NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenyans risk missing TV news and popular programmes as Communication Authority of Kenya withdraws frequencies for KTN, NTV and Citizen TV.
The Authority said on Wednesday that it was taking the step following ‘misleading’ advertisement by the said media houses on GOtv and Startimes
The said advertisement purports that Startimes and GOtv are illegally carrying their content thereby infringing on copyright and neighbouring rights.
The advertisement goes further 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 alleges 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 content of the said advertisement,” said Francis Wangusi, Director General Communication Authority of Kenya.
“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,” he said.
The Authority said it has decided to withdraw the temporary authorisation 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;
It will 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.”
Wangusi said that he will also 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 Invite the Competition Authority of Kenya to investigate the cartel-like behavior and anti-competitive conduct and take appropriate regulatory remedies.
The Standard Group Plc is a
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Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
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