UCC faults with digital migration will kill Local TV stations

Recently Uganda Communications Commission announced that at least 70 per cent of

television stations are ready for the switch to digital. There is still a lot that has to be done.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) continues to be threat to universal access and
affordability of local TV signals under digital migration in Uganda contrary to its
mandate.UCC continues to move slowly in ensuring digital signals access despite June 2015
deadline .
Many Ugandans may forget about TV if UCC switches off analogue TV without proper
strategies. Though UCC through its website has publicised a list of only ten approved (10)setup boxes vendors, there are still numerous access issues to deal with. The set-top boxes
required to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting signal are still costly for an average
Ugandan. Set-up boxes are between Ugsh 120,000 and Ushs 200,000 depending on features.
TV owner may need to also invest in an antenna-not any type of antenna to get the digital
signal through the decoder. The average Ugandan may opt for DVDs for entertainment. If
more Ugandans are off TV after final digital migration roll-out, some local TV stations may
collapse since they rely on advertising revenue which is attracted by their viewership base.
When viewership is low, then advertisers may alter their advertising budgets and soon local
TVs will collapse. It will be the end of Free to air local TV channels in Uganda.
There are still unresolved issues surrounding digital signal management between UBC and
UCC.The Communication Authority of Kenya recently forcefully shut down analogue signals
for NTV, QTV, KTN and Citizen affecting many TV viewers in Kenya. The incident gives
UCC a number of issues revolving around digital signal ownership and management to sort
out. The Ugandan company supposed to handle the signal has been alleged to be operating
without a license. Secondly what will happen to local TV stations that can not afford the
expected high fees for their signal to be carried digitally by the said company?
Still on access of the digital signal, the coverage of the digital signal is still limited to only
about a 70 kilometre radius from Kololo.Retailers of some of these set-up boxes are
communicating how far you need to be from Kololo to pick their signal. This means that we
still have a long way till the entire country is covered. This leaves the rest of Ugandan TV
owners with the Pay-TV option section which is obviously costly. Poorly managed digital
migration process empowers Pay-Tv providers to do whatever they want at the expense of the
ignorant Ugandan. Pay TV providers offer local channels at a fee, because it makes business
sense. Since many might drop the idea of renewing subscription since they have access to
some channels. UCC needs to push for a must carry all free policy .The Pay-TV decoders in
Uganda only allow viewers who have paid subscription fees to access local television
channels. The abscent digital migration law would help address this.

Ignorance about the migration process will limit universal access.UCC has not helped even
with misleading adverts everywhere. Gaps in public awareness have worsened the situation.
There are many misleading Pay-tv campaign adverts that seem to imply that the only way to
receive the new digital channels is to acquire their decoder which have monthly
subscriptions.
The argument to use internet to watch TV after the analogue switch is not viable considering
the unreliable internet coverage services in the country. It is true that Flat screens TVs today
have Wi-fi and almost each local TV channel has a developed a TV mobile app. But how
many can afford internet costs?
The other option to pick the digital signal is to use the integrated digital television sets that
come with in-built decoders. Has UCC engaged Ugandan based TV manufacturers to explore
the option?
Electricity is also another bottleneck to universal access of digital signals in Uganda.UCC has
not worked with local entrepreneurs to look at alternative power sources to these decoders
besides unstable electricity which is not countrywide. There are Ugandans who watch TVs
powered with solar or batteries.
We will continue with Digital migration challenges as long as no law is enacted and UCC
fails to fully engage the stakeholders.UCC will deliver a lot if it fully engages radio listeners
and TV viewers clubs across the country. UCC with help of government needs to work at
having a fund to ensure universal access of signals by availing set-up boxes to the poor at a
subsidised fee or no cost. UCC needs to advocate for the removal of taxes on digital
migration equipment.UCC should allocate more six months to run two sets of analogue and
digital signals simultaneously.
Ivan .N. Baliboola
PR and organisational diagnosis specialist
nbaliboola@gmail.com