Analog-Digital migration: Broadcasters must upgrade themselves - EIB CEO

Ghanaian broadcasters have been urged to be technologically innovative as the country prepares to switchover from analog transmission to Digital Terrestrial Television.

CEO of EIB Network, owners of Starr FM, Kwabena Anokye Adisi said Wednesday that it will be important for broadcasters to be tech-savvy since the migration process could eventually lead to job cuts in media houses.

Mr. Anokye Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray who was contributing to a panel discussion on the future of broadcasting and telecommunication in Ghana, at the just ended Arena 2015 conference, intimated that it would be advisable for people to re-invent themselves to fit into the new era.

“People would also have to equip themselves…go out there and reengineer yourself,” he said, adding: “Know what you can do to fit into the new era”.

“Gone are the days when we used to play music on the air through cassettes, but now, we have software that make things easier for us. Many of my colleagues who 19, 20 years ago didn’t see that coming and [didn’t] prepare for it are out of business now.”

Meanwhile the National Communications Authority (NCA) has revealed that Ghana is likely to miss the June 2015 deadline for the migration.

The Director for Engineering of the NCA, Mr Henry Kanor, delivering a speech, said Ghana’s inability to meet the regional and international deadline was not peculiar, as the entire West African sub-region was struggling to migrate.

Arena 2015 was 2-day technology festival which provided over 200 participants the opportunity to trade, connect as well as debate and unravel new strategies, innovations and challenges in the wake of digitisation.

The conference was held at the Accra International conference center from Tuesday March 3 to Wednesday March 4.