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Should Netflix be Regulated in Kenya?

BY Soko Directory Team · January 12, 2016 10:01 am

There has been a clash between the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Kenya Films and Classifications Board (KFCB) on how Netflix, the American online movie streaming service should operate in the country.

Last week, KFCB stated that Netflix should abide by the country’s law and regulations in regard to the range of materials to be accessed by the public, that it does not go against the country’s national values and morals. The board said that the American Company was to submit its content for the purposes of clarifications.

Communications Authority of Kenya said that Netflix is not going to apply for local broadcasting license thus its exemption from the countries broadcasting regulations that are usually part of the licensing process.

The CA director Francis Wangusi disclosed that Netflix in the category of content providers whose material is not controlled by any regulatory body in any country, just as YouTube.  Subscribers of Netflix get access content through internet protocol.

Wangusi added that if at all Netflix partners with local providers or air its content using the digital broadcasting platform where its signals can easily be accessed then it will be forced to abide by the local broadcasting regulations.

KFCB Chief Executive Mr. Ezekiel Mutua had earlier on disclosed that the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) gave Kenya the mandate to regulate and govern its cyberspace since Kenya is a member, and for that reason, Netflix has to be regulated too just like the local broadcasters since it will be operating in the country.

KFCB further claims that the content of Netflix has to be regulated since they have identified that some of their content to be inappropriate especially to small children.

Many countries in the world access Netflix as it has been on the market for some time. One has to subscribe so as to access anything on the platform. Before any programme is aired by the platform, details on the titles, ratings and episode synopses are provided to viewers.

For KFCB to block content from Netflix, it needs some advanced mechanisms that will be able to crack the existing codes that are used to regulate the Internet Protocol (IP). This will be one of the challenges that the regulator will have to face.

Netflix has got almost 74 million subscribers especially in the US and Europe. It’s venture into the Kenyan market poses very tight competition on pay TV companies like DStv that is currently leading in the country.

The most interesting part is that Netflix has got three packages just like DStv but they are abit cheaper. The Basic package goes for Sh.817, Standard package for Sh.1,022 while the Premium package for Sh.1,226. the same packages are being offered by DStv but its Premium package goes for Sh.9,400 which is very high as compared to that of Netflix.


Article by Vera Shawiza.

 

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

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