CA clears new digital broadcast players

CA director general Francis Wangusi yesterday issued eight FTA TV licenses with a reminder to broadcasters to secure accreditation on time.

The eight broadcasters cleared are Zarina Company Ltd, Seventh Day Adventist - East Kenya Union Conference, Akili Networks Ltd, Entertainment Channel Ltd and World Music Ltd.

Others are North Eastern Media and Telecommunication Ltd, Namba One TV Ltd and Cosmopolitan Media Ltd. Major broadcasters however did not feature in yesterday's event.

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"I wish to urgently remind all TV broadcaster that have not applied for licenses to do so urgently, to avoid running afoul with the law in light of the expiry of the permit regime in June 2015," said Wangusi.

He said the authority is currently processing a total of 72 commercial FTA TV applications.

Other broadcast related license applications being processed include four Cable TV, two Internet Protocol Television, three pay TV stations and four subscription management services.

Two landing rights licenses, one community TV and two self-provisioning broadcast applications are also under review.

"We have approved ten today (yesterday) including Standard Media Group," he said.

Majority broadcasters are operating in a dual licensing environment, where the ministry responsible for information has been issuing permits, a move Wangusi said has been limiting the authority's planning and assignment of frequency.

He urged broadcasters to uphold local content quota which is currently at 40 per cent.