The Kenyan Premier League on Tuesday signed a Ksh100 million broadcast partnership with free-to-air channel Bamba Sports in a six month deal that returns local football on the screens after the the exit of South African pay television channel SuperSport in April.
The deal is worth Ksh100.7 million. Some Ksh36.7 million will be paid in cash to KPL, while Kshh40 million will go to the production of content with the remaining Ksh24 million being used to advertise the league on various platforms.
This will deliver at least two live matches every weekend. The two matches will be broadcasted in every round, and the first games will be aired live once the league resumes on 15th of this month.
All local television stations will be required to source KPL content from Bamba TV, but the contract allows the league organisers to negotiate with pay televisions and over the top (digital) content providers on the same rights.
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According to Patrick Quarcoo, the CEO of Radio Africa Group, which owns Bamba Sports, the broadcast of games will start 15th July when the league resumes. “We started by broadcasting the lower tier league and we have received very positive feedback from that, and it has given us the motivation to invest in the top flight league,” said Quarcoo.
“The games will be live on Bamba TV as well as sister channel Kiss TV, and there will also be live commentary on our radio station (Radio Jambo). We also hope to bring it live on mobile phones with support from willing partners.”
KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier said the new deal comes at the right time and will help the players get scouted by European teams.
“In the short time it has been in existence, BAMBA sport has emerged to be the leading producer and broadcaster of Sports content in the country and going by that reputation, partnering with BAMBA sport will provide Kenyan Premier League clubs and players a platform to raise its profile, market and make their brand more visible, and showcase their talents to millions of Kenyan households respectively,” Rachier, who also doubles up as The Gor Mahia chairman stated.
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KPL CEO Jack Oguda said that the deal will help lift the financial burden on clubs, although he was unable to immediately state exactly how the Ksh37.6 million would be shared out among the 18 league clubs. “It was very important that we get the league games back on air. Due to the departure of SuperSport, we had to cut down on many aspects of our budget including the annual grants to clubs,” Oguda said.
This will be the first time that both the KPL and National Super League games will be beamed live by the same broadcaster.
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