The Communications Authority has obtained search-and-seize orders allowing its agents to invade analogue television transmitters’ bases at Menengai hill belonging to Nation Media Group, Royal Media Services and the Standard Group.
Chief magistrate Samuel Mungai certified as urgent an application by corporal Philip Tonui and also granted a second request allowing the officer and CA officials to enter the three transmitting offices at Menengai hill to dismantle the machines.
CA told Mr Mungai that analogue transmission by NTV, QTV, KTN and Citizen TV was illegal as the transmission frequencies allocated to them earlier had been withdrawn.
EXPIRED
The miscellaneous applications filed last Friday showed that NTV’s channels 22 and 40, the Citizen’s channel 12 as well as KTN channel 58 were no longer available for use by the three as the deadline for analogue transmission for Nakuru and its environs had long expired.
According to the Communications Authority, the switch-off date for Nairobi and its environs was December 31, 2014, while the second phase set for February 2 was to cover Mombasa, Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Nyadundi, Machakos, Narok, Londiani and Rongai.
The planned switch-off for Garissa, Kitui, Lodwar, Lokichogio, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Migori, Voi, Mbwinzau/Kibwezi, Namanga and all other remaining sites is set for March 30.
The four television stations, currently issued with a self-provisioning licence through their company, Africa Digital Network, have started broadcasting on a digital platform in Nairobi with a planned rollout in other parts of the country set for the next two months.
(Source: Daily Nation)
