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The Tanzanian broadcaster is not keen to share the rights with other partners while it’s desire to beam matches at night faces hurdles
Azam TV Chief Operations Officer (COO) Yahya Mohamed has warned that the broadcaster will not entertain shady deals whilst they broadcast FKF PL matches in an effort to help grow the Kenyan topflight.
Speaking during the launch of the seven-year broadcasting partnership with the FKFPL held at the Boma Inn hotel in South C Nairobi, Mohamed insisted that Azam would not ‘compromise’ its deal if other sponsors are to be involved, after FKF president Nick Mwendwa hinted that there are two more deals that the federation will be announcing within the next week.
Mohammed further added that the standards set in Tanzania will be replicated in Kenya as the broadcaster seeks to market the top flight league to Kenya’s neighboring countries for the duration of the contract.
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11:43 - 01.09.2023
FOOTBALL AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia to each earn extra multi millions after agreeing separate Azam TV deal
Although every FKF PL club is guaranteed part of the Ksh 148 million a year deal by the broadcaster, the two Kenyan giant clubs are each set to earn more millions in a separate deal.
“The standards you saw us setting in Tanzania, we will be setting them here in Kenya,” Mohammed assured Mwendwa directly during his speech
“I want to tell you Mr president that we will delay just slightly because we do not like compromising. It is not that we do not like working with other sponsors, but it would be wise if you could warn us on the errors we are making, rather than faults by other people.”
Mohammed challenged FKF to adhere to the schedule created for the season. He further advocated for the implementation of night fixtures to optimise times that the average viewer will want to watch local games.
“Alongside all these honourable presidents, the pay tv will follow a strict schedule. In our discussions with the CEO, he assured me that the schedule will be adhered to. My brother (Elly) Kalekwa spoke about airtime," he added.
“The league will be aired, player transfers will also be aired, and it depends for how long and who is watching them. If you have a league where matches take place at 3pm, it will be difficult to market it because Tanzanians, Ugandans, Burundians and Rwandans will not get to watch and promote fellow East African football.”
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17:30 - 30.08.2023
FOOTBALL Lights, camera, goal! FKF Premier League makes TV return with exciting partnership
After a two-year blackout, Kenyan football is set to return to TV through an alliance between FKF and a prominent African sports broadcaster.
“I want to stress the words that Kalekwa said. Football is about the schedule and the schedule that FKF will arrange should be convenient to the viewer, especially those who watch TV. It will give us a platform to be able to market the league well
“The matches distributed should also be convenient in order to allow fans to attend the stadium to watch the matches being played.
“For example, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia matches. I understand that there are teams like Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks, but fans ideally would prefer Leopards and Gor Mahia not playing on the same day.
“If one team plays today, the other should play tomorrow, because a fan will be able to have watched both teams play on one weekend. That will enable that fan to see the value of our league.”
However, the challenge with this will arise with the broadcast quality of floodlights at both the Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia, which are the only two with such facilities.
The concern around these lights was one of the reasons the two facilities have been banned by CAF from hosting high profile international matches.
“We have been told that these facilities will be closed down for renovations and we hope that the issue of floodlights is one of those to be addressed. If this is done, then we have no problem having matches at night,” FKF Mwendwa said in response.
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11:00 - 01.09.2023
ATHLETICS Noah Lyles claps back at Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard over their response to his ‘world champion’ jibe
Lyles has finally responded to the backlash he received from NBA stars following the 'NBA world champions' jibe last week.
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