MAJ rejects time frame for digital switchover

The Media Association Jamaica Limited (MAJ) yesterday made it clear that it rejected any time frame for digital switchover for television and/or radio proposed to take place in the next three to five years.

In a release yesterday, the MAJ said that having consulted all television licensees and most radio licensees in the country, "none of them was a party to a decision to set that time frame and none of them was at the November 2 meeting where that time frame was apparently set".

The MAJ said: "Across the world, it is a reality that formats are being changed from analogue to digital, and Jamaica will eventually have to do so. However, there must be meaning-ful and adequate consultation on the financial implications and the new investment needs that stations must make to achieve this before a decision is taken on when the switchover will take place."

Deciding without the maj

The association said it was aware that the impression might be given that media were a party to the decision of the National Digital Television Switchover Steering Committee meeting, which arrived at its decision on November 2.

"But we must note and state for the record that this was not so. As a matter of principle, we cannot understand how such a significant decision could, in good form, have been taken behind the backs of broadcasters," the MAJ said.

"We note that the decision is being taken even without the undertaking of an industry study that was being discussed in previous meetings, and must question why a decision would be made without knowing the state of the industry first."

The association noted that in other countries, discussions are held years in advance on how the new investments will be encouraged, what incentives will be provided to broadcasters and consumers alike, "both of whom will have to bear tens of millions of dollars this will cost" .

The digital switchover is being managed by the Broadcasting Commission, which set up the steering committee to plan the way forward.