium identified as Africa Digital Network). Subsequently the Authority shall reposes the frequency spectrum resources allocated with immediate effect;

2. Decline to continue with the process of issuance of a Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 License for self-provisioning to the three media houses, pursuant to Gazette Notice Number 9088 dated 19th December 2014. This is on account of the above violations of the legal and regulatory framework. The process shall therefore await the ruling and determination of the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Board of the Communications Authority of Kenya on the violations by the three media houses.

3. Liaise with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) to bar the importation of set top boxes by the three media houses considering the purported set top boxes are not type-approved by the Authority; and

4. Invite the Competition Authority of Kenya to investigate the cartel-like behavior and anti-competitive conduct and take appropriate regulatory remedies.

We further wish to inform the public that registered vendors have in stock different models of approved Free-to-air and Pay-TV set top boxes that are readily available locally for purchase. More than 1.2 million set top boxes have been purchased since migration in Kenya began. At the moment, the market has more than 1.5 million set top boxes in stock. As we progress into the second phase of the analogue switch-off in the country, consumers are encouraged to purchase set top boxes of their choice ahead of switch-off in order to enjoy digital television.

The withdrawal of the temporary self-provisioning authorization granted to the consortium and the repossession of the the allocated resources does not in any way prejudice the availability of the services of the three broadcasters. The broadcasters are at liberty to avail their content on the digital platform through the existing licensed Broadcast Signal Distributors.

Let me reiterate that the Authority does not condone contraventions of the Act by any of its licencees. The Authority will continue to execute its regulatory mandate with a view to ensure successful migration of Kenyans from the analogue to the digital platforms and ultimately for the growth of the ICT sector in Kenya.

Tags: Digital MigrationGOtvKenyaStarTimes
SendShare147Tweet92
Martin Gicheru

Martin Gicheru

Martin is the Managing Editor at Techweez, passionate about personal tech and telling stories of consumer experiences. Talk to me: [email protected]

Related Posts

Azam TV Plummets While DStv Grows in Kenyan Market

Azam TV Suffers Massive 67% Subscriber Loss in Kenya, DStv Grows

January 27, 2025
Kenya Trainees at-the-Baykar-Flight-Training-Center

Kenya Ups Surveillance Capabilities with New Bayraktar TB2 Drones

January 2, 2025
Image showing suspension of Telegram services in Kenya. Lady holding phone with Telegram app.

Kenya (CA) has ordered the suspension of Telegram services

January 25, 2025
CA-OCSAM

CA Marks October 2024 As Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Kenya

January 25, 2025
Learn how to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics live from Paris.

How to Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics Live

July 26, 2024
How to watch EURO 2024 in Kenya online

How to watch UEFA EURO 2024: TV broadcast and Online live streams

June 15, 2024

Latest

Private Number calls

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025
Kenya Power EV charging stations

Kenya Power Rolls Out 45 EV Charging Stations Across the Country

May 8, 2025
Bayobab

MTN’s Bayobab Connects Uganda and Kenya with New Fiber Route

May 8, 2025
Airtel Africa Starlink partnership

Starlink Is Expanding in Africa Through New Airtel Partnership

May 8, 2025
Android FreeType patch

Android May 2025 Security Update Fixes Critical FreeType Zero-Click Vulnerability

May 7, 2025
worldcoin kenya

Court Ruling Orders Worldcoin to Delete All Kenyan Biometric Records

May 7, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025

Kenya Power Rolls Out 45 EV Charging Stations Across the Country

May 8, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

Introducing A Brainbox Quiz: Techweez’s Monthly Trivia Night!

5 Most Reliable Virtual Dollar Card Providers in Nigeria

5 Leading Grant Management Software for Nonprofits

More News

Smartphone Market Recovers Slightly in Q1 2025 With Apple, Vivo Leading Gains

GTA 6 Trailer 2: Rockstar Confirms Release Date and Dual Protagonists

YouTube Now Lets Two People Share a Premium Plan

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review: You Don’t Need to Overspend on Gaming Power Anymore

Safaricom Transitions Customers to New Emerald PostPay Plans

Android 16 Will Let You Track Suspicious Activity on Your Phone

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.