Kola Aluko: Digital Switchover a Turning Point for African Broadcasting

LONDON, October 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

A continental television switchover to digital broadcasting has been approved by African governments. The national switchover - overseen by the International Telecoms Union (ITU) and due for completion by 2012 - is set to revolutionise television entertainment across Africa.

In October 2012, African media personnel attended the Digital Dialogue Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss the logistics of the project. Koenie Schutte, CEO of the Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association, raised his concerns over the number of African television viewers that will have to acquire a new digital converter box by 2015.

Many other developing countries outside Africa have been lagging behind global developments in television broadcasting. Indonesia has recently commenced its migration to digital television and has plans to end analogue broadcasts in 2018.

Commenting on the switchover, Nigerian-born international businessman Kola Aluko called the announcement a 'turning point' for African broadcasting.

Aluko, who has board level experience at an African broadcasting company, said: "Africa's digital switchover will revolutionise television entertainment for millions of people, while providing many job and business opportunities. Although concerns have been raised over the size and complexity of the project, these African nations are more than capable of stepping up to the task at hand."