CA
Director-General, Francis Wangusi, stated that poor distribution of set-top
boxes was to blame for the television blackout. He added that remote areas are
the most affected, though the government is working on ways of penetrating the
region – this is according to Business Daily.
According
to the report, the availability and affordability of the set-top boxes was a
core part of the media owners’ request for more time to migrate — a request the
CA and Information ministry vehemently opposed.
Wangusi’s
latest position is also contrary to the reality on the ground showing the high
cost of set-top boxes as the main obstacle to many households making the
transition.
The
report revealed that the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) on dismissed
Wangusi’s explanation of the slow uptake, saying the CA chief executive’s
mishandling of the migration and failure by the government to adopt globally
accepted practices had left consumers, especially of the free-to-air
television, without television.
In
the report, Wangusi insisted that Kenya has an estimated 3.2 million set-top
boxes imported by 79 licensed vendors and dismissed claims that a shortage of
the gadgets and high retail prices are to blame for the slow uptake.
According
to the report, Pay-TV subscribers have to pay monthly fees of between KES 499
and KES 8,200. The prices for multi-channel decoders range between KES 1,999
and KES 2,500, while free-to-air set-top boxes cost between KES 3,300 and KES
6,500. The CA has licensed over 79 types of set-top box and the sector has
created over 2,500 jobs, according to ICT ministry statistics.
In South
Africa there are plans to spend about $250 million this year alone to buy set top boxes
for underprivileged citizens before switching off analogue television signals.
This is according to South African Minister of Communications, Faith
Muthambi. Muthambi revealed that more than five million set top boxes will
be given away to these citizens.
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