Galaxy of African Broadcasters Light up CTO’s Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum

Galaxy of African Broadcasters Light up CTO’s Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum Johannesburg, 25 January 2012 -- A galaxy of African broadcasters has confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation’s 7th Annual Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum (DBSF) 2012. The line-up of broadcasters includes: • Phil Molefe, Group Executive, News & Current Affairs, South Africa Broadcasting Corporation • Mallam Usman Magawata, Director General, Nigerian Television Authority • Habbe Gunze, Director of Broadcasting, TCRA, Tanzania and • Albertus Aochamub, Director-General, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. South Africa is the first country in Africa to commit to digital switchover and Dr. Mashilo Boloka, Director, Broadcasting Policy in the Department of Communications will headline the proceedings with an overview of digital broadcasting in the sub-continent. He will be joined by peers including Yomi Bolarinwa, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Nigeria and Trilock Dwarka, Chairman, Information and Communications Technologies Authority, Mauritius. Among the vendors who have lent their support to the event are satellite provider, SES, as well as ATDI, Digital TV Labs and NDS. Exhibitors will include Gilat Satcom and DekTec. All-inclusive and non-discriminatory digital migration programming is of particular importance in providing access to disabled and historically disadvantaged members of society and this year’s edition has adopted the theme “Engaging the Viewer, Protecting the Consumer” to highlight the twin priorities of creating and managing appropriate content on the one hand and public education and awareness on the other. Beth Thoren, Communications Director of Digital UK, will lend the perspective of a country which has led in public information campaigns. The conference will examine among other issues the tradeoffs between DVB and DVB-T2 for the emerging Commonwealth and how regulatory standards impact commercial decisions. Among other issues to be debated are: which market structure best serves the consumer: horizontal or vertical? Seventh in an annual series to equip broadcasters, policy-makers, broadcast regulators and programmers for the complex and extensive preparations to ensure a smooth transition from analogue to digital, DBSF 2012 will be held from February 22 to 24 at the Protea Balalaika Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa and Hon. Dina Pule, Minister of Communications for the Republic of South Africa, is expected to inaugurate the event as the special guest of honour.