On Monday high court judge Manyanja ruled against the Media Owners plea of suspending digital migration which would see many screens blur. They acted by switching off the stations as a way of protesting.
The reasoning they give to the layman is a hogwash saying the migration will lock out many people who can’t afford,they want the public to feel that they are emphatic but as you are about to realise,its all a sham and a huge scandal behind. To a simple backgrounding.
A few years ago, the Kenyan government invited tenders for the distribution of digital signal amid pressure from the International Telecommunication Union that was pushing to abandon the outdated analogy signal.
At the end of the process, Signet and PAN won the tender, edging out a consortium of that included Citizen, NTV and KTN. Despite losing, the three broadcasters loathing the fact that they would have to pay KBC-affiliated Signet and the Chinese firm pushed the government to approve the third licence.
But CCK rejected, claiming it was set aside for a telecommunication firm. Since then they’ve been pulling a number of tricks and stunts e.g. they once all removed their channels from star times, this is just the nation one stunt they have pulled.
KTN, NTV and Citizen have no problem with the migration.That’s not really what they are fighting. They know it is inevitable and they can’t stop it. What they want and the reason they all came together like loving brothers and sisters is because they want to be the supplier of YOUR set box (e.g. like Star-times) why so that they can charge you a monthly fee
It’s a different way to earn revenue from TV, like the Zuku’s and DSTVs! They however did not win that tender and that’s why they are fighting and delaying the migration in the name of “the public ain’t ready”.
Another fear is competition,once the digital migration is effective a lot of content will be available on different platforms,the big three are worried of losing their monopolistic grip of the advertisement industry. These stations entirely depend on advertisement so in the case many competitors gets into the market then their revenue will undoubtedly be affected. Now you understand their little fear.
Many Kenyans especially online were unamused and the blackout got a backlash reception:
@AntiBigwig: If they are serious, why don’t they deactivate their Twitter accounts? We do not want to see them! #MediaBlackoutKE
@GladMariana: Dear @KTNKenya @citizentvkenya @ntvkenya #MediaBlackoutKE get ur act 2getha or 4eva remain in darkness
@evangelinechao: This #MediaBlackoutKE people are not any better than college kids who strike because they aren’t ready for exams.
@Mwanimozay: #MediaBlackoutKE KTN,NTV,CITIZEN kazi ya media nikubroadcast, kublackout achieni mlevi
@mokayah: The only thing that would get me going to the streets to protest is if they switched off the internet.” #MediaBlackoutKE
@Saherbalist: The big three thought they will get public sympathy by switching off #digitalmigration tumetoka analogue tuko digital!!!
@Kimtaimathew: CCK should just carry on with their plan of #DigitalMigration. We need to move on!!!
@NiNanjira: Woiye, #MediaBlackoutKE really could be doing us a favour. Remember all those times we asked them to give politicians a blackout? Behold! #MediaBlackOutKe @knkenya @ntvkenya @CitizenTVNews Are off air! Blackmail will not help you. SHUTDOWN and close your stations.
Now that you understand better the little secret these boys are keeping away from you,should we go digital or remain analog and do you support the blackout.
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