UCC to probe quality of digital TV signals

By John Odyek

 

BROADCASTERS have queried the availability and quality of digital signals for free to air TV broadcasts in Kampala where the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has switched off free to air analogue TV broadcasts.

 

The broadcasters have also queried the quality of set- top boxes distributed by Star Times Uganda, which they say do not produce quality pictures.

 

Broadcasters said they had lost their audiences and advertising revenue following the digital migration process. They said the migration process had left many people in and around Kampala with blank TV screens.

 

They also expressed that many entrants including telecoms and production houses were likely to enter the broadcast business which could pose a threat to existing broadcasters many who are still in their infant stages.

 

This was during a meeting held at the UCC head offices in Kampala between the broadcasters and UCC, the communications regulatory authority.

 

The meeting was intended to resolve challenges faced by broadcasters following the digital migration process.

 

Robert Kabushenga, executive director Vision Group asked UCC to continue simultaneous analogue and digital broadcasts as the industry players resolves challenges dogging the migration process.

 

Kabushenga observed that outside Kampala, analog broadcasts were still taking place and it made no difference to switch off Kampala and the surrounding areas, where even access to digital pictures was a problem.

 

Kabushenga added that they want the prices of the set-top boxes to be as low as sh30,000 to enable many people afford them. He asked UCC for fees exemption for broadcasters who had made investments which have been affected by the migration process.

 

"Our advertisers have cut their budgets because they know our audiences have shrunk. Where do we get the money to pay for fees and licenses," he asked.

 

He said the solutions suggested by UCC such as bringing cheap boxes and investing in Signet need more time.

 

Mark Walungama, Vision Group head of television said the digital signals were unstable and freeze when it rains. Walungama said even in good weather the quality of pictures was poor where they were available.

 

Godfrey Mutabazi, executive director UCC said he would write to Signet to explain the complaint about the poor digital signals and why they were not widely available. He said UCC would also carry out its investigation on the matter.

 

Signet, a sister company to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation was set up to distribute digital signals as a sole company for the first five years.

 

Mutabazi said UCC has agreed to lower the specifications of set-top boxes and allow the use of converters which convert digital signals.

 

Mutabazi explained that according to the International Telecommunications Union, spectrum management for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting were planned regionally but not for individual countries. He said he could not revert to analogue broadcasts despite the challenges being faced.

 

He advised broadcasters to consider taking up more licenses that would be on offer brought about by the digital migration process. He proposed that there should be a way to limit new broadcasters entering the industry to protect the existing broadcasters and to maintain quality of broadcasters.

 

He observed that some broadcasters were taking up licenses but not offering valuable content and were similar to that of others.

 

Aggie Konde, managing director NTV Uganda said since the switch off, few people had migrated to digital TV and the industry was being swamped by Pay TV. 

 

Mutabazi said he would discuss with Pay TV channels to broadcasts free to air channels even if a person's subscription expires.

 

He promised that UCC would look into the fees charged on broadcasters with a view to making them affordable. He said he would write to ministry of finance to remove taxes on the boxes.

 

On the issue of charging fees by Signet in dollars, he said the equivalent of the dollar fees could be charged in Uganda shillings once it was agreed on.