By Lola OkuloTELEVISION viewers in Nairobi who have not upgraded to digital broadcast have until midnight to do so, after which government deadline for migration from analogue broadcast lapses.
The deadline which has been extended numerous times since 2009 amid several court cases filed by different parties is unlikely to be extended this time round as government gears for the global digital migration deadline of June 2015.
According to a list of approved vendors posted on government website digitalkenya.go.ke, the price of set top boxes ranges between Sh3,600 and Sh16,240. Digital compliant TV sets, which do not require a set top box to convert the signal from analogue, are also available in the country at a cost of between Sh50,000 and Sh129,000. They are being distributed by LG, Toshiba, Sharp and Sony.
Radio Africa Group which recently launched a free-to-view digital service which offers over 50 local and international channels that were previously available only on pay-TV will expand the service to Mombasa today. It has been available only in Nairobi and its environs. Bamba TV services will be rolled out to Mount Kenya and its environs by end of January. Bamba will be available in Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha and Kisumu in March, said Bamba TV general manager Danny Mucira.
The service is accessible on digital set-top box selling at a one-off cost of Sh3,299, meaning there will be no subsequent monthly subscription charges.
StarTimes media said yesterday sales have tripled in the last few weeks boosted by a cut in prices of its set top boxes and introduction of a cheap boquet of Sh150 subscription fee per month among its products.
"I can confidently tell you that the uptake has been very good. Let alone Nairobi whereby sales are up as a reactionary move, the migration deadline has led to increase in sales in other regions such as Western and Mombasa where sales are peaking compared to before," said StarTimes public relations manager Alex Mwaura.
Western and Mombasa are in the second phase of digital migration slated for February 2, slightly over a month from now. Other areas where television viewers are expected to have complied to digital migration by February 2 are Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisoo, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Machakos, Narok and Loldiani.
Multichoice, the company that offers DSTV and Gotv pay-TV services also said the response has been overwhelming adding that it has recorded positive growth in sales.