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NCA Announces Winners for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free-To-Air (FTA) Programme Channel Authorisation

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NCA Announces Winners for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free-To-Air (FTA) Programme Channel Authorisation

The National Communications Authority (NCA) announces for the information of the general public that after evaluation of the applications received on 30th January, 2017 for the award of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free-To-Air (FTA) Programme Channel Authorisation, eight entities have been selected for the award of DTT FTA Programme Channel Authorisations.

The Authority received Twelve (12) applications for national coverage and Four (4) applications for regional coverage in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Northern and Volta Region.

Applicants were assessed in Four (4) categories namely, Programming Philosophy, Legal Organisation, Technical Capabilities and Financial Capabilities.   As part of the evaluation process, applicants made documentary and oral submissions between 15th February, 2017 and 21st February, 2017. 

DTT Programme Channel – National Coverage

The four entities which are the four (4) top ranked applicants and who have been selected for the award of the DTT FTA Programme Channel Authorisations with national coverage are:

Name of ApplicantAuthorisation CategoryRank
The Multimedia GroupDTT Programme Channel– National Coverage1st
Kessben TelevisionDTT Programme Channel– National Coverage2nd
Mobile Zone LimitedDTT Programme Channel– National Coverage3rd
Notice Board LimitedDTT Programme Channel– National Coverage4th

DTT Programme Channel – Regional Coverage

In addition, the NCA also received only four applications for regional Authorisations, these applications did not have competing applicants. They have thus been selected for the award of DTT FTA Programme Channel Authorisations with Regional coverage and are listed as follows:

Name of ApplicantAuthorisation Category 
 
Royal Image Broadcasting LimitedDTT Programme Channel – Regional Coverage (Ashanti) 
OTV Broadcasting LimitedDTT Programme Channel – Regional Coverage (Greater Accra) 
Kyirfo Multimedia Broadcasting LimitedDTT Programme Channel – Regional Coverage (Northern) 
Tony D. Company LimitedDTT Programme Channel – Regional Coverage (Volta) 

Successful applicants have a period of sixty (60) days to validate their Provisional Authorisations by paying the requisite Authorisation fees. The Authority has offered unsuccessful applicants the opportunity to apply for any of the Regions for which no applications were received.

The National Communications Authority takes this opportunity to thank all applicants and other stakeholders for their interest during this process.

Issued by the National Communications Authority,

NCA Tower, No. 6 Airport City, Accra.

Tel: (0)30 – 2776621/2771701 or 050-145-1522/3.

E-mail: info@localhost

Date – Tuesday, 4th April, 2017

Editor’s Note

About NCA

The National Communications Authority, (NCA), was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 524 in December 1996, which has been repealed and replaced by the National Communications Authority Act,  2008 (Act 769). The Authority is the statutory body mandated to license and to regulate electronic communication activities and services in the country.

About DTT

Ghana signed the Geneva 2006 (GE06) Agreement establishing the digital terrestrial broadcasting plan in the bands 174 – 230 MHz and 470 – 862 MHz at the Regional Radiocommunications Conference (RRC-06). The agreement requires signatory countries including Ghana to migrate from analogue television broadcasting to a digital TV platform by 17th June 2015 (UHF band) and 17th June 2020 (VHF) band. The application of digital techniques to television broadcasting results in several advantages over analogue including the following:

  • Better picture quality, clearer sound, introduction of new services and more interactivity including electronic programme guide (EPG) for television viewers.
  • A higher number of television programme channels and choice for the viewer.
  • Reduced operational cost for broadcasters.
  • Efficient use of spectrum as digital broadcasting technology enables transmission of more TV stations.
  • The radio frequency (RF) spectrum used for terrestrial television is considered a scarce and finite natural resource. This makes it necessary to judiciously manage the spectrum both technically and economically for national interest. Economic benefits from the spectrum availability after the switch from analogue to digital transmission is known as the digital dividend.