The ministry of Information is in talks with Treasury to ban importation of the analogue television sets by June this year. The move is aimed at effectively paving way for digital television sets as Kenya fast tracks the migration of its TV programming from the current analogue to digital by June 2012.

Dr. Bitange Ndemo, PS Ministry of Communication, said that the move to ban importation of analogue TV’s is also aimed at addressing the challenges that the ministry is facing in the migration process.

The ban is expected to affect traders who are holding stock of older television sets while putting the sets above the reach of many potential buyers. Many would be forced to opt for second-hand digital TV’s.

A cheap digital TV currently retails at between KES 15,000 and KES 20,000 though it impossible to tell whether a TV is digital unless you have prior knowledge of its specifications or you engage the dealer’s assistance in choosing one. PS Ndemo noted that the Ministry of Information would launch a public awareness campaign to help customers make informed choices.

Further the cost of a set top box - a devise that converts the analogue signal by older TV sets to a digital one costs between KES 5,000 and KES 10,000 though the Communication ministry is hopeful that treasury would include a tax waiver on the set top boxes in the upcoming budget.

Another challenge that has risen is the impromptu ban on the Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVBT1) version of converter boxes that were already on sale. The government said that the replacement DVB-T2, would give better picture and sound quality, 50% more programme channels on one TV Frequency and larger coverage by a single TV transmitting station.

Courtesy of The Standard and Bei Yangu