Two rival pay TVs in Nigeria push for digital knowledge

Mid next month, the two dominant pay TVs in Nigeria – MultiChoice and StarTimes will roll out their blackboards for lectures on the broadcasting digital migration slated to take effect June 17, next year.

The migration is expected to redefine the broadcasting industry in all members of International Telecommunication Union (ITU). While MultiChoice, the dominant pay TV in Nigeria, will assemble international experts on digital migration in Mauritius for discussions on the issue, StarTimes, which is deepening its presence in Nigeria, will host participants in China.

MultiChoice has in the last two years successfully held digital discussions in Nigeria, South Africa, and Dubai to draw attention of stakeholders on the significance of meeting the deadline.

Many African countries may miss the 2015 deadline for switching off analogue to digital broadcasting. Though some countries have started the process to digital broadcasting transition, but international experts are concerned on the frail process by some African countries to meeting the 2006 Geneva agreement, which spelt out switching off of analogue broadcasting system on June 17, 2015.

The seemingly drawback by many African countries including Nigeria in meeting the deadline appears to be undertone statement to justify their earlier demand at the International Telecommunication Union meeting in Geneva, when the continent representatives demanded for about 15 years period. The way it looks currently, it appears African countries were forced to agree on the date.

Even when they finally signed to migrate, most of the countries might have underestimated the cost implications, Daniel Onyango Obam, who is actively involved in the development of the digital broadcasting plan for Kenya, told BusinessDay.

“The cost is massive as many countries did not initially understand the cost implications of the migration to digital broadcasting in spite of the inherent benefits,” according to Obam, saying the various delegations to the conference came to share experiences on how some European countries achieved their migration before 2015. “We are sharing experiences and we can use their experiences to tweak our own processes back home,” Obam said, promising that Kenya will definitely switch off analogue in Nairobi on December 13, this year, with other cities following later before 2015.

When countries migrate, it will automatically free up spectrums for auction by the government. The new system is also expected to create more frequency spectrums, which means more TV and radio channels for broadcasting and communication activities. It will also provide sharper pictures and clearer sounds, clarity of TV, opportunity to content developers to develop and sell contents and advertising revenue.

 Daniel Obi