GBC denies responsibility for poor coverage

Accra, July 15, GNA - The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Monday denied responsibility for the poor quality of television pictures and sound transmitted worldwide when Mr Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, addressed Parliament during his recent visit to Ghana.

A statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra signed by Doris Kuwornu, Corporate Affairs Director of GBC, said the Corporation was dismayed at accusations by Metro TV that GBC was responsible for the poor quality of picture and sound transmitted during the period. The statement said Metro TV covered the event from the Accra International Conference Centre and sent signals to GBC's Microwave link equipment for onward distribution to other media houses but the signals were below the "one volt peak-to-peak" standard level resulting in poor quality of pictures and sound.

It said the video signals were below standard, hence the poor pictures and sound quality on TV.

The statement said the microwave equipment on location gave the warning of a "low signal level", which Metro TV satellite technicians could attest to but failed to act.

It said claims by Metro TV that it sent the feed on its KU Band uplink equipment was strange adding that such parameters were normally communicated at least 24 hours before an event, a rule which was not adhered to in this case.

It said the Technical Sub-Committee's meeting preceding President Obama's visit agreed that Metro TV should send signals to GBC's microwave equipment and not to Metro TV's KU Band uplink.