Kenya’s Communications Authority has stated that it will penalize the African Digital Network, after it’s members went off air on February 14th, 2015. The channels that turned off their digital signals are: NTV, KTN, Citizen and QTV.
The CA’s Director General, Francis Wangusi, told reporters at a press conference on Sunday, that the four TV stations must face the consequences for breaching regulations and denying their viewers a chance to access them on DSTV, ZUKU and other pay platforms.
After the stations went off air,DSTV Kenya put out a series of tweets explaining what had happened and urging people to watch other news channels.
(1) PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT:
Dear subscribers, please be advised that Citizen, KTN, NTV and QTV have terminated their channels on all available
— DStv Kenya (@DStv_Kenya) February 14, 2015
(2) platforms resulting in the loss of signal. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. For news and local programming please go to any
— DStv Kenya (@DStv_Kenya) February 14, 2015
(3) of the Maisha Magic channels, K24, KBC or Kiss.
— DStv Kenya (@DStv_Kenya) February 14, 2015
Fred Matiang’i, ICT Cabinet Secretary, spoke at the same press conference and said the stations are at risk of losing their broadcast signal distribution licences for going off air and termed the actions of the stations as a way to intimidate the authority.
“The can stay off as long as they want but we are not going back on digital migration and they better get that loud and clear,” Matiagn’i said. “If these are tricks intended to intimidate or manipulate the government, they had better think again.”
This comes after the Supreme Court in Kenya had ordered the CA to restore the digital frequencies to ADN, which had been withdrawn after a breach of the terms of permits. The Supreme Court have also given the CA the authority to switch off the analogue broadcast of ADN whenever they saw fit.
The affected channels have not issued any statement about the situation, but there are reports of a major press conference being planned, where the owners will speak about the issue at hand.
