Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Tanzania-owned Azam TV have sealed a seven-year broadcast deal worth $9.1 million (1.3 billion shillings).
According to both the Federation and Azam, the agreement is structured for an initial five-year term, with the option for a two-year extension.
The deal has subsequently put to an end FKF’s broadcaster quest and boosted Kenyan football financially.
The partnership includes a dedicated FKF Premier League channel on Azam TV, with decoder sales in Nairobi and select regions.
The Tanzanian-based pay TV has acquired exclusive broadcast rights at an initial fee of $1M (ksh145,600,000) for the first year.
Thereafter an increment of $100,000 each new season.
Viewers and fans can also opt for game streaming through the Azam TV Max app, offering matches in high-definition (HD) quality.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa has said that the deal will see the Kenyan club get more money than ever before.
Mwendwa, however, has not revealed the specific earnings for each club from the agreement.
He mentioned that this information will be shared after finalizing additional deals in the upcoming weeks.
“We want to take this contract to the very end, and hopefully things improve, such that we can go back to Azam and tell them to pump in more money, but only if we show value for the product.”
According to Azam TV’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) Yahya Mohammed, they plan to air four matches every weekend, commencing after the first year’s international break.
“We have come with only two OB vans so as a start, we will select four games every weekend. Our ambition is to see to it that we broadcast all games in the league as we do in Tanzania, by the start of the second year.”
During the previous season, Azam conducted a test broadcast with FKF, airing two live matches:
the Gor Mahia vs. AFC Leopards Mashemeji Derby and the Tusker FC vs. Kariobangi Sharks game.
Following these trial matches, the Federation distributed Sh300,000 to each of the participating clubs.
However, the Tanzanian Premier League enjoys a much bigger deal compared to the FKF Premier League.
In a contract valued at Tsh225.6 billion approx. (ksh 13B), Azam TV successfully acquired the broadcasting rights for the Tanzania Mainland Premier League for a decade in 2021.
