GTV Uganda licence withdrawn

After succumbing to the current global financial crisis GTV Uganda has now had its licence withdrawn by the country's Broadcasting Council. GTV Uganda can now no longer operate in the country.

“The permission by the council, for GTV Uganda Limited to broadcast in Uganda has been withdrawn effective February 4, 2009. Consequently, the licence to this company has also been revoked,” Godfrey Mutabazi, chairman of the Ugandan Broadcasting Council told the press in Kampala on 8 February.

GTV Uganda started its operations in June 2007 causing ripples in the pay-tv industry by offering its decoders and packages at a modest fee in comparison to Multichoice Africa's DSTV.

The exit of GTV however, has handed DSTV a new lease on life, instantly giving it the right to 100% broadcasting rights of the English Barclays Premier League in sub-Saharan Africa. The move further boosts Multichoice Africa's sales based on the overwhelming interest by African pay-tv subscribers in English football. Another beneficiary of the collapse is little known Pearl Digital Television, an indigenous pay-TV firm in Kampala.