Autorisation de radiodiffusion

For the purpose of authorisations, Television services are classified based on the platform, the business model and the nature of the broadcasting entity and the service, as follows:

1. Digital Terrestrial Pay Television (Service Only)- : A Television Broadcasting Service comprising of a bouquet of services provided over an independent/third party wireless digital terrestrial television network and which requires television viewers to pay a subscription fee to watch the television service.
2. Digital Terrestrial Pay Television (Service and frequency)- A Television Broadcasting Service provided over the service provider’s own wireless digital terrestrial television network and which requires television viewers to pay a subscription fee to watch the television service. The service provider obtains a frequency for the rollout of its own DTT transmission network infrastructure which shall be co-located
3. Digital Terrestrial Television (Network only) - a service consisting of the provision of:
• An electronic communications network utilizing radio frequencies to transmit broadcasting programmes in digital form, for general reception
• Combining or packaging (i.e. multiplexing) a number of television and other services for transmission over its network
• Providing information on all programmes carried on its network (e.g. Electronic Programme Guide [EPG] etc)
4. Digital Terrestrial Free-to-Air Television Programme Channel- A Television Broadcasting Service in which a single programme channel is broadcast unencrypted or in ‘clear’ over a digital terrestrial television (DTT) network and capable of being received without payment of subscription fees
5. Digital Terrestrial Radio Service on TV Multiplex- A sound broadcasting service in which content is deployed on the Digital Terrestrial Television Network.
6. Satellite Television Broadcasting (Pay TV Direct-to-Home Bouquet)- A Television Broadcasting Service comprising of a bouquet of services provided over a satellite transponder and which requires television viewers to pay a subscription fee to watch the television service.
7. Satellite Television Broadcasting (Free-to-Air Direct-to-Home Bouquet)- A Television Broadcasting Service comprising of a bouquet of services provided over a satellite transponder and which is capable of being received without payment of subscription fees.
8. Satellite Television Broadcasting (Free-to Air Direct-to-Home Single Channel)- A Television Broadcasting Service in which a single programme channel is broadcast over a satellite transponder and capable of being received without payment of subscription fees.
9. Digital Terrestrial Television Additional Services (eg. Teletext, etc)- any service provided by any person with a view to its being broadcast in digital form by means of a DTT multiplex service but which is not a digital television programme service or a radio service which may or may not require the payment of subscription fees.
10. Digital Terrestrial Mobile Television Service - A Digital Television Service in which the programme channels are delivered over a terrestrial infrastructure for reception primarily by handheld devices and which may or may not require the payment of subscription fees.
11. Digital Cable Television (Pay TV) - A Television Broadcasting Service where the distribution of television programs to subscribers is delivered by the means of coaxial cables or light pulses through fiber-optic cables and require the payment of subscription fees.
12. Television over Internet Protocol (Pay TV)- A Television Broadcasting Service where programs to subscribers are delivered via Internet Protocol (IP) over an electronic communications network (wireless or cable) and which may or may not require the payment of subscription fees.

According to Regulation 51 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, LI1991, the application for a broadcasting authorization shall be in a form and contain information specified by the Authority that includes the following:

• qualifications and particulars of the applicant;
• the geographical area proposed to be served by the broadcasting service;
• a plan of the facilities to be constructed and the construction and installation schedule;
• a plan of repeater or re-transmitted facilities where applicable; and
• an indication of the financial resource of the applicant to operate the broadcasting service.

Applications for television broadcasting services shall therefore:

• Be made in accordance with the NCA’s “GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION FOR BROADCASTING AUTHORISATIONS” which can be downloaded here
• Applicants shall complete and attach the NCA FORM AP03 which can be downloaded here
• Applicants shall pay the application fees as stipulated in the NCA Schedule of Fees
• All payments to NCA should be made through Bankers Draft payable to the National Communications Authority.
• The Application Fee is non-refundable
• The Ghana Cedi equivalent of the fees on the day of payment is accepted.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
The NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY (NCA) is calling for applications from eligible entities registered under the Ghana Companies Code, 1963, Act 179 for the grant of authorizations to establish, maintain and operate a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Free-to-Air (FTA) Programme Channel on the national DTT Multiplex. 
All applications must be sealed, submitted at the Director General’s Secretariat and addressed to: The Director General, National Communications Authority, NCA Tower, No. 6. Airport City, Accra; on or before 5:00pm on Monday, January 30, 2017 after which applications shall not be received.
Companies that have already made applications to the Authority for the above mentioned services are advised to reapply in accordance with the terms and conditions of the selection and award procedure document. Application fees that may have already been paid would still be valid.

Please click below to download

• Request for Applications for Digital Terrestrial Television Free to Air Programme Channel Authorisations.
• The selection and Award Procedure for Digital Terrestrial Television Free to Air Programme Channel Authorisations.

Application Forms

• NCA Form AP03 - Application Form for Broadcasting Authorisations
• NCA Form AP04 - Application Form for Renewal of Broadcasting Authorisations
• NCA Form AP09 - Application Form for DTT Conformance Certificate
• Guidelines for Application for Broadcasting Authorisations