The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) is to regulate to force players in the pay-TV industry to re-sell exclusive content to competitors, tackling a scenario that has seen players such as DStv enjoy monopoly on some content.
The Business Daily reports sharing content is among the regulations the agency will employ when licensing broadcasters.
It is expected the regulations, which will come into force by October, will effectively deal with practices that have given some players an undue advantage over their counterparts.
“We are coming up with regulations that will require all pay television service providers to share premium content on a commercial basis,” said Francis Wangusi, CAK director-general.
“I know I am going to rattle some players but that is it. CA is the regulator and does not expect all decisions to please all service providers.”
According to the regulator it formulated the rules with input from stakeholders and borrowing from markets such as Nigeria.
For some time now broadcasters such as the Wananchi Group have been lobbying the CAK to compel DStv to share its premium content.
“DStv will have to put a price tag on their premium content but that value should not be set at a level that discourages other providers from buying the said rights,” Wangusi said.
Last year, the CAK had stopped the bid to have DStv share its premium content, citing the absence of a law backing the demand.
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