Kenya: Three new stations set to join local TV scene

27 Jan 2015

Three Nairobi-based companies have applied for licensing to join the rapidly growing commercial free-to-air television broadcasting industry as the country migrates from analogue transmission to digital.

Image via 123RF

A single frequency on the digital terrestrial TV broadcasting platform can hold up to 20 channels, widening spectrum resources unlike under analogue transmission. TV competition is expected to shift to content as opposed to wide reach.

Entry of the new stations brings the number of free-to-air TV channels in the country to 38. Acme Communications, Global Konnect and Number One TV have been issued with temporary permission by the Communications Authority of Kenya to roll out digital broadcasting services, pending public feedback within 30 days from 20 January.

CA director general Francis Wangusi published the details in the latest Kenya Gazette.

The stations are to use the digital terrestrial broadcast signals of KBC's subsidiary Signet, Chinese-owned Pan Africa Network and Radio Africa Group's Lancia Digital.

A temporary licence to Africa Digital Network was withdrawn last Wednesday for alleged "gross violation" of regulations.

Source: allAfrica

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