Digital migration has attracted a vast audience from political to domestic in the past few months. Intended for the right and positive motives, it has turned out a tag of war with many interests involved.
Communications commission of Kenya will again arraign itself in court following a sue threat by Consumer Federation of Kenya failure to withdraw a directive issued to pay-TV firms that could deny subscribers unlimited access to free to air channels.
Pay-TV providers operating in Kenya confirmed CCK’s directive for them to allow those subscribers who fail to pay their fees only two weeks’ access to free to air channels after which they will switch off.
The instruction by the Communications commission differs with the earlier assurance that Kenyans would continue enjoying free to air channels even after their pay-TV subscription expires. “To go back on such a promise would be mischievous,” said COFEK’s secretary general Stephen Mutoro.
The lobby has given CCK a grace period of 15 days to clarify its position and give consumers back their right to information otherwise they will move to court.
Speaking to Jamlek Masia a Nairobi resident, “It would be ridiculous to add on compulsory bills considering the high cost of living currently, yet television is luxury for most homes.”
Most Kenyans also share the same predicament and hope to land a better deal favoring their pockets which would only be purchasing free to air decoders that allow them view local channels KBC, NTV, KTN, K24 and Citizen TV.