Nation TV protests against closure
Jan 28, 2007
NATION TV Uganda has protested the move by Ugandan Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to take them off air, claiming they had not been notified and proper procedures were not followed.
By John Odyek
NATION TV Uganda has protested the move by Ugandan Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to take them off air, claiming they had not been notified and proper procedures were not followed.
Meanwhile, UBC announced they would switch off another television station, Pulse TV, today, causing more concern in the sector.
“I am protesting the decision,†Victor Ngei, the managing director NTV Uganda told The New Vision yesterday.
“I have written to UBC and the Broadcasting Council. UBC is acting illegally. Procedures were not followed. It was done without my authority. This is not about masts,†Ngei explained.
NTV Uganda and Pulse TV pay a rental fee for a mast owned by UBC at Kololo Hill.
But UBC claims the weight of the mast is a safety risk.
“We have a 150m guide mast at Kololo Hill that hosts antennas of seven FM radio stations and two television stations,†said UBC’s managing director, Musinguzi-Mugasa. “Because of the weight, the mast was bending dangerously and could cause accidents. The council directed that the television antennas be removed.â€
He said the two television stations would be off air until UBC has rectified the problem or found an alternative arrangement.
The Broadcasting Council confirmed they inspected the transmission facilities at Kololo Hill last week and found that some masts, cables, antennas and equipment were installed in disregard of safety and technical requirements. The council said it also discovered that some other television stations were using the transmission room at Kololo Hill, which was against the regulations.
“We told UBC to clean up the facilities immediately and not cause safety hazards or interference to other broadcasters,†Kagole Kivumbi, the secretary of the Broadcasting Council, commented.
“We cannot look on as if there is no problem. This is a national facility. There is no experimenting with national facilities.†He advised NTV Uganda and UBC to resolve the crisis.
NTN explained they had taken their playback machines for two days to Kololo because their transmission link at Serena Hotel had a problem.
“Last week our connectors were tampered with. This led to a short circuit of the microwave links. Spare parts had to be purchased from abroad,†Ngei said.
He added that when the problem is rectified, they would resume broadcasting from Serena Hotel.
NATION TV Uganda has protested the move by Ugandan Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to take them off air, claiming they had not been notified and proper procedures were not followed.
Meanwhile, UBC announced they would switch off another television station, Pulse TV, today, causing more concern in the sector.
“I am protesting the decision,†Victor Ngei, the managing director NTV Uganda told The New Vision yesterday.
“I have written to UBC and the Broadcasting Council. UBC is acting illegally. Procedures were not followed. It was done without my authority. This is not about masts,†Ngei explained.
NTV Uganda and Pulse TV pay a rental fee for a mast owned by UBC at Kololo Hill.
But UBC claims the weight of the mast is a safety risk.
“We have a 150m guide mast at Kololo Hill that hosts antennas of seven FM radio stations and two television stations,†said UBC’s managing director, Musinguzi-Mugasa. “Because of the weight, the mast was bending dangerously and could cause accidents. The council directed that the television antennas be removed.â€
He said the two television stations would be off air until UBC has rectified the problem or found an alternative arrangement.
The Broadcasting Council confirmed they inspected the transmission facilities at Kololo Hill last week and found that some masts, cables, antennas and equipment were installed in disregard of safety and technical requirements. The council said it also discovered that some other television stations were using the transmission room at Kololo Hill, which was against the regulations.
“We told UBC to clean up the facilities immediately and not cause safety hazards or interference to other broadcasters,†Kagole Kivumbi, the secretary of the Broadcasting Council, commented.
“We cannot look on as if there is no problem. This is a national facility. There is no experimenting with national facilities.†He advised NTV Uganda and UBC to resolve the crisis.
NTN explained they had taken their playback machines for two days to Kololo because their transmission link at Serena Hotel had a problem.
“Last week our connectors were tampered with. This led to a short circuit of the microwave links. Spare parts had to be purchased from abroad,†Ngei said.
He added that when the problem is rectified, they would resume broadcasting from Serena Hotel.