Econet Media eyes EPL fans with free sports TV channel in Kenya

Econet Media Thursday launched a sports channel that will air limited live matches from the English Premier and America’s NBA leagues every weekend.

Econet Media’s Kwese Free Sports TV channel started broadcasting in Kenya yesterday on the free-to-air Signet platform and will air a live English Premier League match every Saturday at 5pm and three NBA live matches in a week.

Kwese Free Sports TV General Manager Monica Ndung’u said they were currently putting up a team that will man their local studio currently under construction and set for launch later in the year.

Ms Ndung’u said this will help them increase local sports coverage, enabling Kenyan talent to be exposed to international audiences.
The deal will involve partnership with local sports federations geared towards providing Kenyans with an exclusive channel on sports.

In an interview Kwese Free Sports TV’s Chief Executive Ben Amadasun said they also planned to train local producers as well as outsource some services thereby enabling Kenyans to create content fit for local and international audience, among them extreme sporting events in Kenya and other parts of Africa.

First African hub

Econet Media’s corporate communications officer Reatile Tekateka said the company has made Kenya its first African hub before spreading its services to the rest of Africa. “We are here for the long haul and that is why our investment includes hiring of local producers, announcers as well as other media executives which will boost our capability to understand what Kenyans love most,” she said.

Kwese Free Sports TV said its feasibility study on Kenyans’ tastes on TV programming showed that many were keen to embrace a new content away from religion, politics, general news from the local and international channels.

It said they had signed exclusive premium sport content rights that also allowed it to broadcast Extreme Fighting Championships and the national football league,, among others.

Ms Ndung’u said Kenyans would also enjoy exclusive sports-related Kenyan productions such as Xtreme Outdoor Africa, Ball N’Africa , Sports Stars Uncovered, The Secret Lives of Sport,Football Stars, Sports Confidential, The Fast Lane and Sporting Greats.

Exclusive content

“Not only will we air local content but will commission production of exclusive local sports contents that celebrate local talent. We are creating jobs locally and we shall also train locals on the quality of productions we want on our channels,” she said.

Kwese Free Sports TV said they also plan to partner with local TV producers in covering sporting events to boost local content that reflects Kenyan tastes and abilities.