NCA Receives Applications for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free To Air (FTA) Programme Channel
NCA Receives Applications for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free To Air (FTA) Programme Channel
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has received applications for authorisations to establish, maintain and operate Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free-to-Air (FTA) Programme Channels on the national DTT Multiplex.
This follows a Request for Applications (RFA) published by the Authority on 12th January, 2016. The request for applications covered were for various Authorisation categories which are Nationwide TV Coverage, Regional TV Coverage and Digital Terrestrial Radio Authorisation on the DTT Multiplex. In all, twenty-one (21) entities submitted their applications by the deadline of 5:00 p.m. on 30th January, 2017.
The applications were opened immediately after the deadline in the presence of the applicants who attended. At the end of the exercise fifteen (15) entities applied for Nationwide Coverage out of which two (2) were disqualified. Four (4) entities applied for Regional Coverage and six (6) entities applied for Digital Terrestrial Radio Service on DTT Multiplex with nationwide coverage.
The applications which shall be evaluated are as follows:
| NO. | NAME OF COMPANY |
| Nationwide Television Coverage | |
| 1 | Kessben Television Limited |
| 2 | Joy Prime |
| 3 | Freedom Media Network |
| 4 | EEAR Multimedia |
| 5 | Primetime Media Invest Limited |
| 6 | Mobile Zone Limited |
| 7 | Indepth Media Limited |
| 8 | Denyigba Media Limited |
| 9 | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology |
| 10 | Joy News |
| 11 | Miracle Media and Communication Limited |
| 12 | Notice Board |
| 13 | Kyirfo Multimedia Broadcasting Limited |
| Regional Television Coverage | |
| 1 | Kyirfo Multimedia Broadcasting Limited |
| 2 | Tony D. Company Limited |
| 3 | OTV Broadcasting Limited |
| 4 | Royal Image Broadcasting Limited |
| Digital Terrestrial Radio Service On DTT Multiplex | |
| 1 | Universal Multimedia Company Limited |
| 2 | Great FM Limited |
| 3 | Kessben FM Limited |
| 4 | Media General Ghana Limited |
| 5 | Omni Media Company Limited |
| 6 | Atinka Media Village (Atinka FM) |
Table1. Entities whose Applications Shall be Evaluated
Following this, the Authority shall critically evaluate the received applications. The evaluation of these applications will take into account various factors including Technical or Engineering issues, Legal and Management strengths, Financial capabilities and Programme Content.
The next stages of the process shall be carried out according to the following schedule:
Table 2: Licensing Process Timetable
This process is part of the DTT project, it is expected that the introduction of new programme channels to the national DTT transmission network will enhance choice for consumers through diversity of programmes on the multiplex and promote media pluralism.
Issued by the National Communications Authority,
No. 6 Airport City, Accra.
Tel: (0)30 – 2776621/2771701 or 050-145-1522/3.
E-mail: info@localhost
Date – Wednesday, 1st February, 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 up to twenty (20) TV stations on one frequency as compared to the current analogue format which carries only one TV station.
- 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.
